United Health Centers Goes Social

Central San Joaquin Valley Community Health Center Deploys Innovative Social Platform WellFX for Patients and Employees

WellFX recently announced that United Health Centers of the San Joaquin Valley, a federally qualified community health center serving a patient population of 50,000, will launch WellFX’s online social platform for its patients and employees. In addition to the platform, United Health Centers will provide patients and employees with access to WellFX’s Resolution, a video-based exercise program and innovative dietary plan.

“We see this as the next step in providing the highest level of care to our patients and employees,” said Colleen Curtis, CEO of United Health Centers. “Over the past decade, research has shown that patient engagement models like WellFX’s can influence patient behaviors and lead to significant improvements in their overall health and wellness.”

Patients and employees enrolled in WellFX by their providers will have access to the standard features of the social platform as well as the unique Resolution content. The platform offers users medically validated, educational and clinical content, as well as access to peers within their network. Clinicians have the ability to drive patient engagement from their desktop or mobile device, providing fast and easy ways to reinforce key messages that help patients lead healthier lives – wherever and whenever they might need it.

“United Health Centers consistently pioneers new approaches to comprehensive care for its growing patient community, and turns the heads of other facilities looking to adopt new programs,” said Jock Putney, CEO of WellFX. “We’re excited to partner with them on their journey to better health engagement as they roll out the WellFX platform and Resolution for their patients and employees.”

WellFX provides a simple way for facilities like United Health Centers to build out strong networks of patient support. In offering the platform, a facility can promise a safe and secure environment in which patients can maintain their privacy, but also interact with others who are facing similar health challenges. In expanding the care program – and peer network – beyond the exam room, the platform allows health centers to extend their care and keep involved with patients outside the clinician’s office. The interactive and educational components of the WellFX platform and of WellFX’s Resolution support and empower patients to achieve better health outcomes.

“The WellFX platform provides a natural social environment to provide educational care resources which was a big draw for us,” said Curtis. “We know patients want to feel confident in their health regiments, and guided along the way. United Health Centers is excited to be making this bold step forward with WellFX.”

United Health Centers operates eight free-standing health facilities in the cities of Parlier, Mendota, Sanger, Orange Cove, Huron and Kerman in Fresno County, Earlimart in Tulare County and Corcoran in Kings County. United Health Centers has been recognized over the years for its innovative healthcare accomplishments, with Curtis receiving the 2010 Central Valley California Champion Award. United Health Centers plans to fully deploy the platform in April.

About United Health Centers of the San Joaquin Valley   
United Health Centers of the San Joaquin Valley, with its corporate offices located in Parlier, California, is a private non-profit organization, incorporated in January 1971, whose purpose is to provide comprehensive medical, dental and community health services to the medically underserved in California’s  Central Valley. United Health Centers is licensed by the State of California and the federal government to serve as a community health center and is designated as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).

About WellFX
WellFX is the first private social platform designed specifically for healthcare providers to engage and empower patients in better managing their health. By allowing patients to engage online in a private, HIPAA-compliant, secure environment, it gives providers an immediate way to extend their care beyond the four walls of the exam room. WellFX’s mission is to improve patient health outcomes, foster true population health management and reduce overall costs to the healthcare system by affording patients the opportunity to lead a better, healthier life with proper guidance from their healthcare providers. For more information, visit www.well-fx.com.