WebMD Health Corp., the Newark-based human health news and information internet site, on Friday announced it acquired Healthwise Inc., a patient and member health education and engagement company.
Healthwise delivers a consumer health content offering to help health care organizations engage with and educate patients and members in their health care journey — ultimately reducing costs of care while empowering patients and improving quality. This market-leading curriculum forms the backbone of a suite of solutions that enables health systems and health plans to meet patients and members where they are, whether through care management platforms, at the point of care or digitally through online patient portals.
Healthwise’s operating assets — including content, products, technology, client relationships and certain trademarks — will join WebMD Ignite, WebMD’s market-leading health care growth and engagement division serving health organizations, health care professionals, providers and payers.
“The addition of Healthwise’s business increases our already significant scale in content, technology, data and AI,” Ann Bilyew, executive vice president, health, and president, Healthcare Solutions Group at Internet Brands, said. “The addition of Healthwise’s assets to Ignite Education will accelerate our ability to create engagement solutions that are deeply personalized and that are delivered in the moments that matter. With these expansive, industry-leading resources, we are the dominant provider of engagement and education solutions for health care.”
This asset purchase is another step toward improving U.S. health care through a vision of improved patient and increased member engagement using relevant, easily understood and interactive consumer health education.
With the acquisition of Healthwise’s operating assets, WebMD Ignite will serve more than 650 health care organizations with its best-in-class patient education, including more than 50% of hospitals in the U.S. and 85% of the Top 20 payers. More broadly, WebMD Ignite will be the largest health care growth engagement platform in the country, with more than 500 professionals serving providers, payers, disruptors and other health care organizations.
“This transaction will put the best content at the point of care for significantly more than half of U.S. hospital patients, as well as for the membership of most major payor organizations. We will empower every health system, health care provider and health plan with the education their patients and members need to move successfully through their care journey — from discovery to recovery,” Bilyew added.
“For nearly 50 years, the Healthwise team has developed the highest-quality education content and solutions, created for all people to help them live their healthiest lives, and I could not be prouder of our legacy,” Dr. Adam Husney, CEO, Healthwise, said. “We now have an opportunity to extend our mission through the broader solutions and delivery platforms offered by WebMD Ignite. This transaction will have an even greater impact on health consumers by uniting the potential of two leading organizations in the patient education space.”
Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Healthwise was represented by Canaccord Genuity LLC throughout this process.
