News

VALLEY FORGE, Pa., Jul 23, 2003 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Diabetes Shoppe(R) has launched a new and improved Web site -- www.diabetes-shoppe.com -- to offer patients a variety of personalized interactive tools and educational materials to assist patients in managing their diabetes.

The site features a completely new look as well as new content and offers many innovative, interactive features. Once logged on, the patient completes a quick and simple diabetes profiler and receives a personalized online diabetes management program that includes:

     -- Comprehensive diabetes information
     -- An analysis of their diabetes and self-care
     -- Online tracking and graphing of blood sugar levels, A1c levels and
        other important information
     -- The ability to monitor and graph dietary intake, exercise and
        medications
     -- Personalized action steps for managing their diabetes as well as
        printed reports that can be shared with physicians or pharmacists
     -- E-mail reminders

"This unique site provides a wealth of general and personalized information about diabetes care to patients, enabling them to better manage their health," said Dan Ramirez, Pharm D, Corporate Vice President of Program Management, AmerisourceBergen.

The web site is designed to support the customers of the nearly 1,000 Diabetes Shoppes located at independent pharmacies throughout the country and is compliant with all patient privacy regulations, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

Membership and use of the Diabetes Shoppe web site is free, but users must first obtain an access code from their local Diabetes Shoppe. The site also features an easy locator service for members and nonmembers who wish to find a Diabetes Shoppe near their homes.

In addition to the personalized diabetes management program, patients can access the latest news and information on diabetes and related conditions via the web site. Guides to medications, proper nutrition and e-newsletters are also available as are health tools, animated demonstrations of the online program and examples of the proper way to give an insulin injection.

The site content was developed by HealthAtoZ, the premier Internet portal for personalized, accurate and original health and medical information.

About Diabetes Shoppe

Diabetes Shoppe provides independent pharmacies with more than 350 diabetes products, extensive patient education materials and pharmacy certification and training programs. There are approximately 1,000 Diabetes Shoppes throughout the country.

About AmerisourceBergen

AmerisourceBergen (NYSE: ABC) is the largest pharmaceutical services company in the United States dedicated solely to the pharmaceutical supply chain. It is the leading distributor of pharmaceutical products and services to the hospital systems/acute care market, physicians' offices, alternate care and mail order facilities, independent community pharmacies, and regional chain pharmacies. The Company is also a leader in the long-term care pharmacy and workers' compensation fulfillment marketplaces. With more than $40 billion in annualized operating revenue, AmerisourceBergen is headquartered in Valley Forge, PA, and employs more than 13,000 people. AmerisourceBergen is ranked 24th on the Fortune 500 list and was ranked 6th in the 2003 Business Week 50, a list of the 50 best performing companies in the S&P 500. For more information, go to www.amerisourcebergen.com.

About HealthAtoZ

HealthAtoZ, based in Monmouth Junction, N.J., provides customized Web- based solutions and consulting for hospitals and integrated delivery networks, health plans, pharmacy benefit management companies, employer groups, and e-pharmacy sites. Founded in 1995, HealthAtoZ pioneered Internet personalization of health care, online disease and condition management programs and intuitive, interactive e-health tools. HealthAtoZ maintains the public site: www.HealthAtoZ.com for health care consumers as a living laboratory for the development of innovative disease management and health promotion programs.

SOURCE AmerisourceBergen

Barbara Brungess of AmerisourceBergen, +1-610-727-7199,
[email protected], or Iris Raylesberg of Kapnek Communications,
+1-215-830-9890, [email protected], for AmerisourceBergen

http://www.HealthAtoZ.com