J48 — November 2009 —Mayo Clinic Health Manager

Intro: Computers have made many aspects of life easier. You can find programs to help do you taxes, write a will, keep your finances organized, and even help you find the right color paint for your living room. Now there's an interactive program designed to provide your family personalized reminders and guidance from Mayo Clinic based on your medical information. Mayo Clinic has teamed up with Microsoft to give people the tools they need to take control of their health care.

SCHOOL, SPORTS, DANCE CLASS, HOMEWORK. EVERY DAY IN THE SCHULZ HOUSEHOLD IS A BUSY ONE. IT'S MOM'S JOB TO KEEP THINGS ORGANIZED, AND THAT INCLUDES MANAGING THE FAMILY'S HEALTH CARE. LOTS OF INFORMATION OFTEN SCATTERED IN VARIOUS PLACES. SO CHRISTY SCHULTZ WAS QUICK TO REGISTER ON-LINE WHEN MAYO CLINIC AND MICROSOFT LAUNCHED A COMPUTER APPLICATION CALLED MAYO CLINIC HEALTH MANAGER.

"THE MAYO CLINIC HEALTH MANAGER IS A FREE ONLINE HEALTH APPLICATION THAT ASSISTS FAMILIES IN MANAGING THEIR HEALTH CARE."

DR. SIDNA TULLEDGE-SCHEITEL SAYS IT'S A PLACE TO STORE ALL OF YOUR FAMILY'S HEALTH INFORMATION. THE PROGRAM HELPS KEEP YOU ON TRACK – IT SENDS REMINDERS FOR THINGS LIKE WHEN YOUR CHILDREN NEED VACCINATIONS, WHEN IT'S TIME TO HAVE A MAMMOGRAM OR WHEN TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR. IT ALSO GIVES INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO MANAGE CHRONIC CONDITIONS LIKE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, HIGH CHOLESTEROL OR ASTHMA. THE USER-FRIENDLY PROGRAM IS VERY HELPFUL WHEN IT'S TIME TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR.

"IT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO ENTER ALL THE INFORMATION THAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM IN TAKING CARE OF THEIR HEALTH AND TO SHARE IT WITH THEIR DOCTOR IN A FORMAT THEY CAN USE."

A COMPUTER PROGRAM THAT CAN SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE BY HELPING YOU BETTER MANAGE YOUR FAMILY'S HEALTH CARE.

FOR MEDICAL EDGE, I'M VIVIEN WILLIAMS.

Anchor tag: All the information you input in the program is stored in Microsoft HealthVault, which was designed with a focus on privacy and security.

For more information, visit our Website at…

STATIONS: Per the licensing agreement, please provide a link from your station's Web site to www.mayoclinic.org/medical-edge or voice tag "mayoclinic.org/medical-edge" for more information.