Quest4Health.com Lauded in Healthcare Category for 'Visionary Application
of Information Technology to Promote Positive Social and Economic Progress'
MADISON, N.J., June 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:
DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and
services, today announced that its subsidiary Quest Diagnostics India Pvt.
Ltd. has been recognized as a Laureate by the International Data Group's (IDG)
Computerworld Honors Program. The award, honoring the company's leadership in
the healthcare category for using information technology to benefit society,
recognized the contributions that its comprehensive internet-based portal
www.Quest4Health.com has made toward the improved health of the people of
India.
"Each year, the Computerworld Honors Program seeks to recognize
organizations, from a variety of sectors, for their ongoing efforts to utilize
technology in order to benefit society," said Ron Milton, Chairman of the
Board of Trustees for the Computerworld Information Technology Awards
Foundation and Executive Vice President of Computerworld. "We congratulate
Quest Diagnostics for introducing a visionary application of information
technology to the healthcare industry that demonstrates a commitment to the
people of India, an informed understanding of the needs of a diverse
population, and an ability to foster a community's improved health through
innovative technologies."
Founded by International Data Group (IDG) in 1988, the Computerworld
Honors Program is governed by the not-for-profit Computerworld Information
Technology Awards Foundation. Each year, the program's Chairmen's Committee, a
group of 100 Chairmen/CEOs of global technology companies, nominates
individuals and organizations around the world whose visionary application of
information technology promotes positive social and economic progress.
"With Quest4Health.com, Quest Diagnostics introduced a first in health
portals, one that combines online diagnostics and social networking, and that
works to spread awareness about prevalent lifestyle diseases and empower
patients with information about risks, prevention and treatment," said Devi
Prasad Karuppur, Ph.D., Vice President, International Market Development. "We
are honored to receive this industry distinction, and gratified to see
healthcare providers, employers and patients in India taking advantage of the
profound benefits that technology-based health information and services can
provide."
More than 300 million people comprise India's middle class, and that
number is growing rapidly. Diabetes alone affected 40 million people in India
in 2007. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that diabetes, heart
disease and stroke together will cost about $333.6 billion over the next 10
years in India alone.
Quest4Health.com, which was developed by Quest Diagnostics India with the
support of HCL Technologies Ltd., allows patients, physicians and employers in
India to securely order tests, schedule appointments and make payments online,
and allows users to sponsor medical tests and wellness packages for family and
friends across geographical distances. Consumers view their results online
through user-friendly wellness reports, which include auxiliary data to help
interpret results and improve community awareness of key lifestyle diseases,
symptoms, diagnosis and prevention. The health portal facilitates patient
interaction with medical specialists and physicians through blogs, forums, and
stories, and provides access, for a second opinion, to independent medical
experts at Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute laboratories. By fostering
online support groups and communities, it harnesses the power of social
networking to help patients share information about disease, therapies,
symptoms, and physicians. A source for general health and disease-related
information, it empowers consumers with access to interactive health tools and
an extensive online health library.
Quest Diagnostics began operating its 65,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art
laboratory in Gurgaon, a satellite city of Delhi, in March 2008. The business
offers the broadest range of diagnostic and wellness testing services in the
industry, including esoteric testing, clinical trials central lab and support
services, and risk assessment services to life insurance companies under the
ExamOne(R) brand. For more information about Quest Diagnostics India, visit
www.QuestDiagnostics.in. For more information about the health portal serving
residents in India, visit www.Quest4Health.com.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics is the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing,
information and services that patients and doctors need to make better
healthcare decisions. The company offers the broadest access to diagnostic
testing services through its network of laboratories and patient service
centers, and provides interpretive consultation through its extensive medical
and scientific staff. Quest Diagnostics is a pioneer in developing innovative
new diagnostic tests and advanced healthcare information technology solutions
that help improve patient care. Additional company information is available
at: www.QuestDiagnostics.com.
About Computerworld
Computerworld is the leading source of technology news and information for
IT influencers worldwide. Computerworld's award-winning Web site
(www.computerworld.com), weekly publication, focused conference series and
custom research form the hub of the world's largest (40+ edition) global IT
media network. In the past six years alone, Computerworld has won more than
100 awards, including Folio Magazine's 2006 Gold EDDIE Award for the best
technology/computing magazine, the 2004 and 2006 Magazine of the Year Award,
and 2006 Best Overall Web Publication from the American Society of Business
Publication Editors (ASBPE). In addition, in 2007 Computerworld's then editor
in chief, Don Tennant, received the prestigious Timothy White Award from
American Business Media. Computerworld leads the industry with an online
audience of over 2 million unique, monthly visitors and a print audience of
1,222,000 readers each week (IntelliQuest CIMS Spring 2007).
SOURCE Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
CONTACT: Barb Short (Media), +1-973-520-2800, or Laure Park (Investors),
+1-973-520-2900, both for Quest Diagnostics
Web Site: http://www.questdiagnostics.com
(DGX)