Healthways Honored as IT Savvy

Well-being enhancement company Healthways (HWAY - Analyst Report) recently revealed that it has entered the latest Information Week 500, a yearly listing of the most creative users of technology in American business. This was the fifth straight year in which Healthways received the honor. This year, Healthways was rated at position 158 out of 500 recipient firms.

Information Week recognizes the country’s most creative users of IT through its yearly 500 list. It focuses on creativity in IT rather than merely the quantum of spending on IT.

Healthways was bestowed the honor on account of its wellbeingGO and Well-Being Connect mobile and online ability for its Embrace 5.0 know-how. Over 6.5 million clients are using these applications. Well-Being Connect is a tailor made behavior modification application. The wellbeingGO mobile application permits clients to mingle as per their convenience.

The Healthways model encourages people to make favorable lifestyle changes that lead to enhanced well-being, reduced healthcare costs, improved performance and economic value for customers. The company has invested in technology platforms that provide scalable support with large populations. It has tie-ups with a large proportion of U.S. health plans and counts many millions of lives in its customer base.

Due to its unique scalable business model, Healthways shares may present a long-term investment opportunity, although it faces many challenges in the short term.

Healthways is the leader in a strategically critical and rapidly evolving part of the health care services market. Its fitness program (SilverSneakers) for seniors is available at 14,000 centers across the U.S. and caters to several million eligible enrollees. Healthways competes with Express Scripts (ESRX - Analyst Report) among others.

We currently have a Neutral recommendation on Healthways. The stock retains a Zacks #3 Rank, which translates into a short-term Hold rating.