Toronto – January 6, 2021 – NexJ Health, a provider of advanced virtual care solutions for chronic disease prevention and management, is pleased to announce that the Wellness Institute, a non-profit organization and the Lifestyle Medicine department of Seven Oaks General Hospital, is implementing NexJ Connected Wellness to launch their Weight Loss for Health Online program as a key component of their digital strategy.

The Wellness Institute’s evidence-based programs were previously delivered face-to-face or through limited online channels. With the rapidly increasing demand for digital health platforms and a new age in healthcare, the use of NexJ Connected Wellness to deliver evidence-based lifestyle behavior change programs will allow the Wellness Institute to drive increased engagement and positive health outcomes. The program aims to reduce the risk of developing severe cardiac complications among people with metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and heart disease. The program will also support participants who are at high risk of developing severe outcomes from COVID-19 infection. A personalized approach will be used to treat metabolic syndrome, promote healthy weight management, decrease the risk of heart disease and foster wellness through behavior change coaching on diet, exercise, and stress management.

Chronic disease continues to be the leading cause of death and disability worldwide [1]. The most common diseases are diabetes, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and cardiovascular disease. Physical inactivity, unhealthy eating, harmful use of alcohol and tobacco are leading contributors to the burden of chronic diseases. One of the objectives of this program is to prevent and better manage chronic disease by improving symptoms and quality of life. It also seeks to reduce costs, improve quality of care, and ensure access to healthcare regardless of time, location, and staff scarcity.

“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect countless lives, bringing an increased demand for digital health services,” says Casie Nishi, Executive Director, the Wellness Institute. “We’re very pleased that NexJ Health will support us to provide a program that is personalized, proactive and enabled by technology to help prevent illness, improve quality of life, and enhance health outcomes for those who have developed a chronic condition.”

“Aligning our business with like-minded organizations is important to NexJ Health. The Wellness Institute starts by improving the lives of individuals, but then extends their mission to positively impact population behavior and health, and ultimately help to reduce demand on the healthcare system,” said Janine Tatham, Vice President of Strategic Accounts at NexJ Health. “Our shared mission to help people live well positions us well for a long term and impactful partnership.”

About NexJ Health Inc.

NexJ Health Inc. is a provider of patient-facing population health management solutions that deliver patient engagement for chronic disease prevention and management. At NexJ Health, we believe that the most efficient and cost-effective way to offset the rise in chronic disease is to empower patients, with the support of their families, friends, and healthcare professionals, to actively participate in managing their own chronic condition(s). By engaging patients through NexJ Connected Wellness, we help to achieve healthcare’s quintuple aim: improve the patient experience, improve population health, lower the per capita cost of care, increase provider satisfaction, and deliver business efficiency. For more information about NexJ Health visit www.nexjhealth.com, e-mail info@nexjhealth.com, or call 416-227-3700.

About the Wellness Institute

The Wellness Institute at Seven Oaks General Hospital is a Certified Medical Fitness Facility and Lifestyle Medicine Centre. As a global leader in lifestyle medicine, they are committed to being at the forefront of the research, prevention, and management of chronic diseases that are influenced by lifestyle factors. We are an important part of the continuum of care offered at the Hospital, providing lifestyle medicine services for prevention, recovery, and rehabilitation. Through this close relationship with the Hospital, we are able to safely improve and maintain the health and well-being of our clients, with a team of medical experts in our corner. We also partner with the Hospital in applied research on chronic disease treatment and prevention through lifestyle medicine.

[1] Facing the Facts: The Impact of Chronic Disease in Canada. https://www.who.int/chp/chronic_disease_report/media/CANADA.pdf