Employee Wellness USA, along with its parent company Health Check USA, is consistently referred to in the media as a pioneer in the health management industry:
August 29, 2007 Corgenix Medical Corporation (OTC BB: CONX), worldwide developer and marketer of diagnostic test kits, has partnered with HealthcheckUSA.com to provide consumers direct access to the state-of-the-art AspirinWorks® Test through HealthcheckUSA’s network of over 3000 patient service centers nationwide at a consumer-friendly price.
According to Holt Vaughan, President of HealthCheckUSA.com, "The company is delighted to be one the first to offer the AspirinWorks® test directly to consumers. We have researched the AspirinWorks® test and think it is a major break through," Vaughan said. "With so many people in this day and age taking aspirin, we believe it is imperative that people understand aspirin does not have the same effect on everyone."
For full press release click here.
Gambeaux Magazine – June 7, 2007 – "Direct-to-Consumer" lab testing service is first of its kind in Louisiana: HealthCheckUSA lab will allow individuals to order blood tests without a doctor's referral."
"To avoid the hassle of tangled and confusing medical bureaucracies, long waits and high costs, many patients go directly to lab testing sites to obtain medical profiles on their own," said Holt Vaughan, President of HealthCheckUSA. "We are proud to offer this convenient and affordable service to the Lake Charles area."
(2007, June 7). Gambeaux Magazine. Vol. 15 Number 11 p. 21
Wall Street Journal – June 20, 2006 – "New Online Services Tout Low-Cost Medical Tests"
"On-line medical-testing services are proliferating as the drive for consumer-driven health care gains momentum… HealthCheckUSA… and others (are) offering to set up patients for the same diagnostic tests as walk-in lab services, hospitals and clinics. Customers visit a Web site, select a specific test, enter a zip code and receive directions to a specimen collecting laboratory. Users pay with credit cards or a health savings account and don’t need their doctor's prescription -- unlike walk-in clinics, which typically require a personal physician's approval."
(2006, June 20). New Online Services Tout Low-Cost medical Tests. Wall Street Journal. P. D4.
Newsweek – February 6, 2006 – "In Our Blood"
"For $200 and up, a company called HealthCheckUSA will test your DNA (provided by cheek swab) for eight genetic illnesses, including Celiac disease (an intestinal disorder) and Hemochromatosis (an overload of iron). ‘People call us on a daily basis and let us know we helped save their life,’ says company President Holt Vaughan."
(2006, February 6). In Our Blood. Newsweek Magazine. P. 46-55.
WOAI News, Jaie Avila - July 3, 2005 - "Checking the Validity of Home DNA Tests"
"HealthCheck USA, a San Antonio company, offers the hemochromatosis test. For $205 you get a pair of brushes that you use to scrape DNA samples from the inside of your cheek. Then you ship in the samples, and the test results are sent back to you."
“The DNA testing is offering people the opportunity to find out things about their health they've never been able to do in the past,” explains Company President Holt Vaughan.
Avila, Kaie. (Correspondent). (2005, July 3). WOAI News. San Antonio, TX: WOAI (NBC Affiliate, San Antonio, TX.)
Wall Street Journal - May 24, 2005 - New Kits Let You Test Your Own Genes, But Interpreting the Results Is Tricky
"Companies such as … HealthCheckUSA in San Antonio sell tests online. HealthCheckUSA offers its customers genetic counseling services through Kimball Genetics Inc., a genetic testing lab in Denver… 'We just make it practical for people,' says HealthCheckUSA President Holt Vaughan."
Lueck, Sarah. (2005, May 24). New Kits Let You Test Your Own Genes, But Interpreting the Results Is Tricky, p. D1.
Living Well with Hyperthyroidism by Mary J. Shoman
"If you can't get anywhere with your doctor or HMO, or want to move more quickly, order your own lab tests. HealthCheckUSA lets you get TSH tests, or full thyroid panels, at local laboratories, often at tremendous savings over what your doctor might charge. The results will be provided to you."
Shoman, Mary J. Living Well With Hyperthyroidism. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 2005 (p. 186)
Pharmacogenomics Reporter - January 27, 2005 - As Genetic Testing Grows, Will Direct-to-Consumer Companies Fly or Fly by Night?
"The education that is out there on the Internet is providing people a wealth of information about what tests are good for what they want, " says Holt Vaughan, President of HealthCheckUSA.
(2005, January 27) As Genetic Testing Grows, Will Direct-to-Consumer Companies Fly or Fly by Night? By Chris Womack. Pharmacogenomics Reporter. Page 4, volume 3, number 4.
More Magazine - May, 2004 - Brave New World Of Testing
"For people who don't have insurance, tests ordered through a discount provider can save money. Even if you are insured, it can make costs more predictable. 'If you pay up front, you know your out-of-pocket costs,' says Holt Vaughan, President of HealthCheckUSA."
(2004, May). Brave New World of Testing. More Magazine. P. 150-158.
Fitness & Health Magazine – August, 2003 – Healthcheck offers VAP Test at H-E-B Pharmacies: Expanded Cholesterol Screening.
“Healthcheck, a San Antonio-based company that markets clinical laboratory tests directly to consumers, announces the availability of the VAP test in San Antonio and the area H-E-B stores. The VAP test, recently listed as one of the “Five Tests Worth Paying For” by the Wall Street Journal, is a simple blood test providing a profile of factors that may cause heart disease.”
(2003, August). Healthcheck’s offering of the new VAP test at the H-E-B pharmacies in Texas. Fitness and Health Magazine. P. 8.
Houston Business Journal – June 23, 2003 – Consumers giving retail health care shot in the arm.
“Pat Hardy, an account executive with HealthCheckUSA, says the company has been operating in HEB (grocery) San Antonio-area stores for many years. There, HealthCheckUSA sees up to 40 customers a day.
HealthCheckUSA’s Vice President, Holt Vaughan says the company is witnessing a revolution in direct-to-consumer health care services. Among the most popular tests at HealthCheckUSA test sites are cholesterol, kidney, liver, complete blood count and prostate cancer tests. Vaughan cites reasonable pricing, convenience and a “worry well” demographic for the company’s recent growth spurt. He says all results are screened by the company, and patients are urged to consult a physician if abnormalities appear in a test. Since the tests aren’t ordered by a physician, most consumers pay the entire expense out-of-pocket.”
Wollam, Allison. (2003, July 23). Consumers giving retail health care shot in the arm. The Houston Business Journal.
US News and World Report – May 19, 2003 – “Testing Made Easy."
"This gives me more power," says Rinah Levine, 43, a rancher from Conifer, Colo., who used HealthCheckUSA to get a complete blood count and a sophisticated thyroid test. 'I wasn't getting the answers or tests I needed from my doctor. Plus it's economics. The thyroid panel ordered by my endocrinologist in Boulder cost me $210. The same test through HealthCheckUSA costs $75."
Fishman, Josh. (2003, May 19). Testing Made Easy? US News and World Report, pp. 55-56.
The View – May 5, 2003 – Dr. Lawrence Kobilinsky was a guest of ABC’s “The View,” with Barbara Walters. Dr. Kobilinsky cited HealthCheckUSA as a resource for new “cutting edge” DNA testing you can do right at home. He discussed HealthCheckUSA testing everything from Cystic Fibrosis, to blood clotting, to Hemochromatosis.
Jones, Audrey. (Producer). (2003, May 5.) The View. New York, NY: American Broadcasting Company.
San Antonio Express News – May 5, 2003 – “High CRP bodes ill for heart health: Liver Protein a red flag for stroke, coronary”.
“Still with the flurry of publicity in the wake of this study has caused a run on blood tests to screen for the protein. HealthCheckUSA, a San Antonio-based company that markets clinical laboratory tests directly to consumers, has seen sales skyrocket.
“We’ve already sold as many tests in the first three months (of 2003) than we did all of last year,” says executive vice president Holt Vaughan.”
Marini, Richard. (2003, May 5) High CRP bodes ill for heart health: Liver Protein a red flag for stroke, coronary. San Antonio Express News, p. 1C.
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance – May 2003 – “Bypass Operations”
"Weary of dealing with doctors, insurance companies and other medical gatekeepers, a growing number of patients are ordering - and paying for -clinical laboratory tests on their own, without a physician referral. Annual spending by patients at direct-access labs is expected to increase five-fold in the next two years. Patients have their blood drawn at the same labs that doctors use, and can select which tests they want including screens for prostate cancer, risk of cardiovascular disease, hormone levels, thyroid health and HIV. Some labs rely on such webs sites such as ... HealthCheckUSA (www.healthcheckusa.com) to market their services. ”
Burt, Erin. (2003, May) Bypass Operations. Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. P.30.
Prevention Magazine – April 2003 – “Secrets in Your Blood: Skip the doc, order your own tests.”
"… Two big providers are Quest Diagnostics and HealthCheckUSA… After ordering a test, you visit a local lab where your blood is drawn. Results, with an explanation, are posted on a secure Web site, accessible only with a log-in and password (or by mail).”
Dollemore, Doug. (2003, April) Secrets in Your Blood: Skip the doc, order your own tests. Prevention Magazine p. 42
CBS Evening News with Dan Rather, CBS News Sunday Morning
– February 28, 2003 & March 2, 2003 – “Personalized Genetics.”
“Marty Schiff (a HealthCheckUSA customer) collected DNA from his cheek -- also for an at-home genetic test. It's for the disorder Hemochromatosis, which can cause the body to store lethal amounts of iron. His results will come to him directly, not his doctor or his insurance company.
"I'm in control, I don't have to have a doctors permission to get a genetic test. You do it and you send it back and they let you know whether you have a problem or not," he said.
Andrews, Wyatt. (Correspondent). (2003, February 28). CBS Evening News with Dan Rather. New York and Washington, DC: CBS.
Andrews, Wyatt. (Correspondent). (2003, March 2). CBS News Sunday morning. New York and Washington, DC: CBS.
Marie Claire Magazine – March 2003 – “Is playing doctor dangerous to your health?”
"If you have a hunch about your health, but your doctor dismisses it, ‘Do It Yourself’ can pay off. Sandra Thomas, president of the American Hemochromatosis Society, often encourages people who think they have hemochromatosis (a difficult-to-diagnose metabolic disorder which can lead to iron poisoning) to self test … She refers people to the HealthCheckUSA website (www.healthcheckusa.com) where, for $235, they can order a series of blood tests to see if their body’s iron levels are elevated. Also included is a simple cheek-swipe genetic test to see if they were born with the disorder, which has vague symptoms like fatigue and weight loss. ‘Now you can basically diagnose yourself. And sometimes, that’s the only way you’ll ever find out.”
Brownlee, Shannon & Goodman, Aaron. (2003, March) Is playing doctor dangerous to your health? Marie Claire Magazine pp.262-269
San Antonio Express News – "No Doctor’s Necessary: This company provides money-saving health tests over the Web."
"The whole trend in health care is pro-activity, " says Dr. George Vaughan, CEO of HealthCheckUSA. "There is a definite need and desire for people to take charge of their health."
Lorek, L.A.. (2003, January 16) No Doctor’s Necessary: This company provides money-saving health tests over the Web. San Antonio Express News, p. 1E.
Time Magazine – October 28, 2002 – “Who Needs Doctors?”
"At least once a year, Neil Koun calls HealthCheckUSA in San Antonio and orders up a battery of laboratory tests. Then he drives to a lab three miles from his home in Naples, Fla., and has his blood drawn. The tests, which cost $140, are conducted by his neighborhood lab; Healthcheck collects the results and delivers them directly to him. Each of the 45 measurements is explained in detail; the numbers that raise red flags are sequestered in a column for his attention. And Koun, a 65-year-old investment banker, pays attention — especially to his prostate specific antigen (psa) scores. The psa results, Healthcheck tells him, can be a harbinger of prostate cancer. "I have a lot of friends who've got it," says Koun."
Kher, Unmesh. (2002, October 28). Who Needs Doctors? Time Magazine, p. 50-51.
ABC News.com – October 8, 2002 – “Consumer Care: Medical Test Marketing Appeals to Consumers, Freezes Out Physicians.”
“Why are people seeking out these direct-to-consumer tests and services? Holt Vaughn is the vice president of HealthCheckUSA, a direct-to-consumer laboratory testing service based in San Antonio that provides tests for everything from syphilis to hepatitis to Lyme disease.
Vaughn says he has identified three main reasons why people are attracted to these types of services that allow patients to skip their physicians as middleman. Convenience is No. 1.
'Utilizing a service like ours, [consumers] can simply log on to our Web site … pick the location that is closest to them, we send them the paperwork and they can walk into a lab at their convenience, have the blood work done and they're in and out in 10 minutes,' he says.
With the cost of insurance skyrocketing and leaving millions uninsured, pricing ranks No. 2. Because they refer larger numbers of patients to labs, services like HealthCheckUSA are able to offer common tests at discounted rates.
The third reason Vaughn cites is the greater control over health care that direct-to-consumer services provide. 'There has just been an overwhelming desire from people to take charge of their own health,' he says.”
Judd, Jackie and Willis, Melinda. (October 8, 2002). Consumer Care: Medical Test Marketing Appeals to Consumers, Freezes Out Physicians. ABC News.com. Retrieved October 9, 2002.
The Wall Street Journal – September 17, 2002 – “At-Home Medical Tests Provide Convenience for the Busy, Curious.”
“Curious about your cholesterol but too busy to go to the doctor? A growing number of people are using direct-to-consumer lab services, which let you order your own blood and urine tests for everything from allergies to the AIDS virus.”
Davis, Robert J.. (2002, September 17). At-Home Medical Tests Provide Convenience for the Busy, Curious. The Wall Street Journal, p. D4.
Los Angeles Times – August 11, 2002 – “Firms Sell Gene Tests Directly to Public”
“...There's a strong need and a strong desire to take charge of your health, and we're giving people the ability to do this,” said Holt Vaughan, an official from HealthCheckUSA.
Zitner, Aaron. (August 11, 2002.) “Firms Sell Gene Tests Directly to the Public.“ The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 15, 2002.
St. Petersburg Times – August 6, 2002 – “Tests for Sale (doctor not included).”
“Patient-directed medical testing is not new. Lab test Web sites such as HealthCheckUSA.com will connect you with a laboratory that will draw and analyze your blood without a doctor's order.”
Caldwell, Alicia. (August 6, 2002.) “Tests for Sale (doctor not included).“ St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved August 14, 2002.
Healthgate.com – July 1, 2002 – “Ordering Your Own Lab Tests.”
“Consumers request the tests they want online or by phone and receive a form to take to a local lab, where blood is drawn or a urine sample is collected. Labs performing the tests are the same ones used by hospitals and doctors’ offices. But self-ordered tests (HealthCheckUSA) cost less than the normal fee.”
Wood, Deb. (July 1, 2002.) “Ordering your own lab tests.” Healthgate. Retrieved July 11, 2002.
The Los Angeles Times – June 24, 2002. “Skip the Doctor on the Way to the Lab.”
“HealthCheckUSA of San Antonio reports doing several thousand tests this year with a 200% increase in sales since January 2001.”
Carey, Benedict. (2002, June 24). Skip the Doctor on the Way to the Lab. The Los Angeles Times, p. S1.
ReasonOnline (Reason.com) – April 3, 2002 – “Doctor's Don't Like It When Patients Can Do Without Them.”
“...Consumers use the information to decide whether or not to see their physicians. The test results are supplied confidentially to consumers - HealthCheckUSA, for example, supplies lab results via the Internet using 128-bit encryption.”
Baily, Ronald. (April 3, 2002) Test Thyself: Doctors don't like it when patients can do without them. ReasonOnline. Retrieved May 6, 2002, from http://www.reason.com/rb/rb040302.shtml.
The Patriot Ledger (Boston) – March 13, 2002 – “Home Doctoring: Do-It-Yourself Medical Tests On The Rise”
“...An even newer marketing innovation lets consumers get complex tests directly from laboratories, without seeing the doctor...One of several companies selling the service on the Internet, Texas-based HealthCheckUSA...”
Reinert, Sue. (2002, March 13). Home Doctoring: Do-It-Yourself Medical Tests on the Rise. The Patriot Ledger, p. 1.
New York Times – March 12, 2002 – “Blood-Test Labs Bypass Doctors, Spurring Debate”
“Dottye Howard, 49, of New York City, says ordering her own blood tests has improved her thyroid problem. The thyroid test she takes every six to eight weeks helps her doctor adjust the medications so she has optimal levels in her body. Ms. Howard's managed care company refused to pay for the tests, so she orders them directly from HealthCheckUSA for $85 out of pocket, less expensive than if her own doctor had ordered the tests.”
Tarkan, Laurie. (2002, March 12). Blood-Test Labs Bypass Doctors, Spurring Debate. The New York Times, P. D6.
PBS – November 11, 2001 – HealthCheckUSA.com was featured on the episode of HealthWeek (Host, Bettina Gregory, ordered a test through HealthCheckUSA and comments on her experience)
“... The site (HealthCheckUSA.com) has a number of tests to choose from. I picked what's called a General Health Profile + CBC + Thyroid Panel I It includes lots of tests like cholesterol ratio, kidney and liver function. And its recommended for first-timers. Then I was sent to this lab near my home to get my blood drawn. I walked in, filled out a short form, and was in having my test done in no time You can get your results, either at the company's website, or by regular mail. I was able to get my results on-line in 48 hours.”
Resnick, Meredith. (Producer). (2001, November 11.) Healthweek. Washington, DC: Public Broadcasting Service.
About.com – October 25, 2001 – “How to Get Your Thyroid Tested Without a Doctor”
“...A new service, known as 'HealthCheckUSA' allows you to order that same medically accepted thyroid lab tests accepted thyroid lab tests ordered by physicians.”
Shomon, Mary. (2001, Oct. 25) How to order Thyroid Tests without a Doctor: A New Service lets you order your own tests. About.com. Retrieved May 6, 2002, from http://thyroid.about.com/library/weekly/aa062101a.htm?terms=HealthCheckUSA.
San Antonio Business Journal – July 13, 2001 – HealthCheckUSA to offer blood-test results online
“... The move into cyberworld has opened new doors for the San Antonio-based company (HealthCheckUSA), which provides health-testing services for communities, corporations and school districts...”
Thomas, Mike W. (2001, July 13). HealthCheckUSA to offer blood-test results online. The San Antonio Business Journal, p. 11.
WebMD Health – June 20, 2001 – No MD Required: Patients Can Order Their Own Medical Tests
“... HealthCheckUSA.coms tests are 50% cheaper than what consumers would pay through a physicians office...”
Mitchell, Steve. (June 21, 2001). No MD Required: Patients Can Order Their Own Medical Tests. WebMD Health. Retrieved December 14, 2001, from http://my.webmd.com/content/article/1728.81816.
Wall Street Journal – June 8, 2001 – Patients Bypass Doctors To Get Medical Tests Directly From Labs
“HealthCheckUSA.com Director Holt Vaughan says many patients are worried about privacy and don't want test results to become part of their medical records. Men often request PSA prostate-cancer screening tests because they want to take the tests twice a year, but don't want to bother with a doctors visit. The sites most popular offering is the VIP-Plus package...”
Parker-Pope, Tara. (2001, June 6). Patients Bypass Doctors To Get Medical Tests Directly From Labs. The Wall Street Journal, p. B1.
