SAN DIEGO, Feb. 14, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- American Specialty Health (ASH), the nation's premier personal health improvement organization, garnered nine awards -- including the prestigious "best of show" award -- from the Health Care Communicators of San Diego at their awards dinner on Thursday, Feb. 7. The annual Finest Awards recognize excellence in communications through a variety of media in the health care industry.
Entries included public relations campaigns, feature and marketing writing, advertising, trade show exhibits, special events, and others. A rotating group of independent marketing and communication professionals review the entries each year.
ASH subsidiary Healthyroads, Inc. took home the evening's top award -- "Best of Show" -- for its eXtremeQUIT(r) teen tobacco cessation materials. The materials, consisting of a teen and a parent guidebook, a pocket-sized tobacco journal for teens to carry with them and record their tobacco use, and two incentive brochures designed to encourage teens and their families to enroll in the program, received a perfect score from the HCC judges. In addition to Best of Show, a gold distinction was given for these materials in the Publications, Collateral & Design: Brochures - Series (3 or more colors) category. ASH's 2006 corporate "Year in Review" brochure won a Gold award in the Publications, Collateral & Design: Brochures - Single (3 or more colors) category. ASH also received a Gold Award for its "'I Stepped it Up with George & Bob' Challenge" campaign in the Special Events, Internal: Multiple-Day Event category.
ASH earned a Silver Award for its 2007 "Sea of Stars" corporate awards banquet, which took place at SeaWorld in San Diego.
ASH's Health Plan Sales brochure and eXtremeFUN parent supplemental guide received Silver awards. The eXtremeFUN program was created to provide families with tools and information to help their children lead healthier lives.
In addition to the Gold and Silver Awards, ASH received two Bronze Awards for its internal wellness campaign and for its FitnessCoach(r) health improvement online Flash classes.
"We are extremely honored to receive these prestigious distinctions from the Health Care Communicators," said George DeVries, chairman and chief executive officer of ASH. "Being recognized by the health care communications industry just goes to show that our materials and programs are created with a deep commitment to quality and excellence."
About American Specialty Health
American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH) is one of the nation's premier personal health improvement organizations, providing specialty benefit programs, fitness programs, health coaching and incentives, Internet solutions, and worksite wellness programs to health plans, insurance carriers, employer groups, and trust funds nationwide.
Based in San Diego, ASH has over 600 employees and covers more than 13.4 million members in specialty benefit, fitness, and coaching programs. For more information, visit ASH online at ASHCompanies.com or call 800.848.3555.