Company Profile: WebMD Health Services

By Shaylene Keiner, principal, Headhunters NW

Can a NW start-up keep its culture when acquired by a NY company?
Once upon a time there were a couple of Oregon start-ups: WellMed, founded by Craig Froude in 1993; and Sapient Health Network, founded by Dr. James Hicks and William J. Kelly in 1996. Both were Portland start-ups acquired by WebMD; Sapient in 1999 and WellMed in 2002. SAO writer Shaylene Keiner talked to David Rowe, vice president of consumer marketing at WebMD Health Services located in Portland, to find out: How does the culture flex and change from an entrepreneur culture to a large corporate culture?

Background
WebMD provides employers and health plans with private online health portals that enable their employees and plan members to make more informed benefit, treatment and provider decisions.

Through a single, secure gateway, individuals can access their personal health information, which is integrated with medical claims and plan-specific data within WebMD’s personal health record. WebMD's platform delivers relevant health content and targeted messaging based on each individual’s profile. The company's health management services include online and offline health risk assessments, lifestyle education and telephonic health coaching.

WebMD’s platform is designed to provide transparency into the cost and quality of healthcare. Benefits decision-support applications help individuals project future healthcare expenses in retirement, estimate costs for specific treatments and procedures, compare health plan options, choose providers based on quality outcomes, and more.

David Rowe was involved with the SAO in the mid-90s when it was first formed during the time Neil Goldschmidt was governor. David has also been a keynote speaker for the SAO and was very involved with the Internet SIG. He feels that the SAO is a great resource for entrepreneurs. It helps them with early stage funding, building networks, building skills, banking and financial support to be able to form strategy and vision and be able to articulate those in writing as well as verbally. David stated, “SAO has really done a good job of forming a human capital network as well and joined together with other groups and larger organizations.”

Shaylene Keiner: Describe to me how the Portland group at WebMD Health Services works with the New York group at WebMD corporate.

David Rowe: We are a virtually integrated company coast-to-coast, not only with video conferencing but also integrated phone system. We dial just five numbers of an extension and we are on the phone with our co-worker in New York. We are one organization. The Portland operation technically and culturally is integrated as part of WebMD, one of the greatest brands.

SK: Could you share with me what the team consists of here?

DR: The team here provides a full complement of product development, product marketing, engineering development, sales, marketing and client services.

SK: Could you describe for me how WebMD corporate culture compares with that of Portland WebMD Health Services?

DR: NY is the key place for Web development and is the base of our corporate, marketing and sales teams. It is a hot-bed for entrepreneurs, just like Portland. We really share a common vision as WebMD.

SK: You recently moved into new digs; how did WebMD promote the company culture?

DR: When you walk into our building you immediately recognize the Portland culture. We are in the Montgomery Park building on the 7th floor; we have views of the Cascade Mountains, Willamette River and Forest park. During lunch our employees are going running or biking. WebMD invested in a 40-bike corral and a locker room so people can bike or run to work. Ping-pong table, pool table and Starbucks coffee – you know the type. From a design perspective, there are consistent elements in the New York and Portland offices, which make for an integrated look and feel.

SK: How does WebMD Health Services participate in the local community?

DR: We have close ties to the many universities here; not only with recruiting strategies but also many of our staff return as adjunct faculty and speakers. WebMD and WebMD Health Service are very supportive of the community.

SK: What do you see as some of the biggest challenges today for your industry?

DR: Rising consumer, provider and government healthcare costs, along with double-digit growth. Large employers are increasingly turning to employees to participate in helping them make better choices. Better choices=better quality at a lower cost.

SK: In closing David, could you share with our readers about what really sets WebMD and WebMD Health Services apart from others?

DR: What makes us unique is the strength of our brand, our experience, and our offerings. We have the most advanced personalization tools in the industry. We have a unique, personalized portal. We present best solutions and suggestions in a secure HIPAA-compliant environment.

Our online healthcare information, decision-support applications and communications services:

• Help consumers take an active role in managing their health by providing objective healthcare information and lifestyle information.
  
• Make it easier for physicians and healthcare professionals to access clinical reference sources, stay abreast of the latest clinical information, learn about new treatment options, earn continuing medical education credits and communicate with peers.
  
• Enable employers and health plans to provide their employees and plan members with access to personalized heath and benefit information and decision support technology that helps them make informed benefit, provider and treatment choices.

About the author
Shaylene Keiner has been a successful recruiter in the NW since 1997 specializing in accounting and finance. She is the founder and owner of HeadHunters NW, founded in 2004, which provides high quality expertise on a referral-only basis. For more information on HeadHunters NW go to www.headhuntersnw.com Shaylene can be reached at shaylene@headhuntersnw.com