Contact: Ron Schmid McNeil Consumer Products Company (215) 233-8146
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TYLENOL(R) OPENS INTERNET SITE
WITH ANSWERS TO HEALTH QUESTIONS
FORT WASHINGTON, PA (March 1997) -- TYLENOL(R), the world's leading
over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever, has launched a new site
(www.Tylenol.com) on the Internet where consumers and healthcare professionals can find important information about the proper use of OTC pain medications, common illnesses, pain management and self-care.
The technologically sophisticated, yet user friendly, TYLENOL site is
divided into sections for consumers and healthcare professionals. This
structure allows users easy access to the type of data they are most likely to
need. A simplified navigation index and multi-frame screen design enables
users to jump from one topic to another without tedious repetition of
previously viewed screens.
With over 125 pages of healthcare information, Tylenol.com uses advanced
3-D animation to illustrate why patients experience the discomfort of common
illnesses and how to tell when more serious conditions may be present. An
artificial intelligence program talks to patients about their symptoms and,
through a series of questions, helps them select the right TYLENOL product
and self-care treatments to relieve their discomfort.
Healthcare professionals will find one of the Internet's most extensive
discussions on the appropriate use of OTC pain relievers, complete with
research citations and a bibliography of over 80 peer-reviewed studies on
pain management.
"Our primary motivation for creating Tylenol.com was to share with patients
and healthcare professionals the extensive information we have gathered
through our research and development of safe, effective products," explained
Glen Griffiths, Vice President, Strategic Promotion for McNeil Consumer
Products Company, the maker of TYLENOL. "We recognized that consumers are
often confused about choices in OTC products and that professionals want to
review well-documented studies supporting the safety of OTC pain relievers.
The Internet is the first communication channel that enables us to respond
in-depth to the needs of both audiences at once."
One area of consumer information that Griffiths expects to be highly
popular is the KidCare Guide, which is divided into the following pages:
home safety, common child ailments, medicine cabinet checklist, infant skin
care, feeding infants, baby-sitting and daycare.
A typical advisory from the KidCare Guide: "Some babies develop a temporary
milk intolerance when they have diarrhea. If your baby takes formula, you may
want to switch to a soy-based, lactose-free formula until your baby is
better."
Griffiths also hopes to use the site as an additional communications
vehicle for various McNeil campaigns.
"Children's TYLENOL has recently launched a nationwide consumer safe dosing campaign to help parents safely administer OTC medications to their children," he said. "Portions of that campaign, including a safe-dosing video, will be among the first campaign elements incorporated into the TYLENOL site."
Tylenol.com also contains links to other authoritative sources of health
information. A click of a computer mouse can carry a visitor to websites for
the American Medical Association, the Arthritis Foundation, and the American
College of Rheumatology.
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