Highmark Unit Stopping at BRMC

By George Nianiatus, senior writer
Communications Department


Bradford Regional Medical Center employees are in the business of caring for others. They also believe that it’s just as important to take care of themselves. While most would not consider a tractor trailer a typical source of health and wellness information, the 53-foot Highmark Direct Mobile Unit will provide just that for Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC).

As employees continue to have a greater involvement in their health insurance and care activities, the Highmark Direct Mobile Unit will help BRMC employees better understand such wellness and insurance options with a visit on Wednesday, Aug. 26, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Thursday, Aug. 27, from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 116 Interstate Parkway.

To help BRMC employees sign up for Lifestyle Returns during those two days, Highmark will have its staff onboard the mobile unit with 20 computers so they can quickly and easily register online.

As employees follow their corporate mission of “Caring For Our Community Through The Journey Of Life,” they too will make their personal health lives a priority when they sign up for the Lifestyle Returns Program, says Mariann Kahle, BRMC’s worksite wellness coordinator.

Lifestyle Returns, an incentive-based wellness program from Highmark, officially began Aug. 1 at BRMC to help make employees healthier and even a bit richer. Employees completing the first two program steps will have their names entered in a drawing that will award two $500 prizes (minus taxes). Furthermore, those who complete the five-step program over a nine-month period will have an opportunity to earn $100, Mrs. Kahle says.

Lifestyle Returns gives individuals everything they need to take charge of their health. They start by logging onto their member Web site at www.highmarkbcbs.com and taking the online pledge, say Highmark officials. Then they complete their personal wellness profile. The profile provides individuals with a comprehensive health analysis along with recommendations for a healthier approach to life. Then they will be given the tools, programs and information needed to eat more sensibly, exercise more often, reduce their stress, and to even make more informed and appropriate healthcare decisions.

Unlike other wellness programs that provide one approach for all members, Lifestyle Returns is tailored to an individual's specific health needs. No matter what a person's health status, age or gender, Lifestyle Returns has the programs and tools a person needs to enhance a better healthstyle.

Lifestyle Returns encourages employees to be involved in health actions and become smarter health consumers. It’s an easy-to-follow program that identifies individual health and lifestyle areas in need of improvement and helps individuals develop and keep healthier habits, notes Mrs. Kahle.

Employees will learn about their health risks, how to improve their lifestyles, discover online resources and much more when they step onto the mobile unit.
The Highmark Direct mobile tour is visiting businesses and community events throughout Highmark’s 49-county service area to engage individuals in one-on-one conversations about health insurance at their workplace or in the community.
The Highmark Direct mobile marketing vehicles provide valuable health information to people when and where it’s most convenient for them -- at worksites and communities across Pennsylvania. The mobile marketing vehicle has the on-board technology needed to register new individual members, help with open enrollment events at existing group customer locations, and convert existing members to electronic, Web-based services to cut down on paper waste. The mobile vehicles support Highmark’s mission to provide access to affordable, quality healthcare to enable people to live longer, healthier lives.

As one of the leading health insurers in Pennsylvania, Highmark Inc.’s mission is to provide access to affordable, quality healthcare, enabling individuals to live longer, healthier lives. Based in Pittsburgh, Highmark serves 4.6 million people through the company’s healthcare benefits business.

Highmark contributes millions of dollars to help keep quality healthcare programs affordable and to support community-based programs that work to improve people’s health. Highmark exerts an enormous economic impact throughout Pennsylvania.
A recent study states Highmark’s positive impact exceeded $2.5 billion. The company provides the resources to give its members a greater hand in their health.

Highmark is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans. For more information about Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, visit www.highmark.com.

BRMC is a state-of-the-art, 109-bed acute-care hospital and 95-bed adjacent nursing home and a network of inpatient, outpatient care centers and home health services.
A new $11.5 million Outpatient Services Center opened in 2007 on BRMC’s campus, launching Centers of Excellence in Cardiology, Oncology/Hematology, Behavioral Health and Surgical Services, with Neurosciences and Sleep Disorders as well as Medical Aesthetics as premiere services. A fifth Center of Excellence, Allegheny Vein and Vascular, was unveiled in the latter part of 2008. Also in 2008, a $3.5 million Emergency Department expansion and renovation was completed. Information about BRMC services is available at www.brmc.com.

(Photo courtesy of Highmark Inc.)

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