Dr. Ronald J. Brooks MD, FACP
I joined Independence Blue Cross in 2003 after practicing Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and population health. In my current role, I function as the medical liaison to physicians, hospital systems, and provide clinical guidance to programs at Independence. What excites me about my job is the opportunity to design and implement programs that benefit large populations.

Telemedicine Means 24/7 Access to a Doctor

A mother feels her son's forehead while consulting with a doctor via telemedicine
Your condition may not be an emergency, but you need to talk to a doctor. In the past, if you couldn’t see your doctor, your options may have been limited to an urgent care center or the emergency room. Either one costs you more in time and money. Plus, both options may cause you to miss work,...
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A Dangerous Duo: Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease

An older man having his blood pressure checked at the doctor's office.
Diabetes can affect you in many ways: it can commonly cause problems with your eyes, your kidneys, your nerves, and your blood vessels. Unfortunately, it also can have a major impact on your heart. People with diabetes have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels).

The Connection Between Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease

One of the side effects of diabetes is that it can damage your blood vessels....
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Take Control of Your Diabetes

Optometrist giving an eye exam to a senior
If you have diabetes or prediabetes, you may feel at times that your life revolves around the disease. And it’s true that diabetes isn’t something you can just ignore and hope it will go away. But the good news is there are preventive measures you can take to reduce your risk of either developing diabetes or developing complications from diabetes....
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