Planning for End-of-Life Care

An older man and his adult son have a discussion on the couch while looking at a laptop computer.
As a frequent contributor to this blog, I can write pieces fairly quickly, but I have a confession: I’ve been avoiding this one. The truth is that even though most of us know we should be talking about end-of-life care, almost two-thirds of adults are avoiding the topic. It’s easy to understand why. My family is still reeling from the loss of two loved ones late last year,...
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Broad Street Beats: 40 Years Running Edition

Every year, we release a Blue Cross Broad Street Run Beats playlist that’s compiled by members of the Blue Streaks running club. These songs help them stay motivated to keep running while they train for the big race. This year, we wanted to try something different to celebrate 40 years of the Blue Cross Broad Street Run....
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How an Independence Blue Cross Health Coach Can Help You

Health Coach taking a call on a phone headset
I recently interviewed Lisa Lokuta, RN, BSN, a Health Coach in the Independence Blue Cross Case and Condition Management department to get some insight into health coaching. IBX: What is a Health Coach? Lisa: Independence Health Coaches are specially-trained, registered nurses with an average of 8 to 11 years of clinical service. Independence has more than 90 Health Coaches on staff to help our members navigate their health....
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Start Exercising, No Matter Your Condition

A group of people exercising with kettlebells outdoors
Fitness…exercise…moving around. Whatever you want to call it, everyone needs regular physical activity to maintain their health — young, old, overweight, healthy, managing chronic disease, or disabled. So if you’re thinking that routine exercise is only for fitness fanatics and those who are trying to lose weight, think again! By now you’ve probably heard many of the good things that can happen when you start exercising,...
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Celebrating the Role of Nurses in Auditing

Photo of Melissa Little
Independence Blue Cross (Independence) wants to Celebrate Caring by recognizing nurses who carry on the proud tradition of providing compassionate care, comfort, and security to all of us.  Do you know a nurse who delivers exceptional care and compassion every day? We want to hear about it. Submit your story by April 5 and Independence may reward that nurse through our Celebrate Caring campaign....
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Making Communities Healthier: A Nurse’s Story About Her Passion for Population Health

A photo of Katherine Hill Steiner
Independence Blue Cross (Independence) wants to Celebrate Caring by recognizing nurses who carry on the proud tradition of providing compassionate care, comfort, and security to all of us.  Do you know a nurse who delivers exceptional care and compassion every day? We want to hear about it. Submit your story by April 5 and Independence may reward that nurse through our Celebrate Caring campaign....
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Coming Together by Volunteering as a Family at The Kidney Walk

Briana and the Cunninghams, posing while volunteering at the Kidney Walk.
Briana and her family pose for a picture with Rocky Bluewinkle while volunteering at the Wilmington Kidney Walk hosted by the National Kidney Foundation Growing up, my family taught me the importance of giving back, and it always stuck with me. So, when I started working at Independence Blue Cross last February,...
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Interacting with Medical Professionals

An older man lies in a hospital bed, while he and his wife listen to a doctor and nurse.
When you or a loved one need medical care, the health care providers and hospital staff you turn to for help can become your lifelines. That’s why so many people remember the names of the nurses who were in the delivery rooms when their children were born and can recite the habits and mannerisms of the providers who care for them during times of illness....
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Colonoscopy: Most Improved Cancer Screening

A mature couple sits on the couch, enjoying coffee and each other's company.
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and each year I am reminded of the more than 20 years I spent as a surgeon performing colonoscopies. I am struck by how much medical technology has improved for colonoscopy from the procedure’s early days in the 1980s. Both colon and rectal cancer (known together as colorectal cancer) deserve our attention,...
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Medication Reviews: Talking to Your Doctor About Your Prescriptions

An older man examines a medication bottle, as woman uses a laptop
If you’re like the average American over 65, you take about three prescriptions each month (prescribed by more than one doctor) in addition to some over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and supplements. But what do you really know about these medications? Are they safe to take together? Could they cause unwanted side effects? Is it time to stop taking some of them?...
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