In the Pursuit of Health - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida

A Calming Voice in a Time of Need

2012-02-17T09:37:00.001-05:00

Loren was having a normal day when something went amiss. She was rushed to the emergency room with chest pains and later found that she had experienced a coronary occlusion. What surprised her was that she had always been in good health, was fairly young and did not have a history of cardiac problems. After being discharged, Loren’s husband, concerned for her welfare, called Blue Cross to better understand their treatment options. The customer service representative who took their call addressed their benefit issues and referred them to the Care Consultant Team. They were in need of answers from a qualified professional to help them understand what they were facing.

Enter Chris Carlee, a registered nurse and a member of the Chronic Condition Management Team at Blue Cross. This team of specialized nurses assists members in understanding and managing their rare and/or chronic conditions, such as asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and lupus.

Chris’s main responsibility is serving as a point of contact for members with a cardiovascular condition and assisting them in their journey to better health. Loren’s tests during hospitalization revealed that additional outpatient diagnostic testing was needed to confirm possible causes.

Stressed and worried, Chris’s help was a godsend to the couple in getting the tests approved and scheduled. Chris personally called the specialist offices and imaging review vendor to facilitate the review process. Her diligence helped to get the tests scheduled and approved. Loren says, “Everybody thinks of Blue Cross as an insurance company. But my experience showed me that there were other purposes and ways I could get help from my insurance. Not only did Chris help me with getting the tests scheduled, she also gave me information about my benefit plan and education about signs and symptoms to watch out for.”

Chris says she was happy to help. “My goal was to be a calming voice to help her manage her stress and concern about her condition, while helping her navigate the healthcare system”. Part of that navigation involved helping Loren understand her benefits, coordinating services amongst multiple providers, providing Loren with community resources, telephonic education and health coaching on self-management tools/resources. Chris collaborated with co-workers, managers, social workers, and other BCBSF departments to help meet Loren’s healthcare needs.

Chris and Loren have one goal in telling their story – they hope that other Blue Cross members in similar situations will take advantage of the multiple services at Blue Cross to help manage their condition better. “I hope that members will reach out for help when they have questions about their health condition or when they need assistance in navigating the health care system. Just call Blue Cross Customer Service,” says Chris, “the phone number on your ID card, and explain the situation. Members can be assured that they will be referred to the care program that best suits their specific needs.”

Ultimately, Chris is glad she was able to assist Loren through this difficult process. “She is a joy to work with and her positive attitude is an inspiration to me.”

Have a story to tell us about a positive experience you had with BCBSF? Email us at socialmedia@bcbsfl.com. For more information on the Care Consultant Team, refer to www.bcbsfl.com.

Just Breathe … and Heal!

2012-02-13T08:54:00.000-05:00

Recently, I attended a friend’s dinner party and just as the main course was served, I felt as though a mini Mack truck had plowed into the side of my head. The pain was so sudden and so intense that it stopped me cold in my tracks. Because this wasn’t the first time I’ve experienced a classic migraine, I knew exactly what I needed to do – locate the nearest dark cool room. Minutes later, locked in my friend’s guest bathroom, I began my Pranayama Yoga breathing exercises and instantly began to relax. With each inhalation, I filled my lungs with cleansing oxygen, and with each exhalation, I released the toxic carbon dioxide.

Almost immediately, the muscles in my neck began to relax and the intense pain on the side of my head began to dissipate. A few short minutes later, the familiar tingling feeling – as if my hair was growing – let me know that the “danger” had passed and the much anticipated relief from the pain had finally arrived.

I first learned of Pranayama breathing while reading a book entitled, “The Magic of Believing,” by Claude M. Bristol. In the book, the author describes a woman who, after suffering from years of debilitating arthritis, healed her pain by performing simple breathing exercises. Being a migraine sufferer myself, the idea of using breath work instead of taking powerful prescription medications resonated with me. I also discovered that in addition to using breath work to help heal an array of illnesses, I alone possess the power to decide if I am going to be a vessel of health and peace, or one of stress, anxiety, and ultimately “dis-ease”. When you give into daily stressors, your heart rate, breathing rate, muscle tension and blood pressure increases and in response, your body produces adrenaline. This is great if you’re in a life threatening situation, but not so healthy on a day-to-day basis. Practicing Yoga and Pranayama can help break this toxic stress cycle, and give your body the opportunity it needs to heal. Yoga and breathing exercises may also help to alleviate common ailments such as allergies. According to Clifford W. Bassett, M.D., an allergist who is medical director of Allergy and Asthma Care of New York, "Yoga and postural exercises exert a relaxation response that may modify the negative effects of psychological stress on proper immune function."

So breathe easy! Practicing deeply healing Pranayama breathing can transform your body, mind, and soul into a vessel of healing. For more information on Pranayama breathing, refer to “Breathing Lessons” by Tony Briggs at http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/219. For a step-by-step guided practice, Dr. Andrew Weil has a CD entitled, “Breathing: The Master Key to Self Healing” at http://www.amazon.com/Breathing-Master-Key-Self-Healing/dp/156455726X/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324944199&sr=1-8.

Breathing exercises are easy to learn. You don’t need any special equipment or tools, and you can do them throughout the day to help relieve symptoms of stress, reduce tension, and improve your overall health.

Have you practiced Pranayama breathing before? If so, share your story with us here!

HopeBlue Palliative Care: Filling a Gap

2011-11-16T13:46:00.001-05:00

“Don’t worry - help is on the way.” This simple sentence must have sounded like a life preserver being thrown to a drowning person. Indeed, Dr. Frank Santamaria, administering to the needs of a patient suffering from severe difficulties with breathing, was able to provide the patient his first night’s rest in months. The next morning, not only was the patient feeling better, his wife was ecstatic with relief: “You don’t know what you’ve done! I can’t tell you the difference you made for him.” No doubt she had her first night of rest in a long time, too.

Dr. Santamaria came to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida on a mission: he wants to make palliative care services available to more patients in Florida than he was able to do as a medical director at a local hospice organization. Palliative care, in its simplest form, is treatment which may alleviate pain and symptoms of a serious illness and works to improve a patient’s quality of life. Symptoms may include severe pain; constant nausea or vomiting; inability to breathe without tremendous effort; anxiety; depression or others. People who want to receive palliative care do not have to be end-stage in their illness, nor do they have to forgo additional curative care – two requirements for admission to a hospice program. Rather, palliative care can be given along with therapies such as chemotherapy as a way to manage debilitating symptoms. It helps a person live better with his condition, and gives the family more quality time with their loved one.

Dr. Santamaria explained it this way: our current health care system does a good job addressing the medical needs of people suffering from acute or chronic diseases (think a urinary tract infection or diabetes). It also has evolved in serving the needs of those towards end-of-life (think hospice programs). What is lacking in the continuum of care are services for patients in the middle: those whose quality of life is poor, and getting worse as their condition worsens, yet are not at a point where hospice is appropriate. Palliative care is meant to fill that gap.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida is now piloting HopeBlue, a comprehensive palliative care program for members offered through Chapters Health Palliative Care. HopeBlue is available first in Hillsborough County. It will extend into Hardee, Highlands and Polk counties over successive months. Eventually, the intent is to make it available to our members statewide. BCBSF nurse case managers assisting members in those counties will help identify patients who are eligible to participate and who might benefit from the program. Members can then voluntarily elect to join the pilot – at no additional cost to them.

Why participate? Dr. Santamaria gives another compelling example: he was able to assist a man living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who found it daunting even to talk on the phone or walk to his mailbox because of his severe shortness of breath. “His quality of life was very poor. [After palliative treatment,] the man can now walk to the mailbox, and can speak more than just a few words at a time on the phone. He’s no longer quite as impaired [by his symptoms.] The man says his quality of life is three times what it was.”

Want to know more about HopeBlue? Call our nurse case managers at 1-800-955-5692, option 4. November is also National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. Read more about how palliative care can make a difference when it’s needed the most.

We’d like to know what you think. If you have questions about palliative care in general, or the HopeBlue program, write them here and we’ll be sure to respond back with information from our medical team.

Halloween Recipes

2011-10-28T13:25:00.001-04:00

Halloween is just around the corner and our very own chef-in-residence, Shelby Brethour, has come up with some amazing Halloween recipes that are fast and fun to make. By day, Shelby works hard at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida. By evening, she is a self-proclaimed kitchen goddess and food blog writer at http://www.shelbysfoodblog.blogspot.com/. In her work capacity, she travels all across the state and has had the great opportunity to eat and taste much amazing food. In our brand new section, Shelby will be using her many food adventures to bring us some amazing recipes from all around the state.

Low Fat Pumpkin Dip

Ingredients

-1 (8 ounce) package fat free cream cheese, softened

-2 cups confectioners' sugar

-1 (15 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin

-1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

-1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice

-1 teaspoon orange juice

Directions:

In a medium bowl, blend cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth.
Gradually mix in the pumpkin.
Stir in the cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and orange juice until smooth and well blended.
Chill until serving. Serve with cookies, fruit, or spread on toasted pieces of whole wheat bread and Enjoy!!!

Turkey Dog Mummies

Ingredients

-1 can of reduced fat crescent roll dough

-1 package of turkey dogs

-Yellow Mustard

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Open the pack of turkey dogs and pat them dry.
Open the crescent roll dough. Take one piece of the crescent roll dough at the bottom of the turkey dog and wrap it up the turkey dog so that it looks like a mummy.
Repeat on all the turkey dogs and place on a baking sheet.
Cook 15 minutes or until the dough is golden brown.

Do you have a favorite Halloween recipe? Comment below and let us know.

Yoga - A Journey

2011-10-17T10:43:00.001-04:00

With close to 11 million Americans practicing it, yoga is certainly a fitness routine that has captured our nation. From flexibility to strength, the many benefits of yoga have been widely discussed. In talking to Sandy Mika (our resident yoga buff), we were inspired to share more on the topic. Such was her love for the discipline that we thought it’d be best if she spoke of it in her own words.

Photo credit: Laura Faith

When I was 16, my mother signed me up for self-hypnosis classes to treat my migraine headaches. Every Wednesday night, I would go to our local high school, take my usual seat at the back and quickly slip right into my own private world. I’d envision the headache as an overflowing coke bottle that I would meticulously mop up and then ring out into a bucket. I then take that bucket, place it into a hot air balloon and off it sailed until I could no longer see it. Before I knew it an hour had passed and the instructor was sounding her chimes to gently bring us back to reality. I didn’t realize it at the time, but this was “meditation” in every sense of the word and that this wonderful practice would be the thread that connected me to yoga many years later.

Photo credit: Laura Faith

Let me be completely honest, I am the most anti-exercise, TV loving, laying on the couch, staying in my pajamas all weekend girl you’ll ever meet. I have failed at every diet and workout routine strategy known to mankind mainly because I’m not what you’d call disciplined and I really hate to sweat. You name it, I’ve tried it – and failed miserably. Aerobics, jogging, Zumba, Pilates, spinning, “bootcamp”, aqua aerobics, and kick-boxing – just to name a few. So when someone suggested yoga to me, I followed my usual pattern. I was wildly enthusiastic about it, bought all the equipment (not to mention the cute clothes), and signed up for non-refundable classes, for which I would be no doubt formulating a “why I need a refund” story very shortly. Only this time, instead of walking into a room full of people that look like they’ve been practicing their entire lives, and feeling very much like the clumsy outcast on my first day at a new school, I was overcome with a feeling of indescribable peace. These weren’t muscle bound athletes with perfect Spandex outfits on cell phones; these were women of all ages and a few peaceful men that looked like they had found themselves a sanctuary. The softly lit room smelled of musky incense and everywhere I looked there were pillows, blankets and odd looking props. This comfy peaceful heaven seemed too perfect to be true. We started with a quiet meditation, thanked our bodies for just showing up, and spent the next hour and a half gingerly stretching our muscles and appreciating the quiet heaven that we created for ourselves that night. That was almost 6 years ago, and since then, I’ve increased my practice to two group classes per week and an hour per day in my second bedroom turned yoga room.

If I had to sum up what yoga has brought into my life, it’s pretty simple –it’s brought me an exercise routine that requires no special talents, equipment or experience, and the best part is that you don’t have to sweat unless you really want to.

Photo credit: Laura Faith

My yoga mat gives me a place to bring all of the day’s stress and lets me sort through it and see it for what it truly is – just life and nothing more. Yoga has enhanced my meditation skills to the point that I rarely ever need any pain medications and if I do happen to get sick, I use the power of my mind to relax and allow my body’s natural healing abilities to take over. I’ve also learned that exercise can be your friend; something to look forward to – and something that you can use in everyday life. Yoga actually makes you feel better; practicing the postures, breathing exercises and meditation makes you healthier in body, mind and spirit. Yoga lets you tune in, chill out and shape up – all at the same time.

Know Before You Go

2011-10-12T14:02:00.001-04:00

If you’ve ever been asked to go for a diagnostic procedure by your doctor or have been referred to a specialist, you know how mind-boggling it can be to locate and understand the true cost of these services. We are excited to announce our new “Know Before You Go” tool that allows Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida members to make informed decisions by giving them real-time estimated costs for health services. Know Before You Go takes into account the member’s specific benefits and provides them with an estimate so they can compare the cost of health care services before they have a procedure or visit a specialist. Know Before You Go is found within MyBlueService, your online member website. We hope this new quality and cost tool will help you be in control of your health and health care finances through access to timely and individualized information.

To learn more, watch the Know Before You Go video or log in to MyBlueService at http://www.bcbsfl.com/ to access the tool.

What Makes You Smile?

2011-10-10T10:03:00.001-04:00

For us, it’s family, dogs, significant others and the people we work with. We put together a video on all of the various reasons we flash our pearly whites. Why all the talk about smiling? Well, while we had much fun posing for the below video, our main objective is to spread the message of good oral health because October is National Dental Hygiene Month. We also found several compelling reasons to look more closely at oral health. According to the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), oral health is linked to your overall health, including medical conditions like Diabetes, Heart Disease, Respiratory Disease, Stroke, and Pregnancy complications. Research from AAP suggests that “periodontal disease may make it more difficult for people who have diabetes to control their blood sugar.” The AAP also states that “people with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease as those without periodontal disease.”

We think those are some excellent reasons to spread the message of regular dental care. That and the aforementioned reason of taking care of your smile for your family, dogs and significant others. So what makes you smile? Leave us a comment below or visit our website to learn more about how you can take care of your smile.

Cracking the Code on Wellness

2011-10-05T11:44:00.000-04:00

Throughout the year, we have been profiling weight loss success stories. Today, we talk to Garrick Gibson about how he cracked the code on wellness. Here’s Garrick’s story told by Garrick himself:
Back in the summer of 2008, a close friend loaned me a documentary film. The premise of the film was how positive thinking and emotions can create life-changing results such as increased wealth, health and happiness. One of the notable concepts was a three-step process: Ask, Believe, and Receive, based on a verse from the Bible:“And in all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” (Matthew 21:22)
Step 1 was a no brainer. But, step 2 was the hard part. “Believing” is much more challenging than it seems. Over time, I began to realize that I doubted myself. My doubts were conflicting with my goals; keeping me in a holding pattern of not receiving.
This stayed with me for two years and in 2010, I finally decided to set my goals to be out of the obese category on the BMI scale and to get my blood pressure under control. The difference this time around was that I worked on challenging my doubts and changing my belief system. I once heard a wise person say, “a belief is just a thought I keep thinking.” So, I started thinking more about being healthy and in shape and stopped focusing on my unhappiness with being overweight. To help me maintain my focus, I surrounded myself with people and things that inspired me. I created a schedule and started exercising consistently at the gym.
After losing some initial weight, I hit a plateau. So, I stepped up my game and hired a local personal trainer at Cross Training San Marco. For two days a week, they pushed me past my mental limitations. In addition to the cross training, I took up running 2-3 times per week. In the first four months, things moved surprisingly slow with my weight loss. But in May, I cracked the last piece of the wellness code. A co-worker recommended a body chemistry and blood nutrition diet book. Long story short, I learned what foods were toxic to my system based on my blood type, body composition and genetics. I found out which foods were canceling out my exercise. So, I wasn’t gaining weight or losing weight. Once I eliminated these foods along with gradually increasing my cross training intensity, the weight started melting off. I didn’t get comfortable there. In fact, I purposely put myself in the position of being uncomfortable. This forced me to pursue higher goals.
Weight loss and well-being starts in your mind, not your waistline. It’s not about dropping the excess weight. It’s really about dropping the excess emotional baggage of unworthiness and self-doubt we carry around in our minds. Once I overcame this, I surpassed all my goals. In 8 months, I lost 40 pounds, and my total weight loss to date is 65 pounds. Back in 2009, the longest race I had completed was a 5k (3.1 miles). In December of 2010, I shocked my family, friends and myself by completing my first marathon (26.2 miles). This is my story and I hope to continue maintaining my weight loss and pursuing higher health goals.

Stuck in a fitness rut? Try these new routines!

2011-09-27T15:43:00.012-04:00

Our team was in desperate need for some new workout routines. We tried the always fun LES MILLS™ programs at the YMCA, fiddled with yoga, had some serious fun with weights, but we wanted more.

We reached out to Maxwell Reeves, an Orlando-based National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) certified personal trainer. He put together great new moves for us, and we had to share. They are tough - tough in an I-can-feel-muscles-I-never-had kind of way!

Don’t believe us? Check out the first of his routines below:

1. Start with your feet together. Take a big step forward with your right foot to perform a lunge. Push through your heel to come back to your original position.

2. Step out wide with your right foot, set your hips back, keep your left leg straight, and squat on your right leg. Again, push through your heel to get back to your original position.

3. Now step back with your right foot for a rear lunge.

4. Complete the lunge complex by performing the movements with your left leg.

Have an idea for a work-out? Leave us a comment below and stay tuned for Part II of Maxwell's routine.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida goes Digital

2011-09-20T15:44:00.001-04:00

As the world changes, we are all responsible for making our own complex health decisions. BCBSF is developing digital capabilities for the purpose of empowering you to take charge of this by putting the tools you need to manage your health at your fingertips. We've developed online tools, mobile technologies and social media programs to help you make decisions, stay better informed and connect with resources you need. Our goal is to develop resources that fit your lifestyle and are easy and convenient to access.

Have an idea for a new digital resource that would make your life easier? We want to hear about it!

Embrace a Healthy Florida

2011-09-09T16:56:00.003-04:00

Did you know that in Florida, 33.1% of children ages 10-17 are overweight or obese? This means Florida has a higher percentage of childhood obesity than the national average which stands at 30.6%. A study from the New England Journal of Medicine shows that children who are overweight or obese are more likely than others to become obese as adults. A 2004 study commissioned by the Action for Healthy Kids show that overweight and obese children may also suffer from higher rates of depression, greater difficulty in peer relationships and poorer quality of life than their normal weight counterparts.

This is why partnerships like Healthy Jacksonville Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition and the BCBSF Foundation are important. This August marked the 10th anniversary of the coalition and was commemorated with the unveiling of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Foundation’s 2011 Embrace a Healthy Florida grant recipients for the city of Jacksonville.

To learn more, watch Susan Towler (Vice President, BCBSF Foundation) speak at the Healthy Jacksonville Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition's 10-Year Anniversary Celebration.

Fashion’s Night Out

2011-09-08T13:16:00.000-04:00

If you are in Tampa on September 8^th, join us at the International Plaza and Bay Street for Fashion’s Night Out, an after-hours shopping extravaganza filled with live music, caricature artists, DJs, competitions and tons of shopping.

We, at BCBSF, are excited to be a sponsor for Fashion’s Night Out, where designers participate in an exciting, one-of-a-kind event in stores all over the globe from Manhattan to Milan, Atlanta to Australia. Led by Vogue Magazine and the Council of Fashion Designers of America, this year marks the first time the International Plaza retailers in Tampa will be representing Tampa Bay’s first official Fashion’s Night Out. So get out there and boost your local economy by indulging in a little shopping at the International Plaza and Bay Street!

Your Health on the Road

2011-08-31T12:10:00.000-04:00

Here is a question for our members - if you are traveling for work or fun and need to see a doctor, what do you do? How many of us can really keep a complete list of our medications, drug allergies, etc. in our head? Or can remember the date of our last doctor’s visit, or even the doctor’s name?

Fortunately, MyBlueService is here to help. Your free, online member website gives you access to your health information anytime, from anywhere in the world. Here’s just a few of the things you can do on MyBlueService to help keep your family healthy and safe while traveling this summer:

· Check out the online Personal Health Record – this is an ideal tool to access when you are on the road and have to stop by a new doctor. The Personal Health Record in MyBlueService makes record-keeping so easy. Quickly print your health history and a list of your medications.

· Get details about past doctors’ visits, lab tests and more.

· Store and maintain information on biometric tests.

· Stay up-to-date on immunization shots.

· And have health information that you can get to easily, in one centralized, private, and secure location.

To start your Personal Health Record:

· Visit www.bcbsfl.com and log in to MyBlueService using your member ID and PIN.

· Under the Living Healthy tab, click on Personal Health Record from WebMD®.

Tips for a healthy & safe road trip

2011-08-31T12:08:00.000-04:00

Going on a road trip? Put away those chips and look at these great tips we found about eating healthy on the road.

· Prepare your own snacks – All you need are granolas, nuts, dried fruit, and/or snack mix. Get your containers, Ziploc® bags, mix and seal! One innovative mom also has everybody make their own bag and label them to avoid arguments.

· Use the cooler – Fill up the cooler with water (always important).

· Add some fruits & veggies – since you are bringing along a cooler, add some fruits, veggies (baby carrots are always a winner).

· Dip into the hummus - Choose some hummus instead of a traditional dip. Or make your own salsa using fresh veggies and fruits. We found some amazing recipes for healthy home-made salsa from Eating Well.

· Add the nutrients - Individually wrapped cheese is always great source of calcium. Go for the whole grain crackers instead of traditional chips. Or try some protein bars.

· If you are stopping at a fast food place, health.com has a fantastic list of the top 10 healthiest fast food restaurants.

Florida Blue Young Authors Contest

2011-08-12T16:35:00.000-04:00

We are so proud of 7^th grader Noelle Schneider! This 13 year old homeschooler from St. Petersburg, Florida is the winner of the Florida Blue Young Authors Contest, a contest sponsored by Florida Blue and the Books by Kids Foundation. The contest invited middle school students from Hillsborough and Pinellas county to submit a unique story about Tampa Bay. The winning entry is to be featured in a new children’s book titled Tampa Bay from A to Z.

Tampa Bay from A to Z will become part of the A to Z series, published by Books by Kids. All books in the series are educational in nature, benefit non-profit organizations and are illustrated and written in part by children.

Once Noelle’s entry was selected as the winner by a panel of community leaders, it was colorfully illustrated by the talented young patients of St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Tampa and All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg.

“In our personal interactions with Tampa Bay residents about their healthcare and wellness needs, we often hear from parents regarding their aspirations for their children,” said David Pizzo, market president, West Florida. “By partnering with the Books by Kids Foundation, our Tampa Florida Blue center had a wonderful opportunity to support both education and children’s health, and help make these dreams come true. We look forward to sharing the first edition of Tampa Bay from A to Z with area residents and hope that it will enrich the lives of Tampa Bay kids for years to come.”

Interested in getting a copy of Tampa Bay from A to Z? The book will be sold at each hospital, Stein Mart stores and online at Books by Kids. Sale proceeds from book sales will be donated to St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Tampa and All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg.

U.S. News and World Report's Hospital Rankings

2011-08-12T16:01:00.000-04:00

We, here at BCBSF, are proud of all the facilities that have made the list in the U.S. News and World Report annual metro area hospital rankings list. The rankings have been published annually by U. S. News for the past 22 years. The report tracks hospital data from the federal government, such as death rates and the ratio of nurses to patients. They’ve recognized 720 hospitals out of 4,825 nationwide.

Here are the top ranked hospitals throughout our state:

Jacksonville

1. Mayo Clinic

2. Baptist Medical Center

3. Memorial Hospital

Lakeland

1. Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center

Miami/Fort Lauderdale

1. University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital

2. Cleveland Clinic Florida

3. Mount Sinai Medical Center

Sarasota/Bradenton

1. Sarasota Memorial Hospital

Orlando

1. Florida Hospital

2. Orlando Regional Medical Center

Palm Bay/Melbourne

1. Holmes Regional Medical Center

2. Cape Canaveral Hospital

3. Wuesthoff Medical Center

Tampa/St. Petersburg

1. Tampa General Hospital

2. Moffitt Cancer Center

3. Brandon Regional Hospital

For additional information, the publication has a searchable U.S. map of hospital locations available on its website and a nationwide ranking based on specialty type.

How to Get a Workout from Your Vacation

2011-08-01T09:03:00.002-04:00

Vacations are brilliant and such fun to have. What is not so much fun is the post-vacation doldrums - the unpacking, the getting back to everyday life and the dreaded check-in with your scale.

Photo Credit: Laura Faith

We’ve been thinking a lot about this conversation all of us have to have with our scale post-vacation. So here are some tips we gathered about ensuring that scale does not spew out unwelcome truths to you post-vacation.

Water – drink plenty of it! Not only does it keep you hydrated, it also helps you feel fuller. Remember the 8x8 rule.
Walk – wherever you vacation, you will run into the inevitable choice of either taking the stairs or the elevator, walking vs. biking or driving. Always choose the calorie-burning option when weather allows and conditions are safe.
Pack the resistance band or pedometer, or even a jump rope. These space saving fitness gears will remind you of your goals and help you get in a quick workout.
Go for a run. What better way to explore a new place than going for an early morning run. Take the family with you and make it quality family time.
Go for the healthy alternative. Food is such an important part of a vacation. But good food does not always have to be unhealthy. Try out an ethnic vegetarian restaurant, or buy some ready to eat fruits and veggies to keep in your hotel fridge. So when you feel like snacking, you won’t over-indulge on that tempting pizza delivery or the choices in the vending machine.
If your budget allows, choose a place which encourages wellness and health, like a spa vacation.
Make full use of your hotel’s gym or swimming pool. A daily swim or a 30 minute jaunt at the gym is a great start to a day.
If you have an iPhone or an Android, it’s like taking your very own health and nutrition expert with you. Check out these links from Mashable to see what great health apps are available from the iPhone or the Android to help manage your health.

Top Five Best Beaches in Florida

2011-07-26T11:27:00.000-04:00

We’re constantly being asked by out-of-towners about our favorite Florida beach destinations. So we thought – why not make a top five list? The next time you’re asked or packing your bags to head to the beach, consider one of these:

Photo Credit: Laura Faith

Siesta Keys, Sarasota: White, silky, bright, fine - there aren't enough adjectives to describe the sand and quality of the beaches here. Located in Sarasota, this West coast beach has idyllic written all over it with tranquil waters and expansive sand.
South Beach, Miami: How could we make a list of our favorite Florida beaches and not include South Beach? Understandably the most famous of all our beaches, this one has it all – beautiful waters, people watching, shopping, and all the aquatic activities you can think of.
Clearwater Beach, Clearwater: Wind down with Sunsets at Pier 60, meet Winter “the celebrity dolphin” or enjoy the Caladesi Island State Park. The options are limitless at Clearwater Beach.
Key West: Visit the southernmost tip of our country and you can see why this is a popular destination for everyone – not just Jimmy Buffet fans! This four miles of paradise has tons of fun things to do like snorkeling, kayaking, dolphin tours, and the highly enjoyable glass bottom boat ride.
New Smyrna Beach: Lest you think all of the best beaches are dotted on the west and south ends, New Smyrna Beach is nestled in the central east coast. This coastal moss-draped community gives you an inkling of the diverse ecology that Florida is blessed –with – dunes, lagoons and salt marsh and endangered species of birds, animals and much more.

So, what do you think of our top five list? Share your top beach picks with us!

What you need to know about Seat Belts

2011-07-22T10:40:00.001-04:00

Have there been commercials that have made you think? For us, it's the Sussex Safer Roads’ award winning commercial about seat belt safety.

We're awed by it. Such a simple message, shown in the most effective way. So as you drive today, remember:

Buckling up can reduce serious crash-related injuries and deaths by about 50%.
Though air bags provide added protection, they are not a substitute for seat belts. Air bags plus seat belts provide the greatest protection for adults.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/Motorvehiclesafety/seatbelts/facts.html

Also check out National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s top five things you should know about buckling up. Drive Safe!

MJ visits the White House

2011-07-15T11:34:00.000-04:00

Manjunath “MJ” Charmani, one of our colleagues here at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida attended a special reception on June 22^nd at the White House, where he also met President Obama, to learn about the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Initiative. We spoke to MJ and here’s what he had to say:

“The Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Initiative is one of the ways the Obama Administration is opening access to leaders in the AAPI community, thereby sending the message of inclusion. The AAPI Initiative is working to improve the quality of life and opportunities for Asian American and Pacific Islanders by facilitating access to and participation in federal programs, where the population has remained underserved.

An invitation from President and Mrs. Obama meant a lot to me, especially being an immigrant and having travelled 19,000 miles from the other side of the globe. My visit to the White House was a truly exhilarating experience. The eventful day started with a special briefing by the President’s administration on the education, economy, immigration, budget and AAPI Initiative overall. President Obama arrived at the reception and addressed the invitees with a thank you note. In his speech, the President recognized AAPI as the fastest-growing immigrant community and noted that the White House wants to be a partner in addressing any underserved areas.

Following the reception, we were taken into the Diplomatic Room, where we had the opportunity meet Cabinet members and I was able to shake hands with the President. These two hours spent at the White House will be a great memory.”

MJ was also kind enough to share a video that he created of his experience. Take a look below:

Congratulations MJ - We are proud to work with you!

Choose My Plate - the USDA does away with the food pyramid

2011-07-14T09:31:00.001-04:00

Do you remember the food pyramid? On June 2, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it was no longer using the food pyramid and replaced it with My Plate.

My Plate is a colorful, yet simple, plate split into four sections: fruits, grains, vegetables and protein with a separate section to represent dairy foods. My plate is designed to help you build a healthy meal, balance calories and eat less by avoiding oversized portions.

To learn more about the USDA’s My Plate, and for tips to eat healthier, visit www.choosemyplate.gov.

Little known ways to increase your fluid intake

2011-07-08T10:01:00.001-04:00

Continuing our tips for summer safety under the Florida sun, we are talking today about fluid intake. Under normal conditions, most people can drink enough fluids to meet their water needs, but if you are outside in hot weather for most of the day or doing vigorous activity, you may need to increase your fluid intake.

If you think you're not getting enough water each day, the following tips may help:

Carry a water bottle for easy access when you are at work or running errands.
Freeze some freezer-safe water bottles. Take one with you for ice-cold water all day long.
Choose water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages. This tip can also help with weight management. Substituting water for one 20-ounce sugar-sweetened soda will save you about 240 calories.
Choose water instead of other beverages when eating out. Generally, you will save money and reduce calories.
Give your water a little pizzazz by adding a wedge of lime or lemon. This may improve the taste, and you just might drink more water than you usually do.

Do sugar-sweetened beverages count?

Although beverages that are sweetened with sugars do provide water, they usually have more calories than unsweetened beverages. To help control your weight, you should consume beverages and foods that don't have added sugars.

Examples of beverages with added sugars:

· Fruit drinks.

· Some sports drinks.

· Soft drinks and sodas (non-diet).

Visit Rethink Your Drink for more information about the calories in beverages and how you can make better drink choices to reduce your calorie intake.

The Secret to enjoying Cruises the healthy way

2011-07-06T09:52:00.007-04:00

Summer is here and we at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida are excited about the different ways Floridians are utilizing the sun. With a whole host of activities to choose from, cruises seem to be a favorite with everybody we asked. We talked to a few cruise aficionados, who had some interesting tidbits to share about their cruise experience, especially about how to stay healthy while still having fun in the sun.

Karla Williams who went on a 7 day family cruise in 2010 says her biggest challenge was getting over the the concept of endless free food. With food choices from the healthy to the not-so healthy, Karla took advantage of the fun activities like line-dancing or ballroom dancing to work out those calories. She also took to taking the stairs and dropping in on the aerobics classes that were held in the gym on the cruise.

That’s the same advice Brian Benda went with – he went on two snorkeling trips and a walking city tours – activities that offered him several hours of non-stop fun but also helped him get some exercise in. For Melissa Adams, getting up for the AM yoga, helped her get most out of her day. Christy Harding, who just recently returned from a cruise suggests using the dining room more than the buffet. “Table service is great because you get waited on. Plus, you’re served individual serving sizes instead of helping yourself to an entire plate of bacon. If the buffet isn’t in front of you, you don’t know what you’re missing and you still leave the table well-satisfied.”

We think that’s great advice. So, the next time you are packing your bags for that cruise destination, remember:

Take the stairs. Cruise ships are huge and offer many exciting adventures. Take the time to explore your ship, starting with those stairs.
Try to drink as much water as possible. Those lovely drinks come with a price tag and calories. Enjoy yourself but be mindful how many you consume/day.
If you’re in the buffet line, start with a salad. Not only are you getting in your fibers, you are also filling up.
Try out the dining room. Not only are you resisting the temptation of endless food, you also have more control over the portions presented before you.
Take advantage of the abundant fun activities that will get you moving like dancing, scuba diving, aerobic classes, yoga, etc.

We want to hear from the cruise lovers - any other tips we missed on how to manage health while you're having fun?

What everybody ought to know about Fireworks - tips from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Florida

2011-07-01T10:51:00.002-04:00

Happy Fourth of July everybody! We are excited to celebrate this fun
weekend here in beautiful Florida. As always, we hope everybody has a safe time. Our Dr. Jannifer Harper, Vice President of Medical Operations, here at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida gave us some great information on fireworks and what to do in case of injury during this weekend.

The Fourth of July is a notorious time for fireworks-related injuries and trips to the emergency room. According to a report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there are about 200+ fireworks injuries a day nationwide between mid-June and mid-July.

The most common cause of injuries is firecrackers, which are essentially gunpowder, followed by sparklers. Most people do not consider, when handing a young child a sparkler, that sparklers can reach extreme temperatures of 1200 degrees Fahrenheit.

My colleagues and I at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida encourage all Floridians, in their pursuit of health, to enjoy a safe and injury-free Independence Day celebration. That means leaving the fireworks to the professionals and enjoying one of the many fireworks displays offered in communities across South Florida.

If you decide to handle fireworks, here is some sensible advice in case of injury:

First and foremost remain calm
Only the mildest of injuries should be treated at home
The best course of action is to seek medical care
Urgent care centers can treat minor cuts, burns and abrasions, as well as some sprains and fractures Individuals with more severe injuries should go to the emergency room or be transported by ambulance, especially in the case of head trauma or loss of consciousness

For additional information on health and wellness, visit your neighborhood Florida Blue Center or CPSC's Fireworks Safety page, and from all of us at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida we wish you and your family a happy and healthy Fourth of July!

Dr. Jannifer Harper is Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida’s Vice President of medical operations, leading the clinical areas of the medical operations unit as well as oversight of clinical strategy for BCBSF.

Stay Healthy, Surf away

2011-06-29T07:29:00.009-04:00

We’ve been looking at fun, healthy tips for kid friendly summer activities and surfing seems to be the one that has everybody we know raving. From cardiovascular fitness to shoulder, leg and back strength, this fun activity seems to be a great confidence booster for kids to partake in during the summer. We spoke to Jacksonville surfing guru, Scott Holmes of the ‘Surf into Summer’ surf camp and here’s what he had to say:

For surfing camps around the state of Florida, check out the below links:

http://www.floridasurflessons.com/

http://www.ezridesurfschool.com/default.asp

http://www.floridasurflessons.com/

Surfing in Cocoa Beach –

http://www.ronjonsurfschool.com/

Staying safe under the Florida sun

2011-06-27T12:04:00.005-04:00

Summertime in Florida is here! While we love the warm weather and fun that comes with it, we also want to make sure that you take your sun care protection and health seriously. We found this very excellent infographic below that highlights the danger and the precautions you should take while enjoying time in the sun.

Via: Term Life Insurance

In the pursuit of Health...a continuation (Sheena's story)

2011-06-22T16:32:00.009-04:00

Part 5 of 5

To date, we’ve profiled three successful individuals that have made a commitment to their pursuit of health and one indidvidual on her way to her goal. We checked with Sheena on her progress and here's what she had to say:

The path to good health is paved with many a calorie-inducing temptation. I am personally learning about them on as I pursue my goal of being in a healthier place by the end of the year. The experts all say the simplest way for weight loss is looking into the ratio of calories-in vs. calories burned. During the past month, I’ve tried a couple of different methods for expending those calories. First there was a Zumba® Fitness class that my fabulous and well-coordinated friend took me to at the YMCA. After my experience, I can safely say Zumba classes were easy to follow and with an enthusiastic instructor, I was well on my way to feeling more relaxed, while engaging in some good old-fashioned cardio.

Speaking of cardio, here’s another thing I am trying out: the Couch to 5K program. It’s a beginner’s training guide on how to get running. The people where I work at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida all participate in running activities! They maintain their running routines while on business trips, they run 15Ks and one of them has also participated in a marathon! Buoyed by their sentiments and enthusiasm, I decided to add some structure into my running schedule—hence, the Couch to 5K (C25K) program. I love that there’s an “app for it” (though I wish it were free for the iPhone® like it is for the Android). The app has the standard features expected from the usual running partner systems—plays music, provides cues on when to stop and will summarize all the details of pace, distance, etc. after the run.

So far, the weight loss has been steady—a pound here, a pound there—all adding up to a grand total of 7 pounds. Initially, 7 pounds didn’t seem impressive to me and there have been times when I asked myself why ever I signed up for this venture. Some days what motivates me to keep going are the good wishes and the constant encouragement from coworkers and friends. The kind words make me feel that slowly but surely, my goal is achievable. Each day, I’m more certain that being in the pursuit of health, though achingly tough, will be worth it in the end.

Holy Smokes - Your Health & the Florida Wildfires

2011-06-17T10:22:00.013-04:00

If you are in Florida, you’ve been waking up to the smell of smoke and/or seeing the ash sprinkles. The Miami Herald reports that brush fires over 70,000 acres in the West Miami-Dade area and Everglades fire. Add to that the 4,306-acre Espanola Fire that engulfed Flagler County, as well as several other wildfires that have consumed counties up and down the coast, and Floridians have been experiencing some difficulty with their air quality.

For more on wildfires in the State of Florida, check out the below map or visit the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Division of Forestry.

We, at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, want to help with information on what you can do to offset the hazards presented by the smoke and related pollutants.

Here are some tips we gathered from our research and from talking to our health experts:

Stay inside as much as possible, with doors, windows and fireplace dampers shut and preferably with clean air circulating through air conditioners and/or air cleaners. The EPA suggests using air cleaners that were bought before a fire.
While Inside or driving, use air conditioners on the recirculation setting so outside air will not travel. Make sure your keep your windows and vents closed while driving
Ordinary dust masks may not help as they may still allow the finer particles to pass through. The American Lung Association recommends that special dust masks with true HEPA filters will filter out the damaging fine particles but are difficult for people with lung disease to use. Consult with your physician before using a mask, especially if you have a lung disease.
If you live close to or in the surrounding area of the fires, the recommendation is to abstain from exercising outdoors, especially if you smell smoke or are noticing eye or throat irritation.

Extra precaution should be taken for:

children, since they are more susceptible to smoke because of their developing respiratory systems and since they breathe in more air (and consequently more pollution) per pound of body mass than adults.
people with asthma, who should check with their physician regarding any changes in medication that may be needed to cope with the smoky conditions.

For more information on respiratory health please contact the American Lung Association by calling 1-800-LUNGUSA. As always, if you notice symptoms like a persistent cough, or have difficulty breathing, contact your physician.

You can also check your air quality at the EPA site: http://www.airnow.gov/

Introducing our NEW Florida Blue App!

2011-06-13T19:36:00.011-04:00

We are so excited about the new Florida Blue mobile app that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (http://www.bcbsfl.com/) just launched that we just had to blog about it. This free app is another way you can access personalized health information and tools while on the go!

To download the Florida Blue app, Android™ users go to the Market place and iPhone® users go to the App store.

So without further ado, here’s what our brand new Florida Blue app for the iPhone® and Android™ looks like ...

If you’re a member, be sure to register from your computer for MyBlueService, our free online member tool first. The Florida Blue app can help you:

Save Time.

Get your plan details such as deductibles, HSA balance and claims – on the go
Get a picture of your Member ID card
Locate doctors in your plan from wherever you are

Save Money.

Compare drug prices on the spot and map the nearest pharmacy
Get connected to a person who can help you manage your out-of-pocket costs and find quality care
Shop for affordable health plans and get a quote instantly

Stay Healthy.

Take charge of your health with the health toolkit
Plan your day with real-time weather forecasts and allergy alerts
Find a Florida Blue center near you

If you’re not a member, we still have you covered. You can use the Florida Blue app to access contests, get health information, shop for affordable plans, contact us, download free ringtones and more!

Let us know what you think. We’ve been working hard on this and would love to hear your thoughts. Send us an email at socialmedia@bcbsfl.com or leave us a comment below!

Florida Blue is brought to you by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc., an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

In the Pursuit of Health...Seeking Balance

2011-05-27T11:11:00.001-04:00

Balance is not better time management, but better boundary management. Balance means making choices and enjoying those choices."

-Betsy Jacobson

No one appreciates struggling to find this balance between making choices and enjoying them more than a new mom.

We talked to Leigh Koon, who in our opinion, seems to walk this balance very well. She devotes time to her one and a half year old daughter’s upbringing and development, while leading the Member Engagement team at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida…all with a healthy dose of fun mixed in.

Leigh always knew that she would be going back to work after twelve weeks of maternity leave. The decision – although made ahead of time – required a lot of organization and planning. The biggest decision: trying to find the best child care option for a newborn. To do this, Leigh enlisted all the resources she had access to and narrowed down her options to 12 daycare facilities and set out to meet and interview them all. Her advice: “You won’t know what you like and what works for you until you know what definitely does not work for you.”

Leigh headed back to work three months after her baby was born. To ease the transition for herself and for her daughter she started daycare the week before she went back to work. Each day she would leave her daughter with the care takers for just a little longer. By the time her first day of work arrived both she and the baby were used to the morning routine and separating for the day.

Breast feeding her daughter was really important to Leigh because it is so healthy for both the baby and the mother. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the US goal is to have 50% of new moms breast feed for six months and 25% for one year. In order to be able to do this for her daughter, Leigh utilized the Wellness Rooms in her building to pump while at work until a few weeks shy of her daughter’s first birthday.

Her advice to new mothers facing a dilemma on what to do: “It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. If you are able to, breast feed as much as you can and supplement when you need to”.

Balance

How does Leigh stay sane and keep a work/life balance?

Her thoughts and advice:

· Acknowledge that it is hard, but that you are doing a great job.

· Use the tools you have access to. Leigh uses many of the WebMD® tools found within MyBlueService to manage her health and her family’s health. In particular, she calls out the health topics, care comparison tool, child health manager and symptom checker tools, as examples.

· You are your child’s advocate, so be strong and do what you know is best your child’s health, even though this may be different from what your friends and relatives have done.

· When you ask for and accept help, you may need to compromise a little. It’s okay to decide on certain rules that will not be broken, but at times you may want to bend a little. For instance, you may stand firm about not giving your child sweetened foods, but relax and just be grateful when it comes to how others fold and organize the piles of baby laundry.

Sandra Foskey - Teacher, Triathlete, Role Model!

2011-05-05T16:26:00.003-04:00

Every day we come across inspirational people in different guises. During Teacher Appreciation week, we are taking a moment to give thanks to the tireless efforts of one such educator - Sandra Foskey who has brought her love for health to her job at Loretto Elementary in Jacksonville.

Sandra Foskey’s enthusiasm is contagious. She is a competitive triathlete, who is training for her first Iron Man race in November in Panama City. It was this passion for health and fitness that she wanted to share with her students at Loretto Elementary, where she assists teachers in classrooms, directs bus duty in the morning and afternoon, and helps out at the cafeteria.

She first came to hear of the First Coast Kids Triathlon while in the classroom. Held annually, the race consists of a 100-meter swim, 3-mile bike trek and a ½ mile run for the junior division (ages 5-10). The senior division is for ages 11-15 and includes a 200-meter swim, a 6-mile bike trek, and a 1-mile run. Billed as the fastest growing sport in the world, the Triathlon allows kids to race against other kids in their same age group.

Five students from Loretto Elementary had participated in the 2010 Triathlon and were motivated to create a team from the school for the 2011 triathlon. They approached Sandra and she brought her enthusiasm and passion to create posters, flyers, emails to spread the word. Her tactics were highly effective. By the time the Third Annual First Coast Kids Triathlon rolled around, 132 children had signed up for the Loretto Elementary team – Team Wisdom.

Sandra Foskey wasn’t satisfied with just creating Team Wisdom. She held two informational clinics to help prepare the students. She went over every aspect of the race and answered questions from children and parents. She also empowered parents to participate in their kids’ training by regularly emailing them information on safe biking trails, swimming pools and nutrition tips.

Her hard work and zeal paid off. At the end of the Third Annual First Coast Kids Triathlon, all 132 of her students attended and finished the triathlon. Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles came out in droves to support their little triathletes and talked of races they could do as a family. Sandra hopes the enthusiasm and the confidence the children received will encourage them to try other goals in the coming years. “Hopefully, even if they don’t immediately pursue any physical activity, they will hopefully be equipped with enough knowledge to know how to in the future. I hope it inspires them to do more physically.”

When asked of what this race meant to her, her face lit up, “It was the most gratifying experience I ever had. I was on ‘Cloud 9.’ I think this meant more to me than any race I’ve completed. Seeing the children’s smiles as they crossed the finish line did more for me than achieving any of my personal health goals”.

Changes are made with little steps like these and for your efforts in helping our little ones, we salute you, Ms. Foskey!

Do you have an inspiring story to tell us? Email us at socialmedia@bcbsfl.com

Random Acts of Planting

2011-04-22T11:53:00.003-04:00

On Earth Day, spread the love…

The environment we live in makes a big difference in our frame of reference and our outlook on life.

Taking a minute to brighten up a drab or forgotten corner of the world with a few seeds, bulbs or perennials can make any neighborhood feel just a little healthier.

We gave it a try and were surprised to find just how happy and healthy it made us feel.

Pass it on in your community.

Sweat, Tears & Flowers

2011-04-19T20:28:00.009-04:00

If you’re like me and your knowledge of tended vegetation extends to a window box or a potted plant, you assume gardening is an unassertive sort of indulgence.

So when our fearless leader told us to write a blog post on gardening as an exercise, I smirked.

For how many calories can you really burn with taking a pot here, putting a little soil there, and sticking a seedling or two?

A lot, apparently, as I discovered to my sore but worked-out muscles.

If you don’t believe me, Calorie Count does a very good job of breaking it down for you.

There’s the:

Digging of soil (340 calories/hour)
Carrying of soil/wood (340 calories/hour)
Clearing of the land (another 340 calories/hour or a burning away of that Grande Starbucks™ Caffe Latte - Made with whole milk)
Pulling of the pesky weeds (306 calories/hour)

and so on and so forth.

If you are a novice like me, the experts advice to start with the simplest of objective - like making yourself a raised vegetable garden.

And that’s how I started off on my first foray into gardening. Creating a vegetable garden.

The first step involved some research into the various accoutrements needed for this project. A vegetable garden kit, soil, seeds, locating the optimal place to plant it, wheelbarrow, spade, trowel, gardening gloves, gardening kneeling pads for the knees (and believe me when I say you will need them). A simple Google search is what I employed to teach myself the basics. If you are stumped, HGTV and BHG, has great information about what to do and where to start.

I was now ready to set forth.

Our soil arrived bright and early in a truck that dumped vast quantities of it on the driveway. I hadn’t bargained for having to move the soil from the front to the backyard. But the early morning sun, the gorgeous Florida weather, the lovely smell of healthy soil, the idea of working with my hands – all added to general bonhomie that was in the air.

I assembled my gardening bed, selected my level spot in the backyard - raked the leaves, weeded, placed the bed, shoveled the soil on to the wheelbarrow, dumped it in to the garden bed and it was then, that the perkiness took a dive.

For what sedate researching does not inform you of is the working out that these simple actions give to your muscles. There is the squatting, lunging, bending, and the aerobics involved in pushing, walking and raking.

So much so that, researchers at Kansas State University determined that “gardening is a form of “moderate intensity” exercise that can easily contribute to the exercise recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which advises at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most days of the week in order to maintain and improve optimal health”

I believe that. Mid way through my experience, I realized I definitely needed to have stretched before setting out on this venture. Never before, had I been involved a physical activity that has taxed and asked so much of so many different muscle groups in my body

In fact WebMD says gardening is an ideal workout that provides all three types of exercise - endurance, flexibility and strength. The article also goes on to enumerate tips I know I will incorporate in my next gardening adventure – stretch before you start, take deep breathes, alternate between the right and left hands, etc.

In addition to these great calorific benefits, gardening also affords its partakers a very tangible result. While other workouts reward their participants with a triumphant and sweaty haze, gardening, at the end of your labors, gives you the joy of looking at a small but tended patch of land, which with care, yields vegetables, fruits or flowers.

Also at some point, between the sweating and the sore muscles, the feeling of goodwill returned to my soul. How could it not? You are patting down the soil, using your trowel to make way for a little seedling, the smell of fresh soil envelopes you, a gentle breeze soothes your brow, and you cannot help but feel at one with your soul and nature.

Like Mirabel Osler said, “There can be no other occupation like gardening in which, if you were to creep up behind someone at their work, you would find them smiling.”

Four Stories of Inspiration

2011-04-13T16:35:00.003-04:00

In the Pursuit of Health one day at a time!

Part 4 of 4

To date, we’ve profiled three successful individuals that have made a commitment to their pursuit of health. Melissa Price has lost 63 lbs and 33% of her body weight while working full-time and taking care of her young family. Brian Benda has found a passion in running and has maintained an active and healthy lifestyle. And Virna Flores changed her outlook on who she wanted to be and has made a lifetime commitment to physical fitness that is creating lifelong healthy habits for her family. What a legacy!

Your next inspiration? Meet Sheena Koshy.

Sheena Koshy

Sheena is a member of our social media team, and just beginning her personal commitment to the pursuit of health. You’ll be intrigued by the technology she’s using and the following of friends she’s inspiring! Sheena is a brilliant and beautiful communications professional in her early 30’s who says that she has put on more weight than she is comfortable with since getting married three years ago. Sheena is also one of our most intellectual and cultured team members. She was born in India, grew up in Dubai and landed in the US for graduate school. She found herself lamenting about this all too familiar newlywed weight gain with friends from all over the world on Facebook. Many of these friends were in the same boat and same life stage (again - what is it with all these happy married people and weight gain?).

This group of friends decided to do something about it and to use social technology to be accountable and remain engaged in the process. Sheena has a personal goal of losing 40 lbs by the end of 2011. She has committed to watching what she eats and to working out five days a week at her local YMCA.

To monitor her progress, she is using the “Lose It!” app on her iPhone. The Lose It! app is a free application that calculates the number of calories you need each day. The program allows you to input your current weight and goal weight, as well as the date you want to achieve the goal. The application will then tell you how many calories you should have every day to achieve the goal. Each day, you enter all foods that you eat and your daily workouts and the app helps you track your progress towards the goal.

In addition to the Lose It app, Sheena and her friends are using Facebook check-ins to keep each other motivated. These friends are located all over the world – in London, Dubai and India. Through Facebook, they are able to motivate each other to visit the gym, and the check-ins make them accountable for what they say they are going to do every day just as if they were neighbors or coworkers.

These friends aren’t kidding around. They are also using Google Docs to keep a “team log” of everything they eat. Once a month, the group meets on Skype to check in on progress, discuss frustrations and what they’ve learned.

Just like her online group, we want to help Sheena achieve her goals. We’ll check in with her periodically and post her success on this blog.

When asked what has motivated her to make such a committed effort to health, Sheena talks about her younger sister in India. Sheena’s sister was diagnosed with Leukemia several years ago and just celebrated her two year remission anniversary. To fight this disease, she has made a commitment to healthy eating and to physical fitness. “I am in awe of her strength and it inspires me to take a more concerted look at what I put into and how I treat my body”.

We only have one chance at this life and all too often we take this for granted. Get motivated, get moving and find what inspires your pursuit of health!

Need a kick start? Here are some resources to get your wheels turning:

MyBlueService – If you’re a member, use MyBlueService to take a Personal Health Assessment and find out what lifestyle behavior programs might work for you.
Florida Blue Centers – our centers are for everyone and located across the state of Florida. They offer nutrition counseling and an on-site nursing staff to assist members with individualized health assessments.
YMCA – located throughout Florida and the US, this non-profit organization offers state of the art physical fitness facilities accessible to everyone.
Lose It! App – a great app for creating a personal weight loss plan.

Got an inspiring story to share? We want to hear it!

socialmedia@bcbsfl.com

Four Stories of Inspiration

2011-03-30T16:17:00.003-04:00

In the Pursuit of Health one day at a time!

Part 3 of 4

Too often we get stuck “in a rut” or become victim to our old habits. Creating change takes motivation, energy and the drive within yourself to be who you truly want to be.

This is the third of four inspiring stories of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida employees who have made a commitment to be all that they can be.

Virna Flores

Virna Flores is a Process Improvement Analyst with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida. As a child and teenager, Virna was always overweight. In college, she started going to the gym with friends as she wanted to change her look and health, and it was a way to be social.

And then one day she had an epiphany – you have one life and one shot to be the best you can be! Virna realized that physical fitness and her health was a very personal venture and that her time in the gym was all about her.

She got focused. Virna lost 35 pounds and has maintained that over the last 20 years. She transformed herself from someone people thought of as overweight to a very healthy, fit woman. She has eliminated her risk for diabetes and high blood pressure, and has a lot of energy which she uses to keep up with her two children. During both of Virna’s pregnancies, she worked out up until her due date and wore a heart monitor to make sure she was not exceeding her limits. Today, Virna runs and has encouraged her children to run and/or bike with her. She also makes exercise fun at home. She does crunches during the commercials of her favorite TV shows and lifts weights with the whole family (using canned food items from the kitchen as “dumbbells”). She continuously strives to teach her two boys the importance of having a lifestyle of health and fitness.

It’s contagious. Virna’s two kids are very tuned into exercise and eating right – something Virna wasn’t at their age. She’s hoping her healthy lifestyle will make an imprint on the next generation. She’s also encouraged her husband and her parents - all are now walking on a regular basis. It’s hard to be a couch potato with a rock star for a wife, mother or daughter.

Virna’s words of advice for those wishing to get started on a path to fitness: “Working out and staying fit really makes a difference in your lifestyle. Growing up, I was that chubby girl with no friends. I grew up and looked at myself in the mirror and I had to do something with myself. When you workout, you get your blood flowing and you feel great. Just take that one step of walking around your block; instead of eating a cookie, eat a piece of fruit. “Rome was not built in a day.” Do it one day at a time. Before you know it, you will be running a 5K or more like me. At the beginning, I could barely run 1 mile. YOU need to take that first step to a healthy lifestyle. YOU CAN DO IT!! I did and I feel GREAT. I will keep maintaining my workout until I can no longer do it. I am determined to stay fit and healthy.”

Got an inspiring story to share? We want to hear it!

socialmedia@bcbsfl.com

Four Stories of Inspiration

2011-03-15T21:05:00.003-04:00

In the Pursuit of Health one day at a time!

Part 2 of 4

Any one of us has the ability to change our lives one day at a time. The question is – what provides that motivating factor and how do you get started?

Common research says that doing something for twenty-one days will get you into the habit. I’m always impressed by people that set their mind to it and make that commitment.

This is the second of four inspiring stories of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida employees who have made a commitment to be all that they can be and who have made some pretty dramatic health improvements along the way.

Brian Benda

Brian Benda is in his early 40s. Two years ago on his 40^th birthday – Brian found himself weighing in at 215 pounds and winded after a simple volleyball game. He’d steadily been putting on a pound or two a year since getting married in his 20s (yikes – as a married person of one year this scares me). In 2009 after taking a personal health assessment (PHA) in MyBlueService, he was frustrated with his BMI and risk for high blood pressure. He also wanted to be able to keep up with his two boys as they became teenagers.

So he just did it! Brian made a commitment and a resolution to run. He chose running because of the low investment (you just need yourself and a pair of running shoes to get started) and because of the quick results he’d seen many of his friends have with the activity.

He started by putting one foot in front of the other (literally) and began by alternating running telephone pole to telephone pole and then walking telephone pole to telephone pole in his neighborhood.

He set a goal of working up to his first 5k by May of 2009. After he accomplished that goal he was hooked! Brian lost 15 pounds in the first four months of running and has lost a total of over 30 pounds that he’s been able to keep off. Since 2009 he has run 20-25 races including the Gate River Run and the Outback Half-Marathon both in Jacksonville, FL.

On what’s motivated him to keep going, Brian says “Organized races are fun, interesting and social. In addition, the health effects from running have allowed me to participate more fully in other sports such as basketball and volleyball that I wouldn’t have otherwise attempted. Finally – my health and my energy level has improved dramatically”.

Brian before...

While running got him started, Brian has adopted other healthy habits (funny how healthy habits breed other healthy habits). One such activity was bringing his lunch to work versus always going out to lunch. His typical lunch was about 800 calories and he’s brought that down to on average a 300 calorie lunch. In addition – instead of eating just a big lunch – Brian eats fruit throughout the day. Not only has this helped him to maintain his weight, but he’s saved quite a bit of money.

And Brian after...

Brian’s 2011 goals include:

Losing 15 more pounds
Beating his personal record in a 5k
Participating in another half marathon

He intends to do this by adding more strength training to his work-out regimen.

His advice to new runners:

Pick a race and set your mind to it. Races are fun and non-threatening because you have people of all ages, abilities, shapes and sizes. In addition – it’s motivating to be among like-minded people and the crowd is always encouraging.
All you really need is a good pair of shoes. However, Brian quickly realized that having the right running clothing was helpful in the Florida heat and humidity.

Got an inspiring story to share? We want to hear it!

socialmedia@bcbsfl.com

Four Stories of Inspiration.

2011-03-07T16:27:00.003-05:00

In the pursuit of health one day at a time!
Part 1 of 4

We are often inspired and motivated by people that make dramatic and drastic changes for the better. For example, I cry every week while watching The Biggest Loser and have a few moments where I promise to be as much like Jillian Michaels as I can be. And then I have a chocolate chip cookie and wait for the next episode.

However – there is real inspiration – tangible inspiration – found all around us. There are people just like you and me doing amazing things to improve their health and the health of their families’ one step at a time.

We want to share four inspiring stories of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida employees who have made a commitment to be all that they can be and who have made some pretty dramatic health improvements along the way.

Melissa Price – Superwoman!

Melissa, a busy mother of five young children, had her first child 10 years ago and has struggled with weight ever since. Making the time to balance work and family obligations while taking care of oneself is a struggle for many women today.

Last year – as she faced high blood pressure and a risk for diabetes – Melissa made the personal commitment to lower her BMI (Body Mass Index) from over 30 (which put her in the obese category ) to under 25. To do this, she joined the “Ultimate Weight-Loss Challenge” at the YMCA. Through this program she met with a personal trainer once a week for ten weeks and had the opportunity to attend 3 nutrition classes. She participated in cardio exercise six days a week and strength training for two days a week.

Don’t have enough time? Think again. If Melissa can make time for exercise, anyone can. Her advice: “set your mind to it”. She does all of her gym time at 8pm in the evening once her work day is over and the kids are settling down.

She got hooked! Melissa has lost 63 pounds or 33% of her bodyweight since she began the program. She’s also eliminated her high blood pressure and diabetes’ risk. She’s achieved her target BMI – but reaching her goal was just the beginning.

Now physical fitness is an everyday part of Melissa’s family life. To mix it up and keep it fun, she goes for bike rides on Jekyll Island with her family, participates in 5k races and loves to hike State park trails. This is the second year in a row that she will participate in The Original Mud Run Jacksonville – a fundraiser for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society North Florida Chapter. And it’s contagious! Her daughter just signed up for her first triathlon.

A few other words of wisdom from Melissa:

Change up what you do to make it challenging and fun.
Know your food. Depending on where you go or how you make it – all turkey sandwiches are not created equal.
Only weigh yourself once a week.
Make technology work for you. Melissa uses the Simple Weight Recorder and the Calorie Counter apps on her mobile phone.

Got an inspiring story to share? We want to hear it!

Inspiration... The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Foundation

2011-02-18T10:44:00.004-05:00

Celebrating 10 Years, a New Name and a Million Successes

The Pursuit of Health is all about INSPIRING our friends, families and neighbors to achieve the most they can out of their lives.

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Foundation has been helping Floridians to do just that for a decade! The Foundation, the philanthropic affiliate of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, continues to celebrate its 10-Year Anniversary today at the Sapphire Award Symposium in Orlando. We are proud of the work The Foundation has done and wanted to take this opportunity to share some of their amazing results.

To get an overview of the tremendous impact this organization has made on improving access to health care in the state of Florida, we sat down with Cyrus M. Jollivette, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs with BCBSF and Chair of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Foundation Board of Directors.

Russ shared with us that the BCBSF Foundation is the only state-wide health care philanthropy in Florida. It began in 2001, under the name The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida as a small organization that made grants to nonprofits to enhance access to quality health related services for the uninsured and underserved people of Florida. Over the course of the decade, the Foundation has grown its philanthropic activities to include addressing childhood obesity, the use of simulation in nurse education and the creation of The Sapphire Award to recognize excellence among community health programs.

“One million Floridians” is the accomplishment Russ is most proud of. It is truly remarkable that the Foundation has been able to provide health-related services to more than one million people, across all 67 Florida counties, who would not otherwise have had this access. Through partnerships with 280 non-profit organizations across the state the Foundation enabled one million Floridians to gain access to the health care they needed.

The Foundation is very focused on its new mission of improving the health and well-being of Floridians and their communities. It has expanded its focus to include five categories of giving: 1) improving access to health care; 2) improving consumer health; 3) improving quality and safety of patient care; 4) improving quality of life; and 5) improving the health care system.

“In order to be truly effective at achieving this goal, we are responsive to current needs,” says Russ. An example is the grant made in early 2010 to the food banks across the state. More than 1.1 million pounds of food, equaling 857,353 meals were distributed to 15,773 families (counted as a family of four) during a time of great need in our state. Russ describes his work with the Foundation as “very meaningful” and is passionate about the fact that it further connects the parent organization to the true needs of the citizens of Florida at a grassroots level.

There is so much more to tell – but here are a few of the stories of the Foundation’s work in partnership with Florida nonprofits that inspire us!

· We are INSPIRED by the story of Robert* who can now see clearly because of the vision screening, glaucoma treatment and eyeglasses he received from Vision is Priceless Council.

· We are INSPIRED by Dina* who was born healthy because of the prenatal care her mother received at The Way Free Medical Clinic.

· We are INSPIRED by John*, who is no longer homeless as a result of receiving medical care from Helping Hands. The health care he received enabled him to get and keep a job and move from the woods to an apartment.

· We are INSPIRED by all of the nonprofit leaders and volunteers across our great state who dedicate themselves to the people most in need!

We can’t wait to see what the Foundation accomplishes in its next decade!

*names changed to protect privacy

And we are off... In the Pursuit of Health

2011-02-16T09:54:00.005-05:00

In the last year – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida has introduced a Facebook page, a Twitter account and a YouTube Channel. Today we unveil our new blog – In the Pursuit of Health.

Why is social media so important to us? As a company of passionate individuals – we are committed to improving the health and well-being of all Floridians. Social networking and new media allow us the opportunity to connect with you in places where you already are. It allows us to utilize our experience, diversity and commitment to community in new and exciting ways. But more than that it connects all of us and allows us to converse in real time - person to person.

We are you and we serve you. On this blog we strive to showcase inspirational stories of things that you are doing in the pursuit of health for yourself and your communities. Got a story to share? We want to hear it. Tweet or email us and we’ll get right back to you.

To you and your pursuit of health!

The BCBSF Social Media Team