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“Health
Dialog” We are pleased to announce the roll out of a new and very valuable Blue Cross of Florida program to all covered employees and covered dependents. The new program is called “Health Dialog” and is already in effect. Our goal is to provide you with the resources you need to lead a healthy and happy life. Our partnership with Blue Cross and “Health Dialog” is just one example. Through this program, you will have access to health information to help you learn more about health issues and treatment options. Making important medical decisions is a responsibility you share with your doctor. Be sure your values and preferences are considered as treatment options are evaluated. The health information resources provided in this new program are unbiased. Use them to become as informed as possible about your area of concern, so that you can have a meaningful dialog with your doctor. Some information explains the possible benefits and risks of treatment options. Other content is helpful for prevention of illness, complications or recurrence. You'll also find material about healthy living in general. You will have the support you need to take an active role in making choices that are right for you. And, you will gain confidence in your ability to communicate more effectively with your medical provider. Put it all together and you are on the path to an empowered, healthy life. Following are some of the services available to you and your covered dependents under this new program. Health Coaches - Health Coaching is the most personal aspect of the support programs and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Health Dialog Health Coaches provide members with relevant on-the-spot information and offer health-related videos and materials. Health Coaches are licensed health care professionals, including registered nurses, dietitians, and respiratory therapists. Members can speak with the same Health Coach each time they call Health Dialog. Health Coaches provide members with unbiased, evidence-based health information and coaching support, helping the member to carefully consider the potential risks, benefits and outcomes of treatment options in order to better evaluate the available health care choices. This process allows the member to work closely with their physician to make appropriate health care decisions that meet their needs and reflect their own personal values and preferences. Health Coaches will work with you to identify key questions to ask on your next visit. They will mail printed material and free videotapes to you on conditions such as back pain, heart disease, breast cancer and more. (Internet) Web Tools - The Dialog Center SM is Health Dialog's member website, which includes navigational tools for locating a wide variety of health information and access to online services. Members can access these services at www.bcbsfl.com, by clicking on Dialog Center SM at the bottom left of this webpage. Once you reach the Dialog Center SM webpage, and you have agreed to the disclaimer, you will be able to register and begin using the Dialog Center. The Healthwise® Knowledgebase: Includes 27,000 pages of up-to-date, easy to understand, in-depth information on more than 1,900 clinical topics including medical tests and medications. Health Crossroads®: Organizes and presents health information around health care decision-points, rather than in an encyclopedia format. Each decision-point represents a "crossroad" regarding health care options and choices, for conditions/diagnoses such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, benign uterine conditions, breast cancer, coronary artery disease and prostate cancer. Targeted Outreach - Health Dialog analyzes claims data provided by BCBSF to proactively identify individuals who may most benefit from Health Coaching services, such as members with chronic or significant medical conditions who are facing a decision point in their treatment. In these cases, Health Dialog conducts outreach to identified members by phone call or mail, to provide more tailored, direct, and immediate information related to their condition. By addressing high-risk medical conditions early in the treatment process, members can take an active role in their treatments and be better prepared to address their condition with their physician. Blue Cross will be mailing postcards to all covered employees, at their home address, announcing this new program. Please share them with your covered family members so that they can also take advantage of this valuable new program. For more information:
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Arlene Meyer |
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