PITTSBURGH, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Learning to eat healthier, reduce stress and feel better just got easier for western Pennsylvanians. Starting this month, 16 community organizations and hospitals will offer Highmark's preventive health programs and services, such as "Eat Well for Life," a four- week nutrition program; "Discover Relaxation Within," a four-week stress management program; smoking cessation classes and Personal Nutrition Coaching with a registered dietitian.
Each facility will maintain its own schedule of programs, but has been trained by Highmark's wellness staff of exercise physiologists, registered dietitians and stress management experts. In addition, some locations will offer HOPE, Highmark's six-week osteoporosis management program and Ornish Advantage, a six-week heart disease prevention program.
"It's becoming increasingly difficult for many people to find time to adopt healthier lifestyles and that's why we're partnering with community agencies and hospitals to provide access to programs that can easily be incorporated into a busy schedule," said Anna Silberman, vice president of Highmark's Preventive Health Services Division.
Because unhealthy lifestyle behaviors contribute to chronic and costly diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, Highmark's preventive health strategy focuses on ways to increase access to its lifestyle improvement programs so people cannot only manage disease, but prevent it in the first place.
"As health care costs continue to rise, this is just one more way Highmark is helping its members and those in the communities it serves to have a greater hand in their health," said Silberman.
Highmark's community partnerships are intended to reach more people than those who were previously served by the seven HealthPLACE Centers, which were closed earlier this year.
"This is a more comprehensive approach that will accommodate the growing number of individuals within Highmark's 29-county western Pennsylvania coverage area who want to improve their lifestyle," Silberman said.
More programs and locations will be added in 2005. Highmark is also partnering with organizations in Central Pennsylvania to offer the same programs, starting with two locations in Harrisburg this month.
Western Pennsylvania Locations - YMCA of Pittsburgh, Downtown - DuBois Regional Medical Center, DuBois - YMCA of Pittsburgh, East Suburban Family - Hamot Health Connection, Erie - Hamot Wellness Center, Erie - Jameson Hospital, New Castle - Mind-Body Wellness Center of the Meadville Medical Center, Meadville - Mon-Vale HealthPLEX, affiliated with Monongahela Valley Hospital, Rostraver - YMCA of Pittsburgh, North Hills Area - Sharon Regional Health System, Sharon - YMCA of Pittsburgh, South Hills - Greater Johnstown Community YMCA, Johnstown - YMCA of Pittsburgh, Western Area - Westmont Hilltop Recreation Commission (The Grove), Johnstown - Westmoreland Latrobe Health Partners - Frick Hospital, Mt. Pleasant - Westmoreland Regional Hospital, Greensburg - Windber Medical Center, Windber
Program start dates and times vary by location with several beginning in mid-September. There will be nominal fees for the programs. Those with Highmark insurance coverage will receive a reduced rate. Facility membership is not required for Highmark members to participate. For more information about Highmark's Preventive Health programs or partner locations, please call 1-800-879-2217.
About Highmark
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans. For more information, visit http://www.highmark.com/ .
Highmark Blue Cross Blue ShieldCONTACT: Hollie Plevyak of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield,+1-412-544-8248, or hollie.plevyak@highmark.com
Web site: http://www.highmark.com/