Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska’s (BCBSNE) medical directors Dr. Victoria Hall, Dr. Elizabeth Noordhoek and Dr. Cindy Gubbels contributed their insight to help individuals choose a primary care provider (PCP). A PCP acts as a person’s medical home base and aims to provide long-term and preventive care, routine checkups, and referrals to specialists
While wellness is usually thought of as staying physically healthy or mentally well, Cameron Arch makes it a point to focus on the third component of mind, body and soul. “When I think of holistic wellness, I think about mind, body and spirit. We talk about physical fitness and mental health. The one thing I
After wellness took a backseat for Steve Konnath, he found himself starting a new wellness journey with his wife Jane after her breast cancer diagnosis in 2012. “The type of cancer that she had was called HER2 Positive, and it's one that is fairly aggressive and it's hormone driven,” says Konnath, Blue Cross and Blue
As a nurse care manager at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE), Jenny Hemmer helps the company’s members maintain their health through Wellframe, a mobile app. Outside of the office, Hemmer makes wellness a priority for her and her family, too. She’s always been an avid runner and walker, logging 150 minutes of
Some in sweatbands, some in bandanas and some in their best matching exercise gear, the students of Hitchcock County Elementary School sat in their lines on the concrete in front of the playground as their principal, Mike Tines, told the story behind the school’s new exercise equipment and curriculum. In addition to the students, community
According to a recent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) Health of America study, severe maternal morbidity (SMM) rates increased by 9% in the United States in 2018-2020. Moreover, SMM rates were 62% higher in primarily Black communities and 32% higher in primarily Hispanic communities. According to the study, the health disparities arise from
One early morning in May 2021, Jaye Stentz started his day like most others: he went to let his chocolate lab, Howard, outside; however, when he tried to call him back inside the words weren’t there. “I could think the words, but they weren't coming out,” said Stentz, organization development specialist at Blue Cross and
Between playing soccer and being on the swim team growing up, Seth Orndorff has always led an active life, but, when college ended and pools became fewer and farther between, he struggled to keep active without getting bored. That is until he found the cure to his activity rut: keeping exercise fun. “I have a
As Nebraska moves into another school year, now is the perfect time to ensure that children are caught up on routine vaccinations. Vaccines are crucial to protect children from preventable diseases, especially as in-person activities and learning are back in full swing, and, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaccine ordering
Kara Urkoski and her youngest son Blake pictured on vacation in Florida. Kara Urkoski, provider executive II at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE), credits her success in leading an active lifestyle to being involved in sports when she was a kid. “I played soccer a lot when I was younger, I was
