Your Radio Doctor with Dr. Marianne Ritchie invited Dr. Heidi Syropoulos, medical director for Government Markets at Independence Blue Cross, to speak about healthy aging and the pandemic on the August 16 episode. The program aired on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT and is available online. Dr. Syropoulos’ joins the conversation at the 23:00 mark.
Dr. Syropoulos highlighted Independence’s efforts to ensure seniors had access to food and medicine during the pandemic, including the Calls of Kindness initiative to proactively check-in on members and a partnership with United By Blue to deliver groceries.
“We don’t perceive ourselves as a company that is solely in the business of paying claims. We’re so much more than that. Our top priority is ensuring members receive the care they need, and that became more emergent during the pandemic,” Dr. Syropoulos said.
She also shared insights on some of the trends Independence has seen since March, including more than one million telemedicine visits as an alternative to in-person care where appropriate.
Now, as doctors and hospitals have adapted to keep both patients and providers safe, it’s more important than ever to resume routine, preventive care.
“We know the pandemic has paused our lives, but when it comes to our personal health, we don’t have a pause button. We need to continue to take care of ourselves,” said Heidi. It’s an important message Heidi also reinforces in this “Pause” ad for Independence’s Beat COVID-19 public service campaign.
That includes your flu shot, since the flu overwhelms doctors’ offices and emergency rooms every year and presents similarly to COVID-19.
“This is not the year to say, ‘I’m not getting a flu shot.’ This is probably the most important year of your life to get a flu shot. And if you’ve never gotten one, this is the year to get it.”