Mountlake Terrace, Wash., Feb. 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska today announced the launch of a new engagement platform designed to simplify health care for customers in Alaska, making it easier for patients to find the doctors and medications they need.
Called Premera Pulse, the new service addresses the challenge patients face when searching for the right, high-value provider, accessing their medication list and medical history, or scheduling doctor appointments. The personalized text messaging experience notifies the customer at important moments in their health care journey, and directs them to the information they need via a secure website, at the time they need it.
Eligible customers were offered the choice to opt in to this offering as part of a pilot phase launched last year. They provided their member ID and phone number, and with a one-time activation, started receiving the text messages.
“What makes this product unique is that the text messages customers receive are based on the customer’s specific health plan and history,” said Jim Grazko, President of Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska. “You only receive the information that is relevant and timely for you, making your healthcare journey more seamless and frictionless.”
For example, a customer might receive a text message if they check in to a doctor’s office, receive a referral to a specialist, or have not used their preventive benefits yet. The offering also does not require an app download, making the information more easily accessible at the time the customer needs it.
With this platform, eligible Premera customers can:
- Find in-network care
- Schedule appointments
- Access medication lists
- Get reminders about important preventive care visits
- Set up convenient appointment reminders
- Rate doctors after visits
As of Feb. 26, 2018, Premera Pulse is making the healthcare experience more seamless for over 9,260 activated members. The platform also makes booking appointments with high-value care providers easier for the patients. Through the platform’s provider scheduling feature, patients have booked more than 390 appointments.
Designed in partnership with Vim (formerly BookMD), a healthcare tech company based in San Francisco, Premera Pulse is available to Alaska individual customers as well as customers who pay for their health insurance through their employer. The partnership was initiated by Premera’s innovation team called the Premera Test Kitchen.
Available for interviews
Jim Grazko, President, Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska
Media Assets
Video of screen recording of customer using Premera Pulse
Screenshot photos of Premera Pulse
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About Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska
Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska, which has operated in Alaska since 1952, is a not-for-profit, independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Premera and its family of companies provide comprehensive health benefits and tailored services to approximately 2 million people, from individuals to Fortune 100 companies.
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A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cb290c8b-54ec-4233-ac8e-2152ac48c7f5