PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 6, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Independence Blue Cross (Independence), the region's leading health insurance organization, announces that the company's mobile platform, IBX Wire™, won the New Media category of the Philadelphia Business Journal's Innovation Awards. IBX Wire provides members with a private, personalized, HIPAA-compliant way for members and Independence to communicate.
The Innovation Awards recognize annual leaders in the health care and life sciences industries in nine categories, including New Media. The New Media category honors a health care provider or life sciences company "that is creatively using new media (i.e. the Web, social media, mobile technology) for internal communications, marketing, or patient education."
"We're so pleased to be recognized for offering this powerful new way for consumers to connect with Independence Blue Cross because it highlights our commitment to communicating with people in the way they want to be reached," said Independence Senior Vice President of Marketing and Consumer Business Brian Lobley who accepted the award on behalf of the company.
Launched in 2013, more than 275,000 members have opted-in to IBX Wire. This unique channel combines the power of text with a secure connection through the web, and it puts the health information of Independence members at their fingertips via their smartphones.
Lobley continued: "In less than one year, we have tripled the response rates that we normally see using email and direct mail, and we have significantly increased utilization of IBX Mobile and our provider finder tool. Moving forward, the next phase of IBX Wire is focused on using alerts to help our members manage their health conditions, as well as save money on their prescription drugs."
In naming IBX Wire the New Media award winner, the Philadelphia Business Journal cited how the mobile platform drastically improved Independence's ability to interact with members and that it provided users with access to their health plan information on their smartphones – removing the barrier of being away from a computer. In addition, the award recognized Independence's ability to educate and engage members through this new technology.
About Independence Blue Cross
Independence Blue Cross is the leading health insurance organization in southeastern Pennsylvania. With our affiliates, we serve more than 9 million people in 24 states and the District of Columbia. For more than 75 years, we have been enhancing the health and wellness of the people and communities we serve by delivering innovative and competitively priced health care products and services; pioneering new ways to reward doctors, hospitals, and other health care professionals for coordinated, quality care; and supporting programs and events that promote wellness. To learn more about how we're changing the game, visit www.ibx.com. Connect with us on Facebook at ibx.com/facebook and on Twitter at @ibx. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
RELAY® is a registered trademark and service mark, and RELAY WIRE, WIRE, and RELAYME are trademarks and service marks of Relay Network, LLC. www.relaynetwork.com.