The Rhode to Health: A Podcast from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island

Host Philip Hawthorne is joined by guests Carolyn Belisle, BCBSRI managing director of community relations, and Melissa Cummings, BCBSRI executive vice president and chief customer officer, to discuss a momentous occasion - the 80th anniversary of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island! BCBSRI has been serving its fellow Rhode Islanders for 80 years, and this episode delves into the company’s Rhode Island legacy and deep-rooted local commitment, which has even led to its new brand campaign, “It’s What We Live For.”

BCBSRI's Charlotte Crist is joined by Michael Ross, MD, a geriatrician and director of geriatric inpatient services at Kent Hospital, to discuss an issue that we’ve heard is a big concern for many of our senior members, but one that they may not talk about or ask for help with due to embarrassment or stigma: urinary incontinence, or issues with bladder control.

We are still very much at the start of 2019, and the need for behavioral health services in Rhode Island is on course to increase yet again this year. In this episode, we take some time to discuss some of the programs and services available here in Rhode Island for mental health and substance use disorders. Host Rosaly Cuevas, the administrative coordinator for Delivery System Innovation at BCBSRI, is joined by guests Rena Sheehan, Blue Cross’ managing director of clinical quality and behavioral health, and Sarah Fleury, the lead clinical program specialist who works alongside Rena and Rosaly on BCBSRI's behavioral health programming.

Based on BCBSRI claims data 40 percent of emergency department (ED) visits are low-acuity, non emergent, which means they don’t always require emergency care. For Rhode Island, that 40 percent attributes to $90 million annually in preventable ED visits for symptoms such as back pain, flu symptoms, ear or sinus pain, muscle sprains or bumps, cuts or scrapes. Many of these complaints can be addressed by a PCP, at retail health clinics, or at urgent care centers. Join host Dave King, as he discusses BCBSRI's ED task force with guests Matt Collins, M.D., and Charlotte Crist, RN.

Did you know that the health of your mouth is directly tied to the health of your whole body? Join host Patrick Connors as he leads a discussion on the “mouth/body connection.” To explain more about this, and what steps you can take to be your healthiest, Patrick is joined by Dr. Yvonne Wolny, dental director at BCBSRI.

The healthcare industry has lots of personal information floating around, making it a big target for criminals. What are some of the most common traps, and how can you avoid them?Join host Rebecca Webber, chief of staff to the president and CEO at Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, as she tackles the topic of protecting personal information against fraud and theft. To talk about common scams that attempt to access your protected health information, Rebecca is joined by former Rhode Island State Police Superintendent Colonel Brendan Doherty, director of BCBSRI's special investigations unit, and former Rhode Island State Police Captain Brian Casilli, fraud investigator at BCBSRI.

The healthcare industry has lots of personal information floating around, making it a big target for criminals. What are some of the most common traps, and how can you avoid them?Join host Rebecca Webber, chief of staff to the president and CEO at Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, as she tackles the topic of protecting personal information against fraud and theft. To talk about common scams that attempt to access your protected health information, Rebecca is joined by former Rhode Island State Police Superintendent Colonel Brendan Doherty, director of BCBSRI's special investigations unit, and former Rhode Island State Police Captain Brian Casilli, fraud investigator at BCBSRI.

You may have heard in a previous episode of the Rhode to Health Podcast that you can take an array of fitness classes at Your Blue Store. BUT, did you know we also offer a wide range of classes and seminars in-person at our retail store locations in Warwick, East Providence and Lincoln? Join host Erika Pietrunti, senior program manager in continuous improvement at BCBSRI, as she interviews guests Catherine O’Horo, a senior case manager at Blue Cross, and Charlotte Crist, BCBSRI managing director of clinical programs. Cathy and Char serve as instructors for two of the most popular and well-received classes at our retail stores: nutrition classes with cooking demonstrations, and healthy aging workshops.

Join host Rebecca Webber, BCBSRI's chief of staff to the president and CEO, as she discusses one of the MOST important (and easiest!) ways to pick a good health plan. We’re talking about quality ratings. Rebecca is joined by Karen Stenhouse, BCBSRI accreditation manager, and Rebecca Mallette, BCBSRI director of customer experience, to help us better understand what quality ratings are, why they matter and how all of this relates to you as a customer.

A survey conducted by the Human Rights Campaign found that 50 percent of employees in the United States are not out in their place of employment. Join host Guillaume Bagal, lead diversity and inclusion consultant at Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, as he discusses BCBSRI’s commitment to supporting the LGBTQ community. Guillaume is joined by a panel of BCBSRI colleagues for this two-part episode: Charlotte Crist, managing director of clinical programs, Michelle Im, account coordinator, and Jason Furlan, manager of contact center oversight.