Independence Blue Cross Foundation announces collaboration to improve care for survivors of an opioid overdose in Bucks County

Pictured left to right:  Stephen Fera, EVP, Independence Blue Cross, Heather Major, Director IBC Foundation programs, Ashely E. (BCARES participant), Secretary Jennifer Smith, PA Dept. of Drug and Alochol Programs, Lorina Marshall-Blake, President, IBC Foundation, U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) Results of an Independence Blue Cross Foundation study evaluating warm hand-offs provides basis for $650,000 additional funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to help overdose survivors get treatment  Philadelphia,...
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Independence Blue Cross Foundation takes Someone You Know opioid public health campaign to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Someone You Know ambassadors on the Senate steps with Senator Bob Casey Jr. (far left) The Independence Blue Cross Foundation (Foundation) took its Someone You Know public health awareness campaign from Philadelphia to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on June 27. Nearly 20 Someone You Know ambassadors who had been featured in the Someone You Know campaign went to the Rayburn House Office Building Foyer to use storytelling to advance the campaign’s goal of reducing the stigma of addiction....
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Independence associate Patrick Flynn honored by Caron Treatment Centers

Patrick Flynn (left) pictured here with Casey Duffy, past chair, Caron Treatment Centers’ Board of Trustees.
Patrick Flynn (left) pictured here with Casey Duffy, past chair, Caron Treatment Centers’ Board of Trustees. Independence Government Affairs Specialist Patrick Flynn received the Unsung Hero award at Caron Treatment Center’s Annual Greater Philadelphia Community Service Awards Breakfast on June 7 held in Philadelphia. The award pays tribute to individuals, organizations, and institutions that have made an outstanding contribution in the ongoing battle against alcohol and drug addiction in the community....
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IBC Foundation joins Senator PA State Senator Tom Killion and West Chester Area YMCA to celebrate CPR Awareness Week and passage of new legislation

State Senator Tom Killion, Lorina Marshall-Blake, President, Independence Blue Cross Foundation, Terri Edgar, Executive Director, West Chester Area YMCA Stephanie Austin, sudden cardiac arrest survivor
Pictured left to right, State Senator Tom Killion, Lorina Marshall-Blake, President, Independence Blue Cross Foundation, Terri Edgar, Executive Director, West Chester Area YMCA, and Stephanie Austin, sudden cardiac arrest survivor. In recognition and celebration of National CPR and AED Awareness Week, June 1-7, the Independence Blue Cross Foundation (Foundation) joined State Senator Tom Killion and representatives from the West Chester Area YMCA to celebrate the passage of Senate Bill 115 and talk about the importance of CPR and AEDs....
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The Independence Blue Cross Foundation welcomes its summer nurse interns

A group photo of the 2019 nursing interns
The Independence Blue Cross Foundation (Foundation) welcomed its summer nursing internship class on June 3. Through the program, 25 undergraduate nursing students from eight nursing schools across the region will participate in a 10-week internship learning the unique roles nurses play at Independence Blue Cross or at a community health center supported by the Foundation’s Blue Safety Net grant program....
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Lessons from an Internship: How an Independence Blue Cross Foundation Internship Helped Me Launch a Health Initiative in Sierra Leone

Maila Turay signing the visitor log at Port Loko Government Hospital alongside Head Matron Kumba In 2017, as a sophomore nursing student at Temple University, I landed my first nursing job as a summer “extern” at the Independence Blue Cross Foundation. I was excited to gain the inpatient clinical skills that are the foundation of a long and fruitful career in nursing....
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Breaking the Stigma of Addiction: An Independence Associate Shares His Story of Recovery

Patrick Flynn listening to the personal story of someone affected by the opioid crisis at a Someone You Know kiosk
Patrick Flynn listening to the personal story of someone affected by the opioid crisis at a Someone You Know kiosk In 2018, the Independence Blue Cross Foundation launched Someone You Know, a national campaign to reduce the stigma associated with opioid use disorder. The campaign shares the personal stories of those affected by the opioid crisis....
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Independence Blue Cross Foundation announces expansion of ‘Someone You Know’ awareness campaign on the stigma of opioid misuse

Philadelphia, PA — April 4, 2019 — At an event held at its Philadelphia headquarters, the Independence Blue Cross Foundation (Foundation) announced the expansion of “Someone You Know,” a grassroots and public health awareness campaign that is reducing the stigma of opioid addiction, inspiring hope, and empowering others to seek help and treatment. Ten new diverse stories will be added to the campaign,...
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IBC Foundation teams with Walgreens to reduce prescription drug abuse through expanded safe medication disposal

Stephen P. Fera and Governor Tom Wolf
Stephen P. Fera, of Independence Blue Cross, with Governor Tom Wolf. Stephen P. Fera, senior vice president of Public Affairs for Independence Blue Cross, joined Governor Tom Wolf and representatives from Walgreens to highlight safe medication disposal kiosks throughout southeastern Pennsylvania. These kiosks allow individuals to safely and conveniently dispose of unwanted prescriptions,...
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Independence Blue Cross Foundation joins DDAP for regional warm hand-off summits

Left to right: Heather Major, Independence Blue Cross Foundation, Dr Rachel, Levine, Secretary, PA Department of Health, Ellen DiDomenico, Deputy Secretary, PA Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs
Left to right: Heather Major, Independence Blue Cross Foundation; Dr Rachel Levine, Secretary, PA Department of Health; Ellen DiDomenico, Deputy Secretary, PA Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. The Independence Blue Cross Foundation (Foundation) joined the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) and the Pennsylvania Department of Health on March 20 and 21 for two summits addressing emergency room-based warm handoff protocols — an evidence-based practice ensuring overdose survivors receive immediate referrals to treatment....
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