Highmark Blue Shield and United Concordia Team Up With Lancaster Partners for a Healthy Community CAMP HILL, Pa., Sept. 11
CAMP HILL, Pa., Sept. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- This Sunday, September 14, The
Lancaster Partners for a Healthy Community will host a day of free health and
vision screenings and dental care. The public is invited to participate in
this day-long community event which is open to children and adults who are
uninsured or have minimal health or dental coverage. Advance registration is
not required.
Event sponsors Highmark Blue Shield and United Concordia Companies, Inc.,
and a variety of local organizations will offer a variety of screenings and
services from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will be offered no cost to
participants.
Partners include:
-- SouthEast Lancaster Health Services
-- Community Action Program Family Center
-- Crispus Attucks Community Center
-- Domestic Violence Services of Lancaster County
-- In the Heart of Lancaster
-- Lancaster County Council of Churches
-- Lancaster General Hospital
-- School District of Lancaster
-- Urban League of Lancaster
-- Water Street Medical/Dental Clinic
-- Davis Vision / Total Vision Care
Screenings and services will be provided at SouthEast Lancaster Health
Services, 625 Duke Street, Lancaster. Free parking will be available at
nearby schools and churches. Health care professionals will be available for
individual consultations and to provide information on a variety of topics.
Information on Pennsylvania's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP),
adultBasic and Medicaid programs administered by Highmark will also be
available.
In addition to screenings, entertainment, refreshments and give-aways will
be provided all day; and, an information tent onsite will spotlight 20 local
organizations where representatives will provide details on the variety of
services they have available to the community.
Since many families do not have insurance or have limited funding for
care, professionals will volunteer their time to bring this important service
to the community to ensure those who participate receive the care they need.
"Without adequate insurance, people tend to put off seeking medical
treatment, which can potentially contribute to more severe health problems,"
said Highmark's Director of Community Program Implementation, Charles Gladney.
"Partners for a Healthy Community provides people with an opportunity to
learn, to be screened, to receive services and information that will help
Lancaster Countians to live longer, healthier lives."
Good dental and vision health is important to a child's development, and
the community-based screening offered by all of the participating Partners for
a Health Community will provide Lancaster County children and their parents
with a better understanding about the importance of good overall health as
well as dental and vision health.
"Oral disease is a growing epidemic in the United States," says Harlon L.
Robinson, United Concordia corporate vice president of Human Resources and
Administration and Corporate Diversity chairman. "Dental decay can cause pain,
loss of time from work or school and lower self-esteem. Our goal is to make
sure everyone has the opportunity to see a dentist so they can achieve optimal
oral health no matter where they live. We also teach them healthy dental
habits that they can carry with them through their lives."
"Vision care professionals agree that fewer than 20 percent of children in
our country are adequately screened for vision problems which affect one in
200 preschoolers and one in four school-age children," said Laura Dyer, Davis
Vision's assistant vice president, Strategic Events and Community Relations.
Free health screenings include:
-- Glucose/sugar
-- Blood pressure
-- Cholesterol
-- Body mass index
-- Breast exam/breast cancer survivor workshops
-- Depression
-- Bone density
-- Asthma
-- Vision
And, free dental services for children and adults will include:
-- Screenings
-- Restorative procedures
About Highmark Blue Shield
As one of the state's leading health insurers and with nearly 70 years of
community involvement, Highmark Blue Shield helps members live longer,
healthier lives by ensuring access to affordable, high quality health
insurance and services. Highmark offers the widest range of products, access
to all area hospitals and the most responsive customer service. Highmark
exerts an enormous economic impact throughout Pennsylvania. A recent study
states that Highmark's positive impact exceeded $2.5 billion. Employing more
than 5,000 people in central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley, Highmark
provides the resources to give its members a greater hand in their health.
Highmark Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue
Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Plans. For more information about Highmark Blue Shield, visit
http://www.highmark.com.
About United Concordia
United Concordia Companies, Inc., headquartered in Harrisburg, PA, is one
of the nation's largest dental insurers, with more than 7.7 million members
worldwide. In 2007, United Concordia processed more than 12 million claims and
attained revenues of $1.3 billion. For more information on United Concordia,
visit http://www.ucci.com.
About Davis Vision
Davis Vision Inc., based in Plainview, NY, is one of the nation's premier
vision care companies, and has been providing comprehensive vision benefits
for nearly 45 years. The company currently serves over 55 million members
across the country delivering best-in-class vision care products and services
through an extensive network of nearly 45,000 participating providers. For
more information about Davis Vision, visit http://www.davisvision.com. Its
Total Vision Care retail store is located at 854 Plaza Boulevard in Lancaster,
and can be reached by phone at (717) 295-3111.
SOURCE Highmark Blue Shield
