How to Get in the Driver’s Seat of Your Health Care
Posted by Medavie Blue Cross on May 21, 2024
How to Get in the Driver’s Seat of Your Health Care
Posted by Medavie Blue Cross on May 21, 2024
We’ve all been there: stuck in a rut and don’t know how to get out. Perhaps extra responsibilities at work are zapping your energy, or maybe a family issue is bringing you down. The days have begun to blur together and you feel like you’re operating on autopilot. It’s similar to experiencing burnout, a condition that, left unchecked can take a serious toll on our mental and physical wellbeing.
Don’t let that happen to you. There are plenty of ways to get back on track and regain your zest for life, including self-guided solutions that put you firmly in the driver’s seat of your health care. To support you, we’ve created this roadmap that will help you get unstuck from your rut, and guide you on a journey toward better health and quality of life.
Health Connected is a wellness portal where you can assess your health, calculate your health risks, develop a wellness plan that’s unique to you, using the self-care resources available from the platform’s library, as well as connect with a health coach. If you’re a Medavie Blue Cross plan member, you can sign up for free using the ID number on your card.
Better understand your health
Getting a picture of your health is a perfect starting point for your journey. This can be done through a health assessment or screening tool that can tell you if your current lifestyle is healthy or puts you at risk for illness. Based on your health snapshot, you can set simple goals for change that get back to the basics of healthy living― movement, nutrition, sleep, stress management and social connection ― and ideally turn into lifelong health habits.
Power up with knowledge
Go online, and you’ll find a wealth of educational websites, podcasts, and apps to help you become more knowledgeable about your health and make informed decisions. Resources from reputable sources like the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Canadian Mental Health Association also provide expert advice and guidance on health and wellness.
Stay healthy on the go
Wearable devices such as smartwatches and fitness trackers are like Swiss Army knives for wellbeing with all-in-one features that allow you to monitor your vital signs, activity levels, sleep patterns, and more. These devices provide valuable data to stay on track of reaching your goals, whether it's getting more sleep, eating well, exercising regularly, or managing stress.
Monitor and manage your symptoms
Health tracking apps can also help you measure and self-manage your health, from taking your medications as prescribed to keeping your blood sugar or cholesterol levels under control. Plus, there’s meal planning apps and nutrition trackers to help you make healthy eating choices, create personalized meal plans and add more nutrition to your diets. Apps dedicated to mental health offer self-guided interventions for managing stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns. They can come with tools to help you meditate, monitor your mood, learn coping strategies, or sign up for therapy sessions.
Stay healthy on the go
Wearable devices such as smartwatches and fitness trackers are like Swiss Army knives for wellbeing with all-in-one features that allow you to monitor your vital signs, activity levels, sleep patterns, and more. These devices provide valuable data to stay on track of reaching your goals, whether it's getting more sleep, eating well, exercising regularly, or managing stress.
Monitor and manage your symptoms
Health tracking apps can also help you measure and self-manage your health, from taking your medications as prescribed to keeping your blood sugar or cholesterol levels under control. Plus, there’s meal planning apps and nutrition trackers to help you make healthy eating choices, create personalized meal plans and add more nutrition to your diets. Apps dedicated to mental health offer self-guided interventions for managing stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns. They can come with tools to help you meditate, monitor your mood, learn coping strategies, or sign up for therapy sessions.
Create a healthy living routine
Indulging yourself with an occasional “spa day” or “retail therapy” outing will do wonders for your wellbeing. But weaving “me time” into our daily routines will have positive and lasting effects on our minds, body and spirit. Incorporating self-care practices into our days, even if it’s a walk around the block after work or chair yoga during our lunch hour, will build resilience. Enroll in an online fitness class or download a mindfulness app to get on the path to a healthier, happier you.
Visit with a doctor online
Of course, it’s essential to complement your self-care practices with regular check-ups and consultations with your doctor or other primary caregiver. If you don’t have access to a healthcare provider on an ongoing basis, you can connect with a licensed physician through virtual care services, such as Online Doctors, for diagnosis and treatment of non-emergency medical issues. Online Doctors is among the solutions available to Medavie Blue Cross cardholders through our digital health platform, Connected Care.
Create a healthy living routine
Indulging yourself with an occasional “spa day” or “retail therapy” outing will do wonders for your wellbeing. But weaving “me time” into our daily routines will have positive and lasting effects on our minds, body and spirit. Incorporating self-care practices into our days, even if it’s a walk around the block after work or chair yoga during our lunch hour, will build resilience. Enroll in an online fitness class or download a mindfulness app to get on the path to a healthier, happier you.
Visit with a doctor online
Of course, it’s essential to complement your self-care practices with regular check-ups and consultations with your doctor or other primary caregiver. If you don’t have access to a healthcare provider on an ongoing basis, you can connect with a licensed physician through virtual care services, such as Online Doctors, for diagnosis and treatment of non-emergency medical issues. Online Doctors is among the solutions available to Medavie Blue Cross cardholders through our digital health platform, Connected Care.
If you’re insured through Medavie Blue Cross and want to learn more about these and other services. explore the Member Services Site or Blue Cross Mobile app. Taking good care of your health has never been easier or faster, more comfortable or convenient, with the self-guided and virtual care solutions we’ve included in your benefits package.
Medavie Blue Cross is a premier all-in-one carrier that provides health, dental, travel, life and disability benefits and administers federal and provincial government-sponsored health programs. Together with Medavie Health Services, we are part of Medavie, a health solutions partner committed to improving the wellbeing of Canadians. We are in the...