Independence Blue Cross Expands Commitment to Nurse Scholars Program
Posted on: Tuesday, 28 March 2006, 12:00 CST
PHILADELPHIA, March 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Independence Blue Cross today announced the expansion of its Nurse Scholars Program, which provides nursing scholarships to combat the critical shortage of nurse educators and practicing nurses in southeastern Pennsylvania.
Independence Blue Cross (IBC) and the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation (PHEF) will dedicate $9.5 million through the year 2010 for the Nurse Scholars Program to support nurses and nurse educators through scholarships, internships, and a faculty support program.
"Nurses are a vital part of the health care industry; more nurses on the front lines means better care for the community," said Joseph A. Frick, IBC president and chief executive officer. "The goal of our innovative Nurse Scholars Program is to improve the quality and lower the cost of health care in our market by reducing the shortage of highly qualified nursing staff."
IBC will dedicate $5.75 million and PHEF will contribute $3.75 million over the next five years to provide a total of $9.5 million to fund the following initiatives:
- $6.25 million over a five-year period for graduate and undergraduate scholarships (with PHEF match) - $250,000 over five years for a nurse internship program - $500,000 over five years for an internship program at area supported non-profit clinics - $2.5 million over five years for a faculty support program (with PHEF match)
The Nurse Scholars Program was created in 2004 by IBC in response to the severe threat the current nursing shortage in southeastern Pennsylvania poses to the quality and cost of health care. The Bureau of Health Professions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that almost a million registered nurse positions will be vacant in America by the year 2020. In 2005, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, baccalaureate nursing programs were forced to turn away more than 33,000 qualified applications due to limited faculty, clinical sites and classroom space.
Originally rolled out as a three-year, $3 million program, the Nurse Scholar Program has provided financial assistance to aspiring nurse educators and undergraduate nursing students. By 2005, the Nurse Scholars Program had awarded $2 million for more than 1,200 scholarships at 28 accredited area nursing programs.
Independence Blue Cross also recently expanded its commitment to another social mission program, the IBC Charitable Medical Care Grant Program. IBC will dedicate $2 million each year through 2010 to provide operational funding to nonprofit clinics in southeastern Pennsylvania and to support special projects that improve care or access to care for the uninsured. To date, the program has awarded more than $4.7 million to 25 area clinics, in an effort to support quality care that ultimately reduces the number of uninsured individuals who require treatment at area hospitals.
Independence Blue Cross is the leading health insurer in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Nationwide, IBC and its affiliates provide coverage to nearly 3.4 million people. For more than 65 years, Independence Blue Cross has offered quality health care products and services tailored to meet the changing needs of members, employers, groups and providers.
Independence Blue Cross recently received the highest ratings from the National Committee for Quality Assurance for its HMO and PPO health care plans. In addition, in 2005, Independence Blue Cross's Personal Choice was rated the No. 1 PPO in the nation and its Keystone HMO was ranked the No. 1 HMO in the region by health care consumers in a leading independent consumer magazine.
For more information on Independence Blue Cross, visit our website at http://www.ibx.com/.
Independence Blue Cross
CONTACT: Liz Williams of Independence Blue Cross, +1-215-241-2220
Web site: http://www.ibx.com/
Source: PRNewswire
Related Articles
- Independence Blue Cross Gives Grants to Support Health Care for the Uninsured
- Independence Blue Cross Finalizes New Multi-Year Agreements With Mercy Health System and St. Mary Medical Center
- Independence Blue Cross's Disease Management Program Reduces Medical Cost Trends By 1.5 to 2 Percent
- Blue Cross Accused of Dumping Ill Patients
- Blue Cross First Health Plan in State to Receive Full Accreditation As PPO
- Riley to Lead New Government Programs Division for Blue Cross
- Blue Cross Developing Health-Account Bank
- Senator Kennedy Joins International and Local Health Care Leaders Examining New Initiatives to Improve the Quality and Safety of Patient Care; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Convenes Saving Lives, Safeguarding Care
- Independence Blue Cross Celebrates Recipients of IBC Nurse Scholars Grants
- Independence Blue Cross Senior Medical Director Introduces Connections(SM) Kidney Program at Disease Management Conference
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds