WASHINGTON, March 31, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Millions of Americans who worry about memory or brain health now have a powerful platform to help them find their way to helpful resources and a path forward – BrainGuide™ by UsAgainstAlzheimer’s.

This first of its kind resource includes a confidential memory questionnaire – taken over the phone or online in English or Spanish – followed by tailored education and resources based on the answers provided. The memory questionnaire can be self-administered or taken by a caregiver. BrainGuide is not intended to diagnose or make treatment recommendations regarding Alzheimer’s or any other disease.

BrainGuide was created by UsAgainstAlzheimer’s based on input from medical experts with in-kind and financial support from Biogen. The platform runs on Amazon Web Services (AWS), using state-of-the-art technologies to power the memory questionnaire capability and make it available to anyone with a telephone or Internet access.

“People can do so much more to protect and improve brain health, and BrainGuide can be the right platform at the right time for adults of all ages,” said George Vradenburg, chairman and co-founder of UsAgainstAlzheimer’s. “Whether you are proactively working to improve your brain health, concerned about your memory, seeking more information after receiving a diagnosis or are caring for a loved one living with Alzheimer’s – BrainGuide offers relevant insight and guidance.”

R. Doreen Monks, who is living with early onset Alzheimer’s disease, tried out BrainGuide and said: “BrainGuide is easy to use, science-based and hopeful. I can answer a few questions, and it helps me determine what my potential next steps will be. It has a lot of facts and information, but I’m not overwhelmed by it. As a nurse recently diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s, BrainGuide reminds me of what my friend (a neurologist) did when she helped me understand I had a problem. And it can be used as a jumping off point for a physician visit.” 

More than 5.8 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s today, and many more have questions and concerns about brain health. Yet over 60 percent of dementia cases are not detected in the community and/or in residential nursing care, because people and families do not know where to turn or what resources are available to them.¹ Until now, many have struggled to find brain health or Alzheimer’s information tailored to their needs and have hesitated to raise the topic with their doctors.

“As people age and worry about their memory and brain health in general, it can be reassuring for them to have an easy-to-use tool in BrainGuide to help them gain insight into their symptoms so they can talk to their physician,” said Dr. Jill Goldstein, Professor of Psychiatry and Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Executive Director of the Innovation Center on Sex Differences in Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital.

BrainGuide builds on key scientific advances in risk reduction, greater understanding of the importance of brain health, and growing public awareness of Alzheimer’s. Its memory questionnaires were developed based on validated questionnaires that have been adapted for the phone and the web.

BrainGuide is free and easy to access – in English and Spanish – online at www.mybrainguide.org and by phone at 855-BRAIN-411. The platform provides automated, confidential memory questionnaires that can be self-administered or taken as a caregiver. Once the questionnaire is complete, BrainGuide offers tailored resources based on the answers provided. Privacy is protected, and responses are not recorded or shared with anyone other than the individual completing the questionnaire.

“Tailored assessment and care of an individual’s health provide an immense benefit to patients everywhere. UsAgainstAlzheimer’s’ introduction of BrainGuide is a great example of how an organization can use AWS technologies to help personalize the patient health journey,” said Taha Kass-Hout, Director of Machine Learning at AWS. “We look forward to further supporting UsAgainstAlzheimer’s as it helps provide patients and their families the right information to help manage their care through technology.”

About UsAgainstAlzheimer’s
UsAgainstAlzheimer’s exists to conquer Alzheimer’s disease. We take on the toughest problems; bring all of “Us” together to break down barriers; advocate for research that will speed treatments to market; and drive changes that matter most to people living with the disease. The unquestionable complexity of this challenge to stop Alzheimer’s fuels our determination to overcome it. We will not rest until brain-span equals lifespan for everyone.

Media Contact:
Roger Lowe
UsAgainstAlzheimer’s
[email protected]

¹ Prevalence and determinants of undetected dementia in the community: a systematic literature review and a meta-analysis (nih.gov)

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SOURCE UsAgainstAlzheimer’s

OAKLAND, Calif., March 31, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Blue Shield of California, the state of California’s third-party administrator, today announced it has successfully transitioned the state’s enhanced COVID-19 vaccine provider network that can administer 5.5 million doses a week to help save more lives.

The dramatically increased capacity is the result of collaboration among state health officials, local health jurisdictions and nearly 300 providers throughout the state that operate some 2,200 vaccination sites.

The network reaches more than 99 percent of Californians, and 99 percent of those who live in the Healthy Places Index lowest quartile areas, based on the state’s requirement of access to providers within 10 miles in urban areas and 30 miles in rural areas.

“Equitable distribution of the vaccine is a top priority for the state of California and we have made great progress in building a statewide system that supports that goal,” said Paul Markovich, president & CEO, Blue Shield of California. “There’s still more work to do as more providers and local health jurisdictions join the statewide network. Together we can overcome this pandemic and save more lives, especially Californians living in the most vulnerable communities.”

California continues to build positive momentum as it readies to receive increased supply of COVID-19 vaccines from the federal government in the coming weeks.

In addition to building the state’s capacity to administer 5.5 million doses a week, other key milestones include:

• 34 local health jurisdictions (LHJs) have joined the state’s enhanced vaccine network, representing the vast majority of Californians. More LHJs are expected to join in coming days.
• 1,400 clinics have onboarded to My Turn, the state’s vaccine scheduling system.
• Equity momentum is building with significant improvement in vaccination rates among Californians who live in Healthy Places Index lowest quartile communities.
• More than 2 million appointments completed through My Turn, enabling the third-party administrator to more effectively track vaccines and make equitable allocation recommendations to the state, which makes the final allocation decisions.

It’s important to note that providers whose patients are awaiting second doses will continue to receive vaccine allocation from the state in order to complete those vaccinations. In addition, Blue Shield will continue to onboard eligible providers who are interested in participating in the state’s enhanced network to help ensure vaccines are available to as many Californians as possible.

The latest list of participating vaccine providers can be found at this link.

Blue Shield is a nonprofit health plan that’s answering the call by the state to support its vaccine distribution efforts to help save lives. The health plan is working closely with each county, its public health leaders, and state officials to build a vaccine network to help meet the state’s goal to ensure all Californians have access to the vaccines equitably, efficiently and as quickly as possible.

The health plan is taking on this effort at cost without making a profit from the state. Blue Shield is not charging the state for its staff time devoted to this effort. It will only bill the state actual expenses to support the network up to the limit of the contract.

More information about Blue Shield’s support of the state’s efforts can be found at this link.

About Blue Shield of California

Blue Shield of California strives to create a healthcare system worthy of its family and friends that is sustainably affordable. Blue Shield of California is a tax paying, nonprofit, independent member of the Blue Shield Association with over 4.5 million members, over 7,500 employees and more than $21 billion in annual revenue. Founded in 1939 in San Francisco and now headquartered in Oakland, Blue Shield of California and its affiliates provide health, dental, vision, Medicaid and Medicare healthcare service plans in California. The company has contributed more than $150 million to Blue Shield of California Foundation in the last four years to have an impact on California communities.

For more news about Blue Shield of California, please visit news.blueshieldca.com.

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SOURCE Blue Shield of California