When K, a 57-year-old grandmother from Alaska, joined Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Care Management program through the Wellframe app in May 2024, she wasn’t sure if she was ready. Through this app, members can message with Premera personal health support clinicians (PHSC) about health questions, navigating the healthcare system, staying on track with medications, and more. Years of struggling with her weight, chronic health conditions, and a heartbreaking loss had left her feeling overwhelmed and unsure of where to begin.
“I’ve had trouble managing my weight since I was a kid,” she told Randi, her dietitian care manager. “I want to change, but there’s so much in the way.” Her words were honest and heavy with the weight of her reality: a demanding graveyard shift caring for others, physical limitations, a two-story apartment that floods, and a life still shadowed by the grief of losing her husband of 28 years.
Randi met K right where she was. No pressure. No shame. Just compassion, understanding, and the promise of small, meaningful steps forward.
Together, they built trust and began tackling the barriers in K’s path. Through coaching sessions and daily support via the Wellframe app, Randi helped K:
- Understand how her GLP-1 medication worked and the importance of protein and strength training
- Set realistic movement goals that worked around her schedule and physical challenges
- Plan meals despite the chaos of a night shift and caregiving duties
- Reconnect with hobbies and community resources like grief support and beading groups
- Recognize and celebrate the role of her therapist and daughters in her healing journey
K started making changes, not all at once, but step by step. She learned to plan meals instead of skipping them. She noticed how often she turned to ice cream for comfort and made new choices. She even started walking more with her grandkids, eventually hitting her goal of 6,000 steps twice a day.
The results speak volumes. She:
- Lost 19 pounds and dropped her BMI by over 3 points
- Brought high blood sugar levels down to a healthy range
- Improved kidney function and asthma symptoms
K finally feels back in control of her life. Her progress goes beyond clinical measures. She is setting boundaries, caring for herself, and allowing others to support her. Her experience reflects Premera’s belief that care is most effective when it is personal. With empathy, encouragement, and the right resources, members can make meaningful progress and rebuild their lives.
