When the idea that would evolve into Spira Care first came to mind in early 2016, we had no concept of what was to come. We at Blue KC constantly strive to provide a better healthcare experience for our members, so we wanted to know what it would be like if we could recreate it from the beginning to address the needs of patients first – what kind of system would we create? From there, Spira Care was born.
Last week, we welcomed members of the Kansas City community, including representatives from the Olathe Chamber of Commerce and our partner Shawnee Mission Health, to officially commemorate the opening of our first Spira Care center in Olathe, Kansas. This ribbon-cutting event brought together those who helped bring Spira Care to life – from its innovative care delivery design to the look and feel of the Care Center itself – and celebrate this next step towards healthcare innovation here in Kansas City.
We designed Spira Care around what we know our members truly want from their health plan: human interaction and human connection to their health care experience. We talked to our members and built Spira Care from the ground up to create a place where care and coverage intersect.
In case you aren’t already familiar, Spira Care is a combined primary care and insurance offering that gives eligible Blue KC members simple, seamless access to healthcare. This consumer-centric experience was designed with an easy-to-understand, easy-to-use approach in mind. At Spira Care, there are no deductibles, no copays and no additional cost for any onsite procedures. The Spira Care experience takes place at Care Centers, like the Olathe one, where personal Care Guides help members navigate their health care. Technology also plays a major role in Spira Care, with optional email capabilities and text-messaging alerts available for all patients. Select prescriptions are also offered onsite at each member’s regular copay level.
With Spira Care, we want to bring back the personal side of healthcare. It should not be just a transactional offering – it’s personal.
When it comes to improving healthcare for our members, we should not hesitate to break away from “how it’s always been done,” and should challenge ourselves to deliver the best possible healthcare to our members. We look toward the opening of Spira Care in Shawnee, Kansas soon, and I can’t help but look forward to extending Spira Care’s benefits in the Kansas City community. It is possible to create a healthier Kansas City, and that starts with Spira Care.