Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBS Texas) would stock up on apples for its nearly 4 million customers. The reason? The not-for-profit insurer emphasizes preventive medicine to hold down the costs of operating its HMO, PPO, point-of-service, and indemnity insurance health care plans in Texas. The company's network has more than 40,000 doctors and 400 hospitals. A division of Chicago-based Health Care Service Corporation, BCBS Texas counts among its customers Continental Airlines, the University of Texas System, and Halliburton.

Piedmont Fayette Hospital (PFH) is there to help. The acute care hospital is home to centers in cardiovascular medicine, diabetes treatment, sleep disorder therapy, women's health, fitness, and rehabilitative care. With more than 400 physicians on staff, the former Fayette Community Hospital has the ability to treat just about whatever walks through its doors -- from ear, nose, throat problems to pediatric dentistry. The about 140-bed hospital opened in 1997 and is part of Piedmont Healthcare.

OSF Healthcare helps patients who are feeling oh-so-frail in Illinois and Michigan. OSF Healthcare system includes seven acute care hospitals and one long-term care facility that combined are home to about 1,300 beds and offer a full spectrum of inpatient and outpatient medical and surgical services. The system's primary care physician network consists of about 500 physicians at more than 50 locations throughout its service area. Subsidiary OSF Home Care provides hospice, home visit, and equipment services, and OSF Saint Francis provides ambulance, pharmacy, and health care management services. The not-for-profit system is a subsidiary of the Sisters of The Third Order of St. Francis.

In CHRISTUS there is no east or west, but plenty of care nonetheless. The Catholic health care system operates more than 50 hospitals, including general hospitals and long-term acute care facilities. The majority of its operations are in Louisiana and Texas, but the not-for-profit organization also has facilities in Arkansas, Georgia, Missouri, New Mexico, and Utah, and in several states in Mexico. In addition to its acute care facilities, CHRISTUS Health runs outpatient centers, medical groups, home health and hospice agencies, and senior living facilities. Specialized services include oncology, pediatrics, rehabilitation, and women's and children's health care.

Poconos may be a popular destination among honeymooners, but they probably don't have the Pocono Health System on their lists of must-sees. Nevertheless, the health care provider can treat whatever ails visitors and residents of eastern Pennsylvania. The system's Pocono Medical Center is an acute care community hospital with some 200 beds. The system also operates a community health center for children, a surgical center, and specialty care centers for cancer and heart disease. Its medical staff includes more than 200 physicians.

New York City's Floating Hospital has its origins in a ferryboat ride for newsboys organized by The New York Times in 1866. The newspaper appealed to the public to provide funds for excursions each summer to help the young ragamuffins escape the sweltering streets for a few hours. Management of the program was turned over to a charity, St. John's Guild, in 1873, and the group soon began to put doctors on the ferryboats to provide health services for the newsboys and other city children. The organization provided ship-based until 2001, when it could no longer afford dock space. Today The Floating Hospital provides health care services to indigent New Yorkers via a network of clinics located throughout the city.

Bayer HealthCare Diabetes Care Division is sweet on its customers. Part of Bayer HealthCare's massive worldwide operations, the division makes and markets blood glucose monitoring systems, self-care software, hemoglobin meters, and lancing devices to consumers through pharmacies, retail stores, hospitals, and wholesalers. Bayer Diabetes Care manufactures a line of blood testing systems (including the Breeze 2 and Contour monitors), which it sells in over 100 countries. Bayer has produced diagnostic products for diabetes since 1941 and developed the first portable blood glucose meter and test strips in 1969.

WEA Insurance Trust makes the grade. The not-for-profit organization serves up health, life, disability, and long-term care insurance for Wisconsin's public school employees through subsidiary WEA Insurance Corporation. Its health offerings include prescription plans, diabetes management support, and dental policies. It also offers auto and homeowners insurance.WEA Insurance Trust company insures more than 120,000 workers and their families. The Wisconsin Education Association Council founded WEA Trust in 1970.

Continucare Corporation is a group of physicians and healthcare professionals who believe "old-fashioned" customer service and state-of-the-practice medical care go hand-in-hand. Established in 1996, Continucare is committed to improving the lives of others by providing high quality healthcare services.

Calvert Memorial Hospital provides health care to the residents of the Chesapeake Bay area in southern Maryland. Calvert Memorial Hospital, along with Dunkirk Medical Center, Solomons Medical Center, and a handful of specialty centers and clinics, make up Calvert Health System. In addition to acute care, Calvert Memorial and its affiliates offer same-day surgery, outpatient behavioral health care, and diagnostic imaging, as well as such alternative therapies as acupuncture, massage, and hypnotherapy. For long-term and critical care, Calvert Memorial has partnerships with area facilities, including Washington Hospital Center, Children's National Medical Center, and Johns Hopkins, and University of Maryland.

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