I have been working on the periphery of employee wellness
for the past ten (10) years. My foray
into employee wellness started at Ohio Casualty Insurance Company when my
unit (Employee Benefits) was given oversight of our onsite medical
staff. Over a period of twelve (12)
months, the staff was reduced from 3 full time nurses and one part time
physician to one full time nurse/wellness coordinator. Despite limited resources and funding,
we were able to successfully implement a 24 hour fitness center; .5 mile walking path; brown bag lunch and learn sessions; fitness challenges; Weight Watchers; onsite annual health screenings; tobacco cessation program; diabetic support group and wellness rewards.
While overseeing Ohio Casualty’s employee wellness program, the organization won the Healthy Ohioan’s Healthy Worksite Award.
Upon my arrival at UC, I discovered UC did not have a formal employee wellness program although many health and wellness activities took place on campus which were primarily focused on students. I was able to secure funding for a graduate assistant position through our relationship with our health carrier, Humana. As of today, we have been able to fund a graduate student stipend for five (5) Master’s or PhD students in the Health Promotion and Education program.
Under my guidance, the graduate students have enhanced UC’s employee wellness programs by offering health-oriented brown bag lunch and learn sessions; hosting an annual health and wellness fair; organizing and promoting fitness challenges; and creating and maintaining a website dedicated to wellness information and resources.
In spring 2014, UC HR began a search for a wellness partner to administer a number of services for UC employees and dependents. Desired services included: a web portal for tracking and promoting wellness activities including fitness challenges; incentive tracking; health coaching; health screenings; an online health assessment and the willingness to incorporate UC health profession students into as many activities as possible. Asset Health was chosen as the university's wellness vendor.
UC’ Strategic Objectives for Employee Wellness are:
Develop and support a culture of healthy living which allows our staff and faculty, along with their families, to model desired behavior to our students and community.
Increase our population’s awareness of own health status and services available to improve health.
Reduce burden that health-related issues place on University of Cincinnati employees performing their jobs at optimal level.
Manage costs (medical, Rx, disability, etc.).
Develop holistic approach to health management.
Provide educational opportunities to health profession students of the University of Cincinnati.
While overseeing Ohio Casualty’s employee wellness program, the organization won the Healthy Ohioan’s Healthy Worksite Award.
Upon my arrival at UC, I discovered UC did not have a formal employee wellness program although many health and wellness activities took place on campus which were primarily focused on students. I was able to secure funding for a graduate assistant position through our relationship with our health carrier, Humana. As of today, we have been able to fund a graduate student stipend for five (5) Master’s or PhD students in the Health Promotion and Education program.
Under my guidance, the graduate students have enhanced UC’s employee wellness programs by offering health-oriented brown bag lunch and learn sessions; hosting an annual health and wellness fair; organizing and promoting fitness challenges; and creating and maintaining a website dedicated to wellness information and resources.
In spring 2014, UC HR began a search for a wellness partner to administer a number of services for UC employees and dependents. Desired services included: a web portal for tracking and promoting wellness activities including fitness challenges; incentive tracking; health coaching; health screenings; an online health assessment and the willingness to incorporate UC health profession students into as many activities as possible. Asset Health was chosen as the university's wellness vendor.
UC’ Strategic Objectives for Employee Wellness are:
Develop and support a culture of healthy living which allows our staff and faculty, along with their families, to model desired behavior to our students and community.
Increase our population’s awareness of own health status and services available to improve health.
Reduce burden that health-related issues place on University of Cincinnati employees performing their jobs at optimal level.
Manage costs (medical, Rx, disability, etc.).
Develop holistic approach to health management.
Provide educational opportunities to health profession students of the University of Cincinnati.