Wellness Matters program provides activities, challenges and incentives
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Lunch time walkers at the WellSpan Neuroscience and Pain Center include, from left to right, Lisa Collier, Cathy Rohrbaugh, Judy Koller, Kim Barley and Cherry Sweitzer.
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If you walk through the offices at the WellSpan Neuroscience and Pain Center around lunch time, you’ll see many staff members switching from their dress shoes to their sneakers.
And, if you look closely you’ll notice that most of them are wearing their Fitbits, a tiny health tracking device that clips on your pocket or waist and tracks the number of steps taken, calories burned and distance traveled.
Staff members are looking to rack up more steps and improve their health as part of WellSpan’s Wellness Matters program.
“Wellness Matters and the Fitbit have really helped me,” said Judy Koller, physician office clinical assistant at WellSpan Neurosurgery. “I’m more aware of my daily food intake and amount of exercise.”
Koller is one of many WellSpan staff members who can be seen walking during lunch time. Lori Clark, vice president of the neurosciences service line, said, “I was appalled by the number of sedentary hours I had each day. Now, I try to make sure I’m getting 10,000 steps a day.”
On one recent weekend, Clark was looking forward to spreading 15 cubic yards of mulch in her garden so she could record some “active” minutes.
You can join Wellness Matters at any time
Nearly 4,000 WellSpan staff members have enrolled in Wellness Matters (www.welladvisedwellness.com) since January. If you have not joined, you can do so at any time.
All WellSpan staff members are eligible to participate. You do not have to be covered under a WellSpan Health medical plan. Staff members are eligible to receive up to $175 by participating. You can earn $75 by completing the clinical screening and health risk assessment and $25 by meeting with your primary care practitioner for a wellness exam.
Finally, you can choose between receiving a Fitbit health tracker (a $100 value) or earning 75 points by completing several activities/screenings (which are listed on the website) and receive $75.
Andy Seebold, director of business services for SouthCentral Preferred, which oversees the Wellness Matters program through Well Advised, said, “We know for a fact that investing in the health and well being of employees is the right thing to do. "Employees often live a more productive life, both at work and at home.”
Seebold said his own Fitbit has motivated him to get more physically active which has resulted in a greater energy level.
Wellness Matters also has created a sense of friendly competition. A dashboard can be created to track the progress of team members.
“I think we’re motivating each other,” offered Koller. “You want to gain that competitive edge. When you see where you rank with your co-workers, you want to improve and increase your activity.
Participating in Wellness Matters has definitely helped me become more fit.” Clark said, “Wellness Matters has brought people together through a focus on health and wellness. I’ve been impressed by how staff members have gotten involved.”
Wellness Coordinator Kristin Orwick added, “Most people care about their health, but they don’t always know how to get started. Wellness Matters provides activities, challenges, incentives and a way to track your progress.
“It’s exciting to hear how the Fitbit has made a tremendous impact on so many staff members. It has helped them gain a better understanding of their physical activity, nutrition habits and/or their sleep patterns.”