Walk like you mean it
Join Health Plus for eight weeks of 30-minute walks each Wednesday. Meet at the Medical Center
North shuttle drop-off at noon, rain or shine (if it rains the group walks in
the tunnels). Two groups will be led by Health Plus each week, one for fast-paced walkers and one for slower walkers. No
pre-registration is required.
Leaders walk, too
And for the second consecutive year, senior university leaders will lead
organized walks on the Vanderbilt campus, each of the simultaneous walks
concluding at Health Plus. The walks will begin at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
For locations, visit www.healthplus.vanderbilt.edu.
Start! moving toward one billion steps
The Start! initiative, the partnership between Vanderbilt and the American Heart
Association, continues to walk briskly along, improving employee health all the
way. Health Plus and Vanderbilt Heart are providing this physical activity program
for faculty and staff and encouraging everyone to participate in reaching the
goal of 1,000 participants and an updated goal of 1 billion combined steps by
Oct. 31.
Even those who prefer a physical activity other than walking can participate.
Since Start! is about being more physically active, the site allows staff and
faculty to track other activities. Any activity can be converted to steps
through the online tracker.
Each registered participant also receives a step pedometer, a paper tracking log
for your activities, and resources to help you succeed.
Every participant who logs more than 150,000 steps by Oct. 31 will receive a
T-shirt.
Life Phase Series offers “Economical Ways to Arrive at Work”
The Life Phase series showcases speakers who have ideas to help staff and
faculty balance work and home responsibilities. This month’s Life Phase series is titled “Economical Ways to Arrive at Work” and is presented by Vanderbilt’s Office of Traffic and Parking. The program will be held Thursday, Sept. 18, from noon to 1 p.m. in 411 Light Hall.
Babies and You
Health Plus offers this work site prenatal health promotion program to all
Vanderbilt employees, spouses and dependents. The program encourages early and
consistent prenatal care and provides monthly educational opportunities on
issues relating to perinatal health.
Enrollment is voluntary and free but must be completed during the first
trimester of pregnancy. Call 343-8943 to enroll and learn how mothers-to-be can
earn a $100 savings bond (taxable) for their new baby. Fathers-to-be and
grandparents-to-be are welcome. Door prizes are given at each program.
All classes are from noon to 1 p.m. This month’s class is “Postpartum Care,” presented by Carol Huber, R.N., of the Women’s Education and Lactation Center. The class well be Thursday, Sept. 18, in 415
Light Hall.
Go for the Gold 2008 continues
The 2008 edition of Go for the Gold is in full swing. As last year, full-time
active, benefits eligible staff and faculty can complete the Gold Level of the
Go For The Gold Incentives Program and receive $20/month in wellness credit in
2008. More than 13,000 faculty and staff participated in the program last year,
and are being rewarded by Vanderbilt for engaging in healthy lifestyle
practices.
Here are the steps:
Step 1
Do your yearly Health Risk Assessment to learn what your health risks are and
what you can do to become as healthy as possible.
Step 2
Do your yearly Wellness Action Log to focus on healthy actions that will help
you maintain or improve your health.
Step 3
View the 2008 Game Plan For Your Health, which is titled “Five Keys to Financial Health.”
Steps one and two are also available for spouses and domestic partners of staff
and faculty, which adds a wellness credit of $5 for each step.
All the steps can be completed at
Assistance with the 2008 Go for the Gold will be available at the Benefits Fair.
Health Plus staff will be available to assist from 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Sept. 25, at
the Student Life Center. Blood pressures and weight checks will also be
available. Help is also available during all hours of operation at Health Plus
(Monday-Friday 5 a.m.-9 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m.-2 p.m.) and at the
Occupational Health Clinic (9 a.m.-4 p.m.), Medical Arts Building, 6th floor.
Call Health Plus at 343-8943 for assistance by phone or with questions.
The deadline for completion is Nov. 30.
Group Fitness News
Fitness through Dance— This class is held Mondays at 6:15 p.m. and the featured dance changes monthly
or bimonthly. The dance for September and October is Latin Salsa.
Occupational Health Clinic hits the road
The Occupational Health Clinic now visits Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital each month to help make getting shots and skin tests even more
convenient for hospital staff. Staff and faculty may drop by during any of
these sessions to get all the immunizations and testing needed. To help
managers track compliance, the performance evaluation system will automatically
know whether OHC has your information up to date or not, so act now to beat the
rush.
OHC staff are in the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital, room 7011, from 1:15 to 4:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of each
month.
Services provided are immunizations, TB skin tests, screening/review of records
and lab collections for required screening.
Self Care classes offered
Most of the time when you get sick or injured, you’ll recover without special medical care. But how do you know when medical care
is necessary?
In the “Self Care Techniques” class, offered through the Occupational Health Clinic, you will learn:
• What your symptoms mean
• Helpful self-care tips for your symptoms
• When you need to seek medical help
• Valuable prevention tips to stay healthy
• How to make the most of your health care appointments.
Class attendees will receive a copy of Mayo Clinic EmbodyHealth Guide to Self-Care. The next Self Care Techniques class will take place Tuesday, Sept. 9, noon to 1 p.m., in
419 Light Hall.
Pre-registration is not required. For more information, contact the Occupational
Health Clinic at occhealth.vanderbilt .edu or 936-0955.
Work/Life Connections-EAP offers tool-kit for smokers
Since the entire Medical Center is now smoke free, those who want to give
support to staff and colleagues making the transition to a smoke-free life can
find help with a downloadable tool-kit at www.healthandwellness.vanderbilt.edu.
Health and Wellness offers Podcasts
Health and Wellness now offers weekly podcasts. Listen to brief interviews, tips
and tidbits on a variety of health and wellness topics ranging from deep-breathing exercises to surviving divorce to preparing for overseas travel. Visit www.vanderbilt.edu/HRS/wellness/hwpodcast.htm to listen from your computer or your MP3 Player.
