Giving people the tools
A few weeks earlier at the Dayani Center, another participant in the program,
Tom Montgomery, an 11-year Ingram employee who is general manager for Human
Resources, came from his Paducah, Ky., home for his physical at Dayani. Many
Ingram Barge employees live in the area around Paducah, because it is a major
center for river shipping, due to its location on or near four major rivers:
the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee and Cumberland.
But since Ingram Barge has employees all over the United States, not all of the
participants in the Dayani-Ingram partnership come to Vanderbilt for their
physicals. Five off-site clinics are contracted with and participate in
Partners in Towboat Wellness, all working under Roberts’ oversight.
Montgomery says he has a history of heart problems in his family and elevated
cholesterol and blood pressure, but he is taking steps to counteract that
history.
“If you eat a lot of saturated fat food you’re going to clog up and need heart surgery,” he says. “I don’t want heart surgery.”
Another Ingram Barge captain, John Newmann, 54, who works the upper Mississippi
and Ohio Rivers, credits his Dayani physical with catching a major health
problem.
“I had a heart problem that ran in my family. During my checkup at Dayani I found
out my heartbeat was irregular. They were on top of it and told me I needed a
pacemaker,” he says.
Now he says his energy and endurance have improved, and he is keen to maintain
those changes. “I’ve increased the frequency of my workouts. I’m hitting on all eight cylinders.
“Since I’ve come to work at Ingram, the quality of my life has definitely improved. Nurse
Teresa makes you feel like part of the family. I just can’t say enough about what she does for us.”
Back on the Francis R. Keegan, Mark and Greg Burkhart also say that the Dayani
program has been helpful to them, although they both admit that health concerns
continue to be a challenge.
“I’m glad Ingram took the time to set it up for us,” Greg says. “I can’t say that I stick with it, but they give us the tools. Teresa sends e-mail tips
and reminders. I’ve always had a good experience.”
“At first I was resistant,” Dave says. “But it’s been good. I try to park a little farther away when we go to Wal-Mart.
I try to cut down on red meat. It’s a process. As good as Teresa has treated us—that makes a difference, too.”
The next phase of the partnership will be determining not only the effectiveness
of the program and the wellness interventions, but to discover the relationship
of health to boat safety.
“I have definitely found my passion. It’s challenging, but definitely rewarding, to walk their health journey with them,” Roberts said. “The relationships we’ve developed over the past six years are what make it successful. There is a
real sense of trust. I love working with the Ingram Barge associates. I
consider it an honor, and definitely a pleasure, to be their partner in towboat
wellness. It’s just the coolest thing!” Watching the sun glinting off the water, she has a big smile on her face.
