CoxHealth increases employee wellness efforts with renewed focus on employee tobacco use

For immediate release 
Sept. 27, 2013 

Joining a growing list of hospitals and health systems around the country, CoxHealth announced today it will become the first health system in the Ozarks to add nicotine screening to the list of tests potential employees must pass once an offer of employment has been made. 

The change, effective Thursday, Nov. 21, to coincide with the American Cancer Society’s annual Great American Smokeout event, is designed to further the organization’s efforts to provide a healthy, healing working environment. 

“Every year 443,000 Americans die due to smoking related illness,” said Steve Edwards, CoxHealth president and CEO. “We could no longer reconcile the fact that our mission is to improve the health of our community, and we were not taking an assertive stand against tobacco products.” 

In recent years the organization has taken several steps to help employees live healthier lives, from changing the menus in the cafeterias to offering walking clubs and a successful Wellness program. CoxHealth leaders say increasing their efforts to help employees stop using tobacco, and including nicotine testing as part of the organization’s required pre-employment testing, is the next logical step. 

Job applicants will be notified of the policy when they apply for a position. Those who do not pass the post-offer, pre-employment nicotine screening will be offered CoxHealth-sponsored tobacco cessation classes at no charge, and encouraged to reapply for employment with the organization once they have been tobacco-free for 90 days. 

“Tobacco is a deadly addictive poison that dismantles the lives of its victims and their families. We want our work force to be role models, to be leaders in a push inspiring our community to become a healthy place to live. We are taking a stand,” said Edwards. 

The hazards of tobacco use have been well-documented. Studies have shown that smoking reduces a woman’s life expectancy by 11 years and a man’s by 12, and costs companies more than $5800 a year per tobacco user in lost productivity, absenteeism and increased health plan expenses. With this policy change, CoxHealth joins Cleveland Clinic, Baylor Health Care System, the World Health Organization and more than 6,000 other organizations across the country who have made the decision to put health and wellness first. 

“Smoking is the worst self-inflicted damage a human being can do to themselves. As a cancer specialist, I see the devastating consequences of smoking on a daily basis, not only on the victims of this terrible habit but also their families and loved ones,” said Dr. Abe Abdalla, medical director of Oncology Services and Radiation Oncology for CoxHealth. “As health care providers we should lead by example. Our community expects us to take the lead on important issues like this one. I am very proud of CoxHealth for taking this crucial step and hope other health systems in the area – and in the entire country – follow suit.” 

Employees hired before Nov. 21, 2013, will be grandfathered in under the new policy, but are also encouraged to “kick the habit.” The organization will offer these employees and their health plan dependents free tobacco cessation classes, and waive the co-pay for Chantix, a prescription medication that helps individuals stop smoking. These resources will be available at no cost to current CoxHealth employees until Nov. 21. 

Said Edwards: “We are the only hospital in the state, to our knowledge, that will offer free smoking cessation to people who are offered a job and fail the tobacco screen, and then a chance to reapply in 90 days. We are resolute in fulfilling our mission.”

Breaking ground on Branson's next chapter

CoxHealth and community leaders joined employees on Wednesday at Cox Medical Center Branson to break ground on a 60,000 square foot construction and renovation project. Once complete, the project will provide patients and staff with access to a new Emergency Department, expanded CCU and more.

“This will help us meet the growing needs of those who need us,” says William Mahoney, CEO of Cox Medical Center Branson. “It’s a statement of stability and confidence in our community.”

Crews will demolish the existing Medical Plaza Two building to make way for the new three floor, 42,000 square foot addition to the hospital, and renovate 18,000 square feet of space within the existing structure. Once complete, the construction will include, in addition to the Emergency Department and expanded intensive care area, a third floor of shell space to allow for future expansion.

The 31,000 square foot Emergency Department will include 32 private exam and treatment rooms as well as eight observation beds. It will also offer easy access to the existing imaging and laboratory departments at Cox Medical Center Branson.

Cox College names new president

For immediate release 
Sept. 13, 2013 

Today, Cox College announced that Dr. Lance Ratcliff has been named as the next president of the college. 

Dr. Ratcliff has served as interim president since Aug. 1, following the retirement of Dr. Anne Brett. He joined Cox College as vice president of Academic Affairs earlier this year, after previously serving as dean of Business and Science at Eastern New Mexico University - Roswell, and as chair of the University of Central Missouri’s Department of Nutrition. 

“We conducted a national search for this position, and considered candidates from throughout the region. After extensive interviews, Dr. Ratcliff emerged as the clear and overwhelming choice. The Cox College board of directors unanimously approved his appointment as president,” said Dr. John Duff, CoxHealth senior vice president and chief hospital officer. 

Dr. Ratcliff attended Lakeland College in Sheboygan, Wis., graduating with degrees in biology and chemistry. He earned his MS and PhD in Nutrition and Food Science at Auburn University in Auburn, Ala., completed a dietetic internship at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is a registered dietitian. 

About Cox College: Cox College is a single purpose college, affiliated with CoxHealth in Springfield, Mo. More than 800 students are enrolled in the college’s undergraduate and graduate nursing and health science programs.

Survivor's saga reveals hope in dark times

Suzy Farbman has had her share of trials in life.

She first gained national recognition when she appeared on “Oprah” to talk about her first book, “Back From Betrayal.” The book was a deeply personal story of how she and her husband had struggled to save their marriage after Suzy learned of his infidelity. Writing helped her sort her thoughts as she struggled to cope with a situation no one could be prepared for. She hoped her words could provide comfort to others.

Her marriage was renewed and she was enjoying the success of her book in the summer of 2004, when a twinge of pain sent her to her doctor. A series of tests revealed her next trial: uterine cancer so advanced it had spread to her bones.

She spent the next year undergoing the full range of treatment – surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. To cope with the stress, she asked her husband to keep track of the medical details with her physicians and caregivers. Meanwhile, she focused on her spiritual health.

She prayed. She read religious texts. She wrote in her own journal. As she faced an uncertain future and fear of the unknown, her efforts to “live in the moment” made her more sensitive to the details of her everyday life. She began to see things she would have dismissed in the past – from people she met to pieces of good fortune – not as coincidences, but as signs.

“I experienced a series of miracles and it felt like God cheering me on,” she says. She dubbed those miracles, large and small, “Godsigns,” and they became the basis of her second book, released in the fall of 2012. Now, she’s nine years out from her diagnosis and she’s made it her mission to share what she’s learned from the experience.

In October, Suzy will join us for a series of presentations during Customer Service Week. We were able to catch up with her to get a preview of her inspirational message.

Q: What is it like to share the very personal story of your battle with cancer with new audiences? 

A: It’s been rewarding to see the responses I get. People have their own interpretation and their own needs and they see it as a story of surviving challenges. It’s really rewarding to see them “get it” and to see heads nodding. If I’ve had a chance to interact with the audience beforehand and know there are some survivors and patients there, it’s great to give a voice to their concerns.

Q: What has this experience taught you about the mindset one needs to endure tough times? 

A: A cancer patient has little control. Cancer takes over everything: your schedule, your plans, your hopes for the future. I knew the one area I could have influence over was to pursue spiritual strength and encouragement. I had prayed years before, during my mom’s health problems. I prayed for half an hour one night. I felt physically lighter the next morning. I learned the value and possibility of turning things over to a higher power.

Q: What lessons do you hope people take away from your presentation?

A: First, trust the universe. Second, be willing to turn it over. Be open to whatever possibilities are out there. Trust in the outcome, some things are meant to happen. Finally, be more in the moment. Don’t spin out with fear of the future. You may tend to focus on big, global fears, but do what you can to focus on the moment. Think about, right this minute, how do you feel? That makes it easier to get through a medical crisis.

Q: What can those of us who work in health care learn from your experience?

A: Patients are people, too. Show your patients that you’re a person and you value them as a person as well. The care I’ve had has been amazing. As brutal as what they did to me was, my doctors and nurses were heroes to me. In chemotherapy, the staff members were always gentle and upbeat.

It’s very important that doctors and nurses take time to tell you what they’re going to do. If there’s going to be pain, they should acknowledge it. Those few extra seconds explaining things make a huge difference.

Q: How has writing helped you during this experience?

A: I’ve journaled my whole life, but much more often in tough times than in good times. As a patient, you have fears, but you don’t want to drag everyone through that. The journal is an objective friend that accepts what I say, period. I recommend it for everyone. If you never look back and read it, fine. But you may say, “Look at what I worried about and it didn’t happen.”

Q: How can people be better at seeing signs in their own lives?

A: Stop and notice when you feel a jolt, a surprise or a “wow.” Be open to it. Think about “can I construct a story around this?” Take the time to think about it, appreciate it and write to Suzy Farbman about it! (Suzy is currently working on a follow-up book compiling the Godsigns stories people share with her). Pay attention. When you’re more vulnerable, you’re more open to that kind of support. Before this experience, I had no idea the universe can be as talented as it is.

Meet the author 
Suzy Farbman will be speaking to CoxHealth employees at Cox South (Oct. 8), Branson and Monett (both on Oct. 9) as part of Customer Service Week. She will also appear at a public event Thursday evening:

When: Thursday, October 10, at 6 p.m. 

Where: Magnolia Room, 4th Floor, Hulston Cancer Center 

This program is open to anyone in the public. The first 50 registrants will receive a free copy of "Godsigns," courtesy of GYN Cancers Alliance and CoxHealth. Heavy appetizers will be served. No fee, but please register by calling 269-5224.

‘Grow Your Own’ grant will help CoxHealth enhance health care workforce

CoxHealth has been awarded a “Grow Your Own” grant from the Missouri Hospital Association to help retain and enhance the leadership talent of the health system’s health care workforce. The grant of $42,750 will be used to establish a system-wide workforce development program to identify and develop managerial talent and provide educational opportunities for future leaders at all levels of the health system.

The aging population, growing number of individuals with chronic conditions and expanded access to health insurance have led to increasing demands on the health care system. These factors and others have generated an urgent need for additional hospital caregivers. In addition, implementation of the Affordable Care Act, which includes significant changes to payments and health care delivery systems, coupled with new technology, such as electronic health records, has increased demand for workers with highly specialized skills.

“Talent development is probably my most important job. We understand that with the aging population much of our workforce may be leaving. A lot of our senior leaders are baby boomers, and they are getting ready to retire,” said Steve Edwards, CoxHealth President and CEO. “We have hundreds of managers in the organization, and so I know one of my chief jobs is making sure we have the processes in place to help train and develop people.”

At CoxHealth, Grow Your Own funds will be used to purchase HealthcareSource’s Leadership Assessment tool, endorsed by the American Hospital Association, which will enable the organization to identify and measure improvement in the leadership competencies of 500-600 leaders across the entire hospital, physician group, health plan and home health organizations. The Leadership Assessment tool applies behavioral science to leader identification, selection, development and succession planning. The tool prescribes individualized development plans and group reports showing organizational strengths and developmental opportunities for specific groups of leaders.

“The workforce challenge for Missouri hospitals is two-fold,” said Herb B. Kuhn, MHA president and CEO. “First, hospitals must address the shortage of educated health care workers, including primary care physicians, nurses, therapists and imaging technicians, to meet the expanding demand for care. Second, hospital leaders also must recruit and retain talented individuals to manage increasingly complex health care organizations. The Grow Your Own program allows hospitals to address these challenges with plans that are tailored to the needs of their organizations and the communities they serve.”

Applications for the Grow Your Own Hospital Grant Program were submitted in July. The applications were reviewed and selected by an independent committee composed of representatives from health care, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations with experience in health care grant development and funding processes. 

Cox South rated best in Springfield for surgery safety

Lester E. Cox Medical Centers in Springfield placed among the best in Missouri in a Consumer Reports rating of the safest hospitals in the nation for surgical care. 

In the September issue, Consumer Reports rates Cox South as among the top eight hospitals in Missouri for providing safe surgeries to our patients. No other Springfield hospital rated higher in the magazine's "Your safer-surgery survival guide" article.

CoxHealth staffers: a FAQ on 2013 Silver Dollar City Fall Fest

UPDATE: Looking for information on the 2014 event at Silver Dollar City? See the full details on the 2014 event, coming up Sept. 6 in the new blog post at this link.


Original info on the 2013 event continues below:

The 2013 CoxHealth Employee Fall Fest is rolling into Silver Dollar City on Saturday, Sept. 7 and we’re ready for a day of family fun! If you're a CoxHealth employee and you're planning to join us, here are the details:

When will the guest tickets go on sale? 

Tickets are now on sale in the gift shops at South, MORH and North. Hours vary at the different locations. Tickets will be sold until the end of business on September 5.

Do I need to show my badge to purchase tickets?

Yes, you must show your badge to purchase extra tickets in the gift shop. CoxHealth has been provided a great price on the SDC guest tickets so we need to do our part to be sure tickets are not made available to the general public. Tickets are available for purchase exclusively for CoxHealth employees.

Can I use payroll deduct to buy tickets? 

Payroll deduction will be an option with the same guidelines as any other gift shop purchase.

When will I receive my free tickets? 

We have created individual ticket packets for every employee based on the information provided by the direct supervisor or manager. Managers may pick up their department’s packets in HR South. We have arranged direct distribution with different areas and will also have packets available for pick-up at the next Department Head meeting.

Remember, once you receive your ticket packet, be sure to keep the tickets and wristbands in a safe place. We cannot replace lost tickets or wristbands.

What about new hires? 
Starting the week of August 12, new hires will receive their tickets and wristbands at New Hire Orientation. Managers need to contact HR for other new hires who were not included in their department lists.

What if I am working on September 7? 

We will distribute post-event tickets for employees working on September 7 beginning September 9.

If I am working September 7, will I get a free lunch? 

Because of the nature of the SDC event, we will not offer a free meal to working employees this year. Unlike previous years, those working on September 7 will have the opportunity to attend SDC to make up for missing the event.

Review: 

When is the event? 

Our annual Fall Fest which recognizes our employees will be held September 7, 2013.

What does the CoxHealth Annual Fall Fest at Silver Dollar City include?

· Full day’s admission to the park.

· Exclusive ride time in the park from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. and again after the park closes from 6 to 10 p.m.

· Discounts on food and refreshments. A discount list will be provided at a later time.

· Trams will start running at 7:15 a.m. Breakfast will be offered at a reduced price at The Mill and Mollie’s restaurants for those who want to come early. Both restaurants will begin serving at 8 a.m.

· Bingo scheduled for various times throughout the day at the Opera House.

Who can I bring with me? 

All CoxHealth employees, including contracted employees (Crothall, Cerner, Cardinal, etc.) from all campuses and affiliates will be provided tickets and wristbands for themselves and their immediate family members. If your family member meets the criteria as a dependent for health insurance, you may receive a ticket and wristband for them. Immediate family members are defined as those who could be or are dependents on our health insurance plan.

· Eligible dependents would be a spouse, unmarried dependent under age 26 and legal dependents (disabled adult child, foster child, etc). There will be no exceptions.

· Employees may bring extended family members or other guests by purchasing tickets and wristbands at the significantly reduced rate of $25 per guest. Be watching Connect Daily for more information about the sale of these extra Silver Dollar City tickets/wristbands for guests.

What must I have to enter the SDC park on September 7? 

· CoxHealth employees and their guests will be provided their ticket and wristband before September 7 and the ticket needs to be presented when you arrive on September 7.

· The ticket must be presented for admission to the park.

· The wristband must be worn to enjoy the exclusive ride times and to obtain the vendor discounts.

· You will not need a photo ID to enter the park, only the ticket and wristband.

· Tickets and wristbands will not be provided the day of the event. Once you receive your tickets and wristbands, please put them in a safe place so you’ll have them on the day of the event.

· You will be allowed to enter the park after 6 p.m. provided you have your ticket and wristband.

What happens if I forget my ticket or wristband? 

If an employee arrives at SDC on September 7 without a ticket or wristband, SDC will expect payment at full ticket price for park entry. Without the wristband, you will not be able to enjoy the discounts or the exclusive ride times. There will be no exceptions.

What if I am scheduled to work on September 7? 

Employees working during the 24-hour period of September 7 will be provided tickets for themselves and eligible family members to be used by October 6. Distribution of tickets for post-event admission will be September 9.

What if I am not able to attend on September 7? 

The September 7 date is our annual Fall Fest, offering an opportunity for all CoxHealth employees to enjoy a day at the park to visit, ride, and dine with family and friends. It is intended to be an event, not simply a free pass for admission to Silver Dollar City.

As with the traditional Fall Fest event at the Expo Center, there wasn’t a make-up date for those unable to attend. As indicated above, we are able to provide a second chance for those employees who must work on the day of the event so those who work on the 7th will be able to obtain a pass on September 9 to be used by October 6, 2013.

What if I already have a season pass? 

Employees who have season passes will need the wristband to be eligible for discounts and exclusive ride times. Please notify your manager that you only need the wristband.

During our event on September 7, using the pass that CoxHealth provides, Silver Dollar City is offering CoxHealth employees the opportunity to upgrade to a season pass for the remainder of the 2013 season for the price of $30.00.

What if my guest already has a season pass? 

The purchase of a wristband will be necessary to take advantage of the exclusive ride time and the food discounts offered throughout the park. The price is $25.00 regardless if they need the admission ticket and wristband or just wristband.

Can we bring food into the park? 

Silver Dollar City allows park guests to bring their own food and small coolers into the park. The parks asks that large coolers be kept in vehicles and allows guests to go back to their car to retrieve their food. Many people put food in backpacks and bring them into the park which would work for many us during our event.

Getting back in motion in our rehab garden

Patient Jack Tennis, of Chestnutridge, Mo., works alongside Kristi Vandeloecht and Shanna Stafford in the rehab garden at Meyer Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Hospital. The garden’s raised bed (high enough to accommodate a wheelchair) allows patients to get back to an enjoyable outdoor activity as part of their rehabilitation. 

“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.”
- Luther Burbank, American botanist

People who enjoy gardening know the truth of those words. But following an illness or injury, many patients are no longer physically able to enjoy the activity that once brought them so much joy. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of staff at the Meyer Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Hospital, patients can again find happiness in the garden, while completing their therapy program.

“Recreational therapy is an underestimated part of healing,” says Kristi Vandeloecht, a physical therapy assistant who helps with the garden. “Focusing on PT and OT is important, but the recreation side of therapy – helping patients relearn to do things that bring them inner peace – that’s what gives us the full picture of healing.”

Shanna Stafford, recreational therapist, worked with Vandeloecht to create the plans for the garden’s newest addition – a raised planting bed built from a wooden pallet. “We had it built so patients in wheelchairs can roll up to it and work while they remain in their chair. The sides are waist high so patients can lean against the pallet and work without the hindrance of a walker,” she says.

The adaptive tools the pair has created, including a rake, a shovel and a trowel, allow patients who are experiencing weakness the ability to perform gardening tasks. “They’re still able to do what they love,” says Vandeloecht.

Patient Jack Tennis enjoys working in the garden. “I like to plant stuff and grow things, and I really enjoy the time I get to spend outside,” he says. Tennis’ family has become involved with the project, too, caring for the plants when they visit.

The entire courtyard surrounding the garden spaces was built with rehabilitation in mind. As patients tend to the plants, they move across a variety of walking surfaces, from concrete to wood chips to grassy slopes and even sand. “Everyone has a different surface at home, and this allows our patients to practice on the different surfaces they will encounter,” says Vandeloecht.

Says Stafford: “Having an illness or injury doesn’t mean you have to quit doing the things you like to do. Our goal with recreational therapy is to take someone’s interests and get them as close to their previous functioning level as we can. This garden helps us do that.”

Small steps to better health

Mollie McGinnis, mind-body coordinator at CoxHealth Fitness Centers, leads an outdoor yoga class for staff members. As wellness efforts ramp up this fall, leaders are planning free classes, walking clubs and nutrition demonstrations for staff and the public. 

Last fall, the Wellness department at CoxHealth conducted personal health assessments for a record number of employees, with more than 4,000 staff members participating. The results offer the most comprehensive view of our organization’s overall physical health we have ever had. Wellness leaders say our numbers are similar to those of the businesses the Wellness department serves as corporate clients – unfortunately, we’re all suffering from the same major risk factors: obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Our local results reflect a national epidemic, which has become so widespread that the American Medical Association recently designated obesity as a disease. The causes are complex, ranging from genetics, to sedentary lifestyles, to an environment that encourages obesity. That complexity means that any simple solution is likely to be no more effective than the quick fixes pitched in late-night infomercials.

There is good news, though: The problem presents a real opportunity to improve community health and even small changes can make a difference.

When “Blue Zones” author Dan Buettner spoke to audiences in Springfield in June, he put it this way: We have to stop looking for a “silver bullet” solution to America’s obesity problem and instead consider “silver buckshot” – small actions, on both the personal and community level, that can nudge us in the right direction.

Leaders at CoxHealth are embracing that approach and our Wellness department is expanding its offerings this fall. The goal is to surround all of us with convenient ways to get active and eat healthier.

“The idea is to create a culture of wellness – we want to provide opportunities to people if they want to improve their health, whether it’s smoking cessation, nutrition or just well-being,” says Jason Bauer, manager of corporate wellness. “People know the right things to do, we just have to put opportunities in front of them and remove the barriers.”

The Wellness department is expanding walking clubs, coordinating free activities on the weekends and hosting seminars in CoxHealth cafeterias. Those opportunities will support what Buettner advocates: making small environmental changes to encourage people to move a little more and eat a little better.

Buettner and other experts have observed that obesity is an epidemic because our culture – with readily available fast food and limited options for walking and biking, for example – makes it easy to be overweight. It’s an environment that Dr. Dan Sontheimer, CoxHealth’s chief medical officer, calls “obesogenic.”

Individual willpower can only do so much in that kind of environment. For individuals, families and communities, making a dent in obesity will require making healthy choices just as convenient as unhealthy ones.

Dr. Sontheimer says seeing obesity as a disease will help health care providers get out of the traditional mode of “diagnose, treat and cure” and into approaches that treat obesity as an ongoing health condition.

“Obesity is a disorder that really requires ongoing, lifetime treatment,” he says. “If you hit a goal weight, you have to maintain all of those lifestyle changes or the weight will come back.”

Our personal health assessments show that 71 percent of participating employees have a body mass index (BMI) higher than 25 (overweight), and 44 percent have a BMI greater than 30, making them clinically obese. While obesity may not seem as urgent as other conditions, the health risks are real.

From a purely medical perspective, those extra pounds place a real strain on the body: of the wellness participants, 47 percent have high blood sugar and 41 percent have elevated blood pressure.

Dr. Sontheimer offers a simple analogy: the heart is designed to pump for an optimal body size. If the body grows beyond that size, it’s like adding capacity to a swimming pool without increasing the size of the pump.

“If you decided to make your pool larger, you’d probably replace the pump, but our bodies can’t do that,” he says.

The heart will do its best to keep up, but over time, that strain will lead to problems.

It’s not just the heart that is stressed. Obesity works directly against the body’s efforts to control blood sugar. The pancreas provides the insulin required to regulate glucose in the bloodstream, but the presence of more fat can make the body insulin resistant, meaning that the pancreas must supply more insulin to handle the same amount of glucose. Over time, the pancreas will fail, leading to the need to supplement with insulin.

The good news: incremental improvements make a difference.

“Most diabetics can lower their insulin resistance by losing 10 percent of their current body weight,” Dr. Sontheimer says. “Everybody thinks about some ideal weight they need to reach, but just losing 10 percent of your weight is a good goal that can improve your blood pressure and the way your body handles sugar.

“It may just move you 1 point on BMI, but you’ll see a tangible difference.”

To begin losing weight, Dr. Sontheimer says incorporating more movement into your daily routine is a good first step. We’ve all heard that we need to move more, but that doesn’t necessarily mean jumping into a workout routine. Incremental changes count here, too: walking more and taking the stairs can change the body even before the scale starts to move.

“You can become fitter while weighing the same,” Dr. Sontheimer says. “It’s important to just break the sedentary cycle and increase your activity. If you haven’t started losing weight, but you can climb more stairs than you used to without getting winded, that’s a serious improvement.

“Muscles use glucose and even a 20-minute walk can help reduce your blood sugar.”

When it comes to changing your diet, every little bit helps there, too. We all eat things we know aren’t good for us. Dr. Sontheimer says we should think about what we would be willing to adjust: Would we consider cutting back on sweets? Limiting sodium? Adjusting portion sizes?

Bauer and Dr. Sontheimer say that the key to a successful wellness program is engaging people around the changes they are willing to make.

The Wellness department at CoxHealth is working to expand healthy opportunities on CoxHealth campuses, with walking clubs, nutrition demonstrations and poker walks like this one held at Burrell Lake in June. 

That’s exactly what the Wellness department will be working to do this fall with the more than 6,500 employees who’ll be receiving personal health assessments. 

Bauer notes that this year, wellness coaches will be looking at the results and working directly with the participants who need the most support. Participants with a combination of risk factors will meet with coaches. Together, they’ll look for ways they can support the employees’ efforts to be healthier. Bauer says the coaches will serve as personal wellness coordinators for program participants. 

“Our coaches are going to be able to connect employees with resources, such as dietitians and staff at the Diabetes Center,” he says. “Our coaches will be centralized coordinators for getting people the help they need – like ‘account managers’ for wellness.” 

While coaches work one-on-one with employees, the Wellness department is undertaking several efforts to create a culture of wellness for all of us at CoxHealth. A few of the highlights: 

Sample Saturdays: Free, public wellness events at CoxHealth and in the community that focus on natural movement. So far, there have been yoga classes, group strength classes with the Meyer Center and Crossfit classes with local partners. Bauer says the events are designed to introduce new kinds of exercise and connect community members around fitness activities. A list of upcoming events can be found at coxhealth.com/getconnected. 

Wellness Wednesdays at Cox South and Lunch and Learn at Cox North: Presentations on diet, exercise and wellness during lunch at the CoxHealth cafeterias. The full schedule of upcoming events is coming soon to the intranet. 

Random Acts of Wellness: A monthly, in-person recognition of employees who are demonstrating healthy lifestyle habits. Wellness staffers will present vouchers and healthy snacks to enhance CoxHealth’s culture of wellness. 

Tuesday Trek: Tuesday Trek is a walking club for CoxHealth employees occurring once a month led by a member of the wellness team. Wellness leaders will have a mapped out course and meet in the same location each time. The events will begin in August. 

Bauer and the wellness team are also working on a book club and a number of wellness challenges in the coming months, such as stair-climbing challenges and jumping-jack competitions. The idea is to create fun activities that encourage employees to move more and have fun while doing so. Also, keep an eye out for “wellness champions,” staff members from throughout the system who will be inspiring their co-workers and coordinating departmental wellness activities. 

Bauer and Dr. Sontheimer say that if we can make health and wellness a part of the way we work every day, we can improve our personal lives and our ability to be a leader for the general public. 

“We have a tremendous opportunity to not just serve as a center for the treatment of illness, but as a model for developing a healthy community,” Dr. Sontheimer says. 

“That starts with our own community. We are getting healthier and that’s going to drive us as we work to be the best to foster health for everyone we serve.” 

3 steps to get started 

Improving wellness can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Dr. Dan Sontheimer says incremental improvements make a difference, and they’re the best way to start a cycle of positive change. His tips: 

1. Start small: Increase your movement. Working out doesn’t have to mean distance running or hitting the gym six days a week – all movement counts: walk a little more; take the stairs. 

2. Tweak your diet: Rather than getting overwhelmed with a diet plan, look for one thing you’d be willing to change. Maybe it’s dropping soda, or reducing sodium, or choosing fruits and nuts as snacks. Change one habit and build from there. 

3. Create little rules: Experiment with changing your behavior by setting rules. Trying “no snacking after dinner,” or “no desserts during the week” can add up to improvements. You can find what works for you and what doesn’t and you can make adjustments.

Injured under the Friday night lights? Try Friday Night Clinics for treatment

Clinics offer alternative for athletes injured in Friday night play 

CoxHealth and Ferrell-Duncan Clinic are again offering Friday Night Clinics to all area high school athletes with sports-related injuries, beginning Friday, Aug. 23 at 9 p.m. The clinics offer an alternative to crowded emergency rooms when care is needed for a non-emergent injury sustained during play, and you don’t want to wait until Monday to see your primary physician.

The clinics will be held in The Bone and Joint Center, 3555 S. National, Suite 200, in Springfield. Each Friday Night Clinic team is led by an orthopedic surgeon and includes a nurse, certified athletic trainer, radiology tech and clerical staff. Minor radiology exams are also available on-site to assist the physician with patient evaluation. 

Insurance claims will be filed. Coaches and athletic trainers can refer an athlete to the clinic by calling 417/269-7778. The final sports injury clinic of the season will be Friday, Oct. 25.