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"I am forever grateful Provena provides wellness programs for its employees. If I hadn't attended the health fair, who knows what may have happened to me?"
Alfonzo Hernandez, Environmental Services Associate at Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, hadn't been to a doctor in years before he attended the medical center's employee health and benefits fair last fall. Alfonzo thought it would be fun to participate with coworkers. Little did he know, the check up would result in a major intervention to address a serious health concern. "When I had my blood pressure checked at the health fair, the wellness team told me it was 'heart attack high,'" Alfonzo remembered. After a few additional tests that confirmed the severity of his condition, Alfonzo was admitted to the Medical Center for treatment of hypertension. A week after his discharge, he was back on the job. Today, Alfonzo remains on medication to manage his blood pressure, sees his doctor regularly, participates in HealthReach® Provena's disease and condition management program, and get has his blood pressure checked once-a-week. With the help of Provena's wellness team, he's also changed his diet and made lifestyle changes, including more exercise. More than 4,700 employees attended the Provena health and benefits fairs in 2008, representing the fifth consecutive year participation has increased by more than 10 percent. The fairs, which are held annually across the health system, are just part of the enduring commitment Provena makes in its greatest resource - its employees. The more than 10,000 members of the Provena family also enjoy a generous benefits package, an extensive wellness program, tuition reimbursement, opportunities for personal and professional development, and much more.
Because our dedicated team of employees is our most treasured resource, Provena strives to make the same types of investments in human capital that is traditionally made in patient care, facilities enhancements and equipment - investments in areas that affect employees on professional, physical and spiritual levels. These investments include:
Included in these investments is an extensive wellness program in which Provena works as a partner with employees to keep them well so they may, in turn, provide the very best care and service to the patients and residents we serve.
"Provena's wellness program has created a supportive culture that empowers employees to achieve and maintain optimal health," shared Jason Whetsel, System Manager of Wellness for Provena Health. "This is accomplished by surrounding employees with opportunities, incentives and resources necessary to make voluntary behavior changes which will reduce health and injury risks, detect problems earlier, improve consume skills and enhance individual productivity and well being." And the programs have had an impact. Every employee that attends the fair receives a packet of information with the results of all the tests and screenings, as well as how they rank based on their health risk assessment. Recommendations for lifestyle changes are included in the packet. The Wellness department also offers other year-round physical and mental wellness programs, including monthly self-education; a team of specially-trained wellness staff; an annual incentive-based healthy lifestyle competition among employees; medical self-care through print and electronic resources and a weekly wellness newsletter. While the numbers are impressive, the personal employee stories are all the more powerful. "Now I'm doing all the things I was supposed to have been doing all along - seeing my doctor, taking my pills, and monitoring my lifestyle," said Alfonzo. "If I hadn't attended the health fair, who knows what would have happened. I'm thankful that Provena provides these programs for employees - they saved my life."
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