Evangel begins wellness program for employees

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In an attempt to control health care costs and insurance rates and promote a healthier campus Evangel University launched its own employee wellness program Nov. 1.|ret||ret||tab|

About 53 percent of Evangel's eligible employees have enrolled in the "Wellness for Life" program.|ret||ret||tab|

Out of Evangel's about 800 employees, 273 are eligible to participate in the program. Eligibility is limited to full-time employees who are active faculty or staff members.|ret||ret||tab|

"I hope to see a healthier, more active campus," said Tracy Curtis, human resources coordinator, who is in charge of implementing the program. "I want employees to be more satisfied in their employment because their employer takes an active interest in their well-being. I also hope to see lower insurance claims, and, thereby, reduced or smaller increases in our health insurance premiums."|ret||ret||tab|

George F. Crawford, vice president for business and finance, said expected cost for the first fiscal year ending April 30, 2004, based upon 50 percent of Evangel's eligible employees participating, is $4,000. Estimated cost for a full year is $20,000. |ret||ret||tab|

"Research is showing that wellness programs return $4 on average for every $1 spent," Curtis said. "With all the chronic diseases caused or contributed to by lifestyle choices, and with employees spending more time at work than at home, it just makes sense for employers to take an active interest in educating employees in the areas of exercise, nutrition and stress reduction. We can't mandate health, but we can reward healthy choices."|ret||ret||tab|

The program is divided into five areas in which it is possible to accrue points: aerobic, strength training, flexibility, healthy living and bonus. |ret||ret||tab|

Curtis describes healthy living as "any activity that helps reduce your stress level, promotes healthy nutrition, safety and community involvement, such as volunteering for ministry outreaches. Outside research has proven volunteering helps reduce work and at-home stressors."|ret||ret||tab|

The bonus category takes in things like showing improvement in health as assessed from the previous year's health risk assessment.|ret||ret||tab|

The program is divided into four 13-week sessions per year. After accumulating 2,600 points in a 13-week session, employees qualify for small incentive items such as T-shirts, duffel bags and pedometers, Curtis said.|ret||ret||tab|

If an employee accumulates 2,600 points in two 13-week sessions, he or she qualifies for a wellness bonus. This is a 10 percent refund of the employee's portion of insurance premiums or a wellness day off to be used during the fiscal year. The rebate would be for the two consecutive quarters the employee met the point requirements.|ret||ret||tab|

Crawford said the program is a proactive attempt to limit health care charges. |ret||ret||tab|

"We're unlikely to see a decline in rates. Our hope is rates might not increase as rapidly as otherwise without the wellness program," Crawford said. " We're fortunate in that the program is designed so that people will self-report. ... We have a full-size fitness center on campus and a staff member (Tracy Curtis) who agreed to fit overseeing the program into their schedule. Evangel has some commitment in cost of health assessments and in providing some rewards employees can earn if they successfully meet the point incentives."|ret||ret||tab|

Crawford said Evangel's health insurance costs are split 50/50 with the employee. |ret||ret||tab|

Curtis said the program is designed to "teach meaningful and sustainable ways to improve health, and to foster a work environment that supports and commends healthy lifestyles." The vision of the program is to uncover immediate health risks there is an annual health-screening and to uncover unhealthy lifestyle choices. |ret||ret||tab|

"The reality is most of us know more about what we should actually be doing than are doing what we should do. The program's advantage is it provides some motivation and group effort to accomplish those things. It's amazing what some of us will do for some monetary incentive. That's the carrot out there that will probably get some of us moving," Curtis said.|ret||ret||tab|

As part of the program, Evangel also has a Web page, www.evangel.edu/FacultyStaff/Wellness, which contains wellness-related links. It has a measured outside walking map of the campus and in the future will include a participant spotlight and reviews of items in the wellness library, Curtis said.|ret||ret||tab|

Paul K. Logsdon, director of public relations and publications, and Connie Benton, post office director, are two of the participants. Both are happy to have the program and believe the incentive program provides the little extra push to help them reach their goals.|ret||ret||tab|

Benton said she has joined Weight Watchers, which is not part of the Wellness for Life program, and tries to walk aerobically three times a week. She wants to build up to using weights.|ret||ret||tab|

"If I feel better physically, then I feel better mentally and spiritually and it helps my family out too. Hopefully, it will get them to work at it, too," Benton said.|ret||ret||tab|

Logsdon, whose goal is weight loss, also likes the support of other participants.|ret||ret||tab|

"I lost 15 pounds this summer doing it on my own, and I know how hard that is. I'm looking for support and encouragement from my peers to continue the loss. Sitting behind a desk all day makes it easy to put weight on and difficult to get rid of it. Having the encouragement and support of the administration makes it easier to be involved," Logsdon said.|ret||ret||tab|

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