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WashU Champion News | January 2024
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Visiting Your Primary Care Physician
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Included in this newsletter:
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In my role as WashU’s dedicated nurse advocate for employees, one of the most common recurring questions I get is around the necessity of having a Primary Care Provider (PCP) when individuals consider themselves generally healthy. A Primary care provider is a doctor that practices general medicine. PCPs help with your health including preventative care, routine physicals and screenings, annual shots, diagnosing and managing chronic conditions, and general minor illnesses or injuries. Let's debunk some common misconceptions about PCP's and shed light on why having one is crucial for your well-being
Myth # 1: “Primary care providers treat sick people.”
Fact: Every adult should have a periodic regular check-up, typically annually. Preventative care is covered at no cost to you. PCPs help manage your preventative care and help you maintain or improve your health by advising you on ways to prevent illness and by providing care such as regular check-ups, vaccinations, and screenings.
Myth #2 “Any provider can manage my general healthcare.”
Fact: PCPs monitor changes in your overall health over time and they can catch issues before they become serious.
Fact: You can build a relationship with a PCP. They can manage your care considering your values and needs.
Myth #3 “Seeing a PCP takes too much time and effort.”
Fact: Going to a PCP for minor complaints can save you the hours of waiting (and higher costs) often associated with a visit to the ER or Urgent Care.
Myth #4 “PCPs aren’t knowledgeable like specialists.”
Fact: PCPs are trained to provide comprehensive care to patients of all health ranges. They treat illnesses like colds and infections, and they also manage a wide range of chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and more.
For those seeking a Primary Care Provider, consider directing them to these resources:
- WUDirect Network: Primary Care Providers in WashU's network of physicians provide preferred access and lower office visit copays/insurance.
- WUCare: This dedicated primary clinic is offered to WashU employees and their dependents (age 18+) enrolled in the university-sponsored health plan.
- UnitedHealthCare: Utilize our guide to choosing a doctor here.
- Ask the United Health Care Nurse Advocate here.
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United Health Care Nurse Advocate for WashU Employees
bridgette_sims@uhc.com
314-440-3882
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- Join the Wellness Champions Microsoft Teams channel
- Welcome new WashU Wellness Champions
- Update your Wellness Champion Professional Affiliation in Workday
- Register for the Inaugural WashU Wellness Champion Summit
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Register Now: WashU Wellness Champion Summit on April 3, 2024!Wellness Champions will have time to network, connect with our partners, and learn more about our well-being resources. The Summit will take place April 3, 2024, from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Eric P. Newman Education Center (EPNEC) on WashU's Medical School Campus. More details to come. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Supervisor EmailWe are excited for another great year of promoting health and well-being across WashU’s campuses. Later this month, we will be reaching out to your supervisors to make them aware of the upcoming Wellness Champion Summit and provide them with information on how they can best partner with you in promoting well-being within your department. We look forward to strengthening partnerships in 2024 and appreciate your work in this. Please let us know if you have any questions!
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Physicians Billing ServicesLynder Scott, Monica White, and Michelle Bowels are the Wellness Champions in Physicians Billing Services and have done a wonderful job promoting well-being in their department this year! Click below to read about their accomplishments.
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Utilize Offsite Screening OptionsEach calendar year, benefits-eligible employees qualify for a free health screening, and once complete, receive a $50 gift card. Your health screening includes the following tests: blood pressure, blood sugar, body mass index and cholesterol. View our FAQs for more information.
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Download Physician Form: If you have an upcoming appointment with your physician, you can download this form and have your doctor complete the form then fax it back to the vendor. Please allow up to two weeks from the time your physician submits your form for your results to be posted on the Health Advocate portal. Your physician form must be submitted by December 31, 2024 to count towards this calendar year and to earn the 2024 incentive.
Find a LabCorp Location: Use this option to locate and schedule an appointment at a LabCorp location most convenient for you. LabCorp will complete your screening and send the results to Health Advocate
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MyWay to Health Workshop: Removing barriers to physical activity
- February 15, 2024, 12 - 1:00 p.m.
- MyWay to Health Demo Kitchen, 4950 Nash Way, St. Louis MO 63110
The MyWay to Health Team is collaborating with physical therapist, Jennifer Miller-Katsafanas and UHC Onsite Nurse Advocate, Bridgette Sims, to highlight strategies to overcome common barriers that limit exercise and the importance of functional movement activities. We will discuss preventative exercises to address joint pain and introduce new topics such as pelvic floor disorders. Also, learn more about the UnitedHealthcare OnePass.
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Promote Enrich, a new financial well-being tool
Enrich is a web-based financial education platform that provides personalized, interactive finance courses available to you, 24/7.
If you have not done so already, we encourage you to create an account, take the "Check-Up" and "Money Personality" assessments, and explore the online articles, videos, and financial courses available.
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Please note: The information you share in Enrich is confidential - WashU never receives any of your personal financial information.
Wellness Champions can request a brief demonstration of the Enrich platform for your next staff meeting.
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Stalker Awareness MonthJanuary is National Stalking Awareness Month, an annual call to action to recognize and respond to the serious crime of stalking. Studies show that young adults ages 18-24 experience the highest rates of stalking and WashU is no exception.
On January 11th, we invite you to join the Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention (RSVP) Center and the Gender Equity and Title IX Compliance Office for our Employee Lunch & Learn. We will discuss how to recognize stalking behaviors, how to support survivors, and WashU policies and resources. Share this graphic with your coworkers.
Have questions or want to learn more? Email Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention Specialist Mary Reid at m.m.reid@wustl.edu.
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| HR WELL-BEING TEAM SPOTLIGHT
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Meet Holley Boeger, MA: Program manager for the center for healthy weight and wellnessHolley has over nine years of experience at Washington University as a Program Manager in the Center of Healthy Weight and Wellness. She received her MA in Education from Webster University and her BA in Elementary Education from Webster University. Holley has combined her background in education with her passion for healthy eating and physical activity to inspire people to achieve their wellness goals. She enjoys running, Pilates, and spending time with her husband and six children.
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HR Well-being is an employee health initiative that, in partnership with Washington University experts, offers opportunities for employees to improve their physical and emotional well-being. This initiative focuses on developing evidence-based programs and making personal connections to provide employees with valuable and fun experiences that improve their health. We aim to foster a culture that prioritizes employee health and well-being as integral to the mission of teaching, research, and patient care, and create an environment where the healthier choice is the easiest choice; where employees are empowered to choose wellness.
WashU Wellness Champions help us understand the needs within different work environments, promote the importance of personal health, and encourage their coworkers to engage in wellness program offerings.
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