Wellness Works Program: Back to the Basics

Wellness Works, Crozer-Keystone’s award-winning employee wellness program, was introduced in 1999 in an effort to bring the health system’s mission statement to life. As a five-hospital health system, CKHS is committed to the improvement of the health and wellness for those they serve. Additionally, it is important to work with the community to build a healthy place to live and work for everyone.

The Wellness Works program has been very busy the past year implementing a smoke-free policy throughout the health system. With the success of all five Crozer-Keystone campuses going smoke-free, Wellness Works is ready to get back to the basics.

The Healthy Lifestyle Tracker was created by Wellness Works in an effort to provide employees with incentives to maintain healthy habits by participating in a variety of programs, such as on-site fitness classes, educational “lunch and learn” programs and free flu shots. A free membership to the wellness program is available to employees and their spouses.

Edward Potts, vice president of Employee Health Benefits, says, “Currently, more than 3,900 employees and spouses are enrolled and each participant receives a Healthy Lifestyle Tracker. It is a great program that encourages good health and we are pleased that it has been so successful.”

The Tracker highlights healthy habits, each worth different point values. Point values add up and members are rewarded annually with gifts, such as movie gift cards and $100 American Express gift cheques, all for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

“I have been the site coordinator at DCMH for several years. Our Wellness Works program is such a great asset to our employees. It is informative, beneficial for everyone and very easy to use. I love spreading the word about our yearly Tracker and how easy it really is to earn enough points to receive an American Express gift cheque,” says Debbie Simon, site champion at Delaware County Memorial Hospital.

Wellness Works encourages employees to take advantage of – and earn Tracker points – for the wide range of preventive benefits included in the Select A Medical Plan, such as mammograms, prostate screenings, cholesterol and glucose screenings and an annual physical.

“The Wellness Works program demonstrates the health system’s commitment to the health and well-being of its employees. Not only does the organization offer screenings and great programming to help educate and encourage healthy living, it also rewards us for doing the things we should to stay healthy,” says Carla DeWald, site champion for Springfield Hospital.

Wellness Works’ mission is an action statement encouraging all employees to take responsibility for improving their overall health and well-being.

“As a wellness champion, spreading the news to fellow employees about becoming a wellness member helps to reinforce the need for basic preventive care. Many times we become so busy with our everyday lives that we fail to take care of ourselves. The Healthy Lifestyle Tracker not only reminds us of healthy activities we should be performing but also rewards the participant for taking charge of their health,” says Sandy Puka, site champion for Crozer-Chester Medical Center.

Employees can use the Tracker as a road map to good health. You’ll see a list of activities that will keep you healthy, educated about good health habits and on track to leading a healthy lifestyle.

The Employee Wellness team encourages all Wellness Works members to complete their 2008 Healthy Lifestyle Tracker and send it to Employee Benefit Services by the Friday, Jan. 12, 2009 deadline. Employees who were Wellness Works members before Oct. 15, 2008 are eligible to “cash in” on a reward for 2008. Just print out the Tracker right on your local printer via the “Wellness Works” page of www.crozerbenefits.org. 

For more information about the Wellness Works or the 2008 Healthy Lifestyle Tracker, contact your site champion at:

This program supports the mission and goals of Wellness Works, which helps Crozer-Keystone employees, achieve a healthy lifestyle through health promotion and disease prevention. For more information contact Susan Winkles at (610) 595-6387 or 19-6387.