Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™ - Champion Spotlight Series - UT Southwestern Medical Center
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Look at some of the wellness initiatives going on here at UT Southwestern Medical Center aimed to keep our employees healthy, tied to our overall institutional mission of promoting health and a healthy society.
Benefits & Wellness Fairs – Employee Wellness participated in the following fairs during calendar year 2018:
- Annual Benefits & Wellness Enrollment Fairs – In partnership with our health insurance vendors, retirement vendors and clinical departments, the fairs were held on three different dates. Over 2,700 employees attended.
- Heart Healthy Fair – This fair provided an opportunity for the UTSW community to take advantage of free blood pressure and BMI screenings, chat with a cardiologist and nutritionists, test their fitness with group walks, and enjoy giveaways. A UT System 10-Minute Walk was held with approximately 600 employees participating. In partnership with Preventative Cardiology and UT System Wellness, the fair was held on Feb. 2 and Feb. 9, 2018.
- Heart Month Step Challenge – Heart Month encourages UTSW employees to step up to the challenge each year. UTSW employees shattered their goal of the Heart Month 2 million-Step Challenge. Not only did they hit the 2 million-step goal – they walked right past it to collectively walk an impressive 3,122,017 steps. The challenge was held at Clements University Hospital, Zale Lipshy University Hospital, and POB 1 and 2 on Friday, Feb. 23. Individuals were also recognized with the highest step counts.
- Nutrition Fair – This fair celebrated National Nutrition Month. It provided an opportunity for attendees to learn about the sodium and sugar content in different foods, how to make healthier diet choices, where to find healthy food choices on campus, and information about healthy eating programs offered through the UT System. In partnership with the Preventative Cardiology Department, Clinical Nutrition, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Naturally Slim, and Nutrition Services, this fair was held on March 2, 2018.
- Hypertension Awareness Day – To bring awareness of the overwhelming risk of high blood pressure that our population faces, we created a day of awareness on Feb. 2, 2018. “Know Your Numbers” blood pressure check stations were set up on campus, with two additional blood pressure machines added.
- American Heart Association’s Little Hats, Big Hearts Program – In partnership with the American Heart Association, we helped bring awareness of congenital heart defects. UT Southwestern employees joined knitters around the country to make knitted or crocheted hats for the babies in the NICU. We received 113 handmade hats to be distributed to the nurseries at UT Southwestern and hospitals nationwide in February 2018.
- Health Trials – On October 9, 2017, we had 1,318 registered employees and a total of 603 employees who completed the 4-week challenge. Employees tracked steps and two additional behavior habits: water consumption and sleep patterns. During the challenge, employees increased their sleep hours by 77.3%: from less than 7 hours to 7-9 hours. Their 8-ounce-plus daily water consumption rose from 13.1% to 25.5% and physical activity increased from 13.8% to 22.7% by the end of the challenge.
- Keep UT System Active – On April 2, 2017, we had 1,575 registered employees and a total of 975 employees who completed the 4-week challenge for a 64% completion rate higher than our UT System goal of 57%. Employees tracked steps and two additional behavior habits: water consumption and sleep patterns. During the challenge, employees reported an 82.6% increase in their number of hours of sleep – from less than 7 hours to 7-9 hours. Their 8-ounce-plus daily water consumption increased from 2.7% to 28.1% and physical activity rose from 4.0% to 27.0% by the end of the challenge.
- Yo Ho Ho – On October 1, 2018, we had 1,225 registered employees and a total of 834 employees who completed the 4-week challenge for a 68% completion rate higher than our UT System goal of 57%. During the challenge, employees tracked steps and two additional behavior habits: mindful eating and gratitude.
- Head for the Cure 5K Run/Walk – Employee Wellness, in partnership with the Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, participated in the planning and execution of the Head for the Cure Walk on May 5, 2018. Employees were encouraged to walk, and T-shirts were provided to participants. Participants made up of employees, patients, and physicians raised $7,160.
- UTSW Cross Campus Walking Club – This club was created for employees to have fun and to access an easy way to get moving with their colleagues and accumulate additional steps toward an activity goal of 10,000 daily steps. The 30-minute walks were scheduled on the same day and during lunchtime at designated locations across campus and at satellite locations.
- Employee Assistance Relaxation Room – Employee Wellness, in partnership with the Employee Assistance Program, created a three-pod relaxation room for employees to release stress and practice mindfulness.
- Lunch and Learns – In partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Airrosti, and the Preventive Cardiology Department, we introduced employees to a new Lunch & Learn series called “Let’s Break to Educate.” The series was divided into two specific topics: Hypertension and Self-Care. Employees were provided tools and resources to aid in healthy lifestyle changes.
- Financial Wellness Classes – Employee Wellness collaborated with our retirement vendors to present various educational seminars featuring important information relating to retirement and financial health at any age.
- 2018 Dallas Heart Walk – Over 3,275 UT Southwestern employees were recruited and actively engaged to participate in the Sept. 9, 2018, Dallas Heart Walk. This family-friendly walk provides support and awareness of heart disease.
Recognitions
CEO Gold Standard Accreditation
The CEO RoundTable on Cancer accredited UT Southwestern the CEO Gold Standard. The group recognized our efforts to reduce cancer r
isks of our employees and their covered family members. We did this by promoting healthy lifestyle choices, encouraging early detection through cancer screenings, and ensuring access to quality treatment. The CEO RoundTable on Cancer is a nonprofit organization in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute. UT Southwestern has received the CEO Cancer Gold Standard Accreditation for years: 2012- 2018.American Heart Workplace Health Solutions
UT Southwestern was named American Heart Association “Bronze Level” employer for 2018 for its new program called Workplace Health Solution. This program index is an online continuous quality improvement platform that allows organizations to assess the comprehensiveness of their workplace health programs and the overall heart health of their workforce. 
For more information regarding UT Southwestern Medical Center, visit: https://www.utsouthwestern.eduYou can also contact the UT Southwestern Magnet Program Manager, Kelly Murphy, BSN, RN at: Kelly.murphy@utsouthwestern.edu
*All photographs are courtesy of UT Southwestern Medical Center*
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Blog Champion Spotlight
03/25/2019 3:13pm CDT
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