Wellness Newsletters
October 2009
Milwaukee County and APS Healthcare: Healthy Together
As an employee of Milwaukee County you have access to online health tools and health coaching services through the Healthy TogetherTM health and wellness program.
This is not a new program, and you may have already participated in past screenings, submitted your Health Risk Assessment, and may already be working with a Health Coach. We would like to reintroduce the tools and resources available to you through the partnership between Milwaukee County and APS Healthcare. This program is available at NO COST and is completely voluntary and confidential.
TOOLS & RESOURCES
Health Risk Assessment (HRA)
Completing the HRA is the first step to a healthier you. If your spouse is covered by the Milwaukee County medical plan, you can each earn a $100 incentive once per calendar year. Time is running out! Complete the HRA by 12/31/2009 if you haven’t already done so.
Disease Management
Disease management programs offer tools for monitoring and better managing chronic conditions. Not a replacement for your doctor’s care, the program provides you with additional information and support. While you may have a chronic condition, you don’t have to be chronically ill!
Wellness Programs
It’s easier, certainly more fun and less costly to stay healthy than to recover your health when you’re ill or injured. Wellness programs keep you healthy by focusing achieving your personal health goals and reducing future health risks.
24/7 Nurse Line
Have questions about the flu or other symptoms? Call APS at 800-515-4097, select option 4 to speak with a nurse.
Online Resources
Healthy Together offers state of the art guidance for improving your health, in the privacy and convenience of your own home. You can access the HRA, the disease management and wellness programs, recipes, exercise programs, a medical encyclopedia, tools and trackers, news articles and much more!
Working with a Health Coach
Employees have seen improvements in their health while participating in the Healthy Together program. Working with a health coach pays off!
“I stopped taking my high blood pressure medication because I didn’t like the side effects – and didn’t bother to tell my doctor. My Health Coach educated me on the what my high blood pressure was doing to my body, informed of other possible medications and encouraged me to be more proactive about taking care of myself, including talking about different treatment options with my doctor. I’m now on a new medication and my blood pressure is under control.” A fellow employee
“I have high cholesterol, diabetes, and am a little overweight. My Health Coach worked with me on carbohydrate counting, my fat and sugar intake, increasing fiber and exercise. Over 5 months my cholesterol decreased 43 points, LDL dropped 62 points and HgA1C dropped 0.8. My doctor was very pleased with my overall improvement, and I lost 5 pounds!” A fellow employee
To find more information and links for any of these programs, go to Milwaukee County’s employee website and click on Health Risk Assessment or go to www.healthytogether.net/milco.
Have a question? Want to talk with a Health Coach? Please call APS Healthcare at: 800-515-4097.