This year Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is celebrating a half-century of employee wellness services provided by its Occupational Health Department. The team, led by Lori Rolando, MD, MPH, executive director of Faculty and Staff Health & Wellness, includes the Health Plus Health Promotion Program and the Work/Life Connections-Employee Assistance Program in addition to the Occupational Health Clinic. The department participated in Health & Wellness fairs at four VUMC locations to coincide with National Health Workforce Well-Being Day on March 18.
VUMC also recently earned a Best Wellness Employer Gold Certification from the Best Wellness Employer Certification and Research Program, sponsored by Harvard Medical School. VUMC was honored for the strategies, implementation and evaluation of its Health Plus wellness initiatives.
“This recognition is a testament to the ongoing dedication to workforce well-being that is seen at all levels throughout VUMC,” said Dr. Rolando.
A Wellness 'Laboratory'
Though Vanderbilt Health is a large employer—with nearly 40,000 employees across its main campus and regional hospitals—what it has learned in the wellness space has become a laboratory of sorts for organizations of all sizes.
“Vanderbilt Health designs award-winning programs and services like these health fairs, Flulapalooza and other special events to keep our large workforce healthy and engaged," said Donna Skupien, BSN, RN, MBA, vice president of Innovation and Growth at Vanderbilt Health. “Bolstered by such a strong foundation, our Employer Solutions team is able to offer employers in our community the same kinds of events and expertise that Health and Wellness provides to our VUMC employees. We can also help employers scale these learnings to benefit their workforce, no matter how many employees they have.”
Here are some of the health services and wellness education the team offers to help you and your team build a better culture of health:
Screenings, Vaccines & Referrals to Primary Care Providers
Our experienced team conducts on-site screenings, gives vaccines and delivers health coaching on an annual and biannual basis for employers in multiple states. Another benefit provided by the team? It can refer employees to a primary care provider (PCP) if they don't already have one. The team's skill at connecting employees to a PCP who understands their needs and preferences often leads to improved health outcomes, higher patient satisfaction and potentially reduced overall health care costs.
Health Education & Learning Events
The team also regularly provides health and wellness education on topics that can help your team manage ongoing physical or mental conditions. Some of our recent learning events have included The Value of Having a Primary Care Provider/Medical Home, How to Build Healthy Habits and Strategies to Overcome Winter Blues/Seasonal Depression. A list of additional topics is available on this webpage, but events can be tailored to your specific population's needs.
Learn more about these services on this site, and reach out to employersolutions@vumc.org with any questions.
