Know Your Body

BJC employees are invited to attend any Health Fair, where you can obtain the health measures you need to complete your health risk assessment for benefits enrollment:

• Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (mmHG)
• Total cholesterol (mg/dL)
• HDL cholesterol (mg/dL)
• Blood glucose/Blood sugar (mg/dL)

 The other measures you need to complete your health risk assessment are: height, weight, hip measurements and waist measurements.

Every Health Fair features an assortment of educational materials, including exercise and nutrition tips, and stress management tips, as well as Subway sandwiches (or cafeteria vouchers) and free Y passes. The St. Louis Science Center periodically offers discounts to BJC employees who participate in Health Fairs or other "Help for Your Health" programs. New Balance representatives attend some Health Fairs to discuss proper foot care and footwear.

Health Fairs and Screenings -- Best Practices

A health fair is only as successful as the preparation behind it. Use these best practices when planning your next screening or health event.

Management Support -- This is the first benchmark of a results-oriented worksite wellness program -- senior level support. Give staff time off to attend.

Committee Involvement -- Have a diverse committee composed of different disciplines and strengths to offer input with task distribution.

Volunteers Assistance -- Volunteers can help with registration and traffic flow. Clinical volunteers -- nursing or dietetic students -- can assist screenings.

On-Site Physician -- Have a physician available on the busiest days and times to talk with employees about abnormal results. Or for employees who do not have a primary care physician.

Waist and Hip Ratio -- Have a volunteer take waist and hip measurements for those needing this biometrics data for their health-risk assessment.

Additional Services and Information -- Invite other vendors and other screening providers, such as:

• Employee Assistance Program
• OASIS  -- a national education organization dedicated to enriching the lives of adults 50 and older through lifelong learning and service
• Siteman Cancer Center
• myHealthFolders
• Help for Your Health
• WellAware Centers
• Boot Camp
• On-site weight management classes
• Bike to work week
• Discounts to local fitness facilities
• Health fair follow-up by diabetic educator and tobacco counselor

Incentives -- In addition to maintaining the election in the Gold or Silver medical options or receiving the discounted Residents Coventry POS Plan for completing the health risk assessment, include other incentives such as Subway sandwiches, passes to workout centers or offer raffle prizes. Use a station-visit card and stickers or a hole-punch for each station visited. The cards can be used to enter a raffle or receive a participation gift.

Room Accommodations -- Be sure to reserve your room(s) well in advance to allow for any late additions. Make sure you have temperature and lighting control, plenty of electrical outlets and room for crowd flow.

Flexible Hours -- Offer screenings at different times of the day, evening and night.

Advertising -- Use several different modes of promotion to get the word out including e-mail, posters, employee newsletters, intranet sites, staff meetings and informational TV monitors.

These Help for Your Health flyers are available to display in your workplace:

• Ask the Chef
• Ask the Diabetes Educator
• Ask the Dietitian
• Ask the Exercise Specialist
• Ask the Pharmacist
• Diabetes Management
• Tobacco Cessation