Your Health Status in 20 Minutes or Less
Roving nurses provide free assessments and health goal setting
The past two years have brought lots of changes to Shon Johnson's life, thanks to the birth of his son, Shon Johnson II.
While he and his wife, Gina, have gotten used to the routine of caring for their son every day, Johnson put off exercising on a regular basis and preparing breakfast or lunch.
Read More"I gained about 30 pounds in the last couple years, so I want to get active again, play basketball two or three times a week and get into a workout routine so I can get back to where I need to be," Johnson said.
To get on track, Johnson visited with a group of roving nurses who perform HealthChecks, 20-minute, confidential health assessments offered through LIVE FOR LIFE, Duke's employee wellness program. A HealthCheck includes readings of blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Nurses also calculate body mass index, a measure of obesity. The assessment is capped off with a one-on-one goal-setting session with a LIVE FOR LIFE nurse, all at no charge.
During his HealthCheck in late 2013, Johnson learned that his blood pressure reading was higher than normal, so with advice from a LIVE FOR LIFE nurse, he signed up for Duke's Pathways to Change, a free, year-long health management program that pairs participants with coaches who guide them along a path to wellness.
HealthChecks are part of an effort to make health and wellness a priority for faculty and staff in the easiest way possible, said Libby Gulley, LIVE FOR LIFE nurse manager. On a weekly basis, HealthChecks rove across Duke, from academic buildings to Duke Hospital. Each year, nearly 100 mobile HealthChecks are provided for Duke employees.
"Most of the time, our visits with employees are simply a way for them to get a basic idea of where their health stands, but it's also easy to show them all the free health and wellness programs available," Gulley said. "No matter what a person's goals are, we can help employees achieve them."
For Howard Rhee, it's a matter of getting an annual snapshot of his health. Rhee has received a free HealthCheck each of the past three years as a way to ensure he's still in good health. He tries to exercise several times a week and avoids alcohol and sugary drinks but appreciates the peace of mind from HealthCheck results.
"It's great to have the ease of access to something as useful as this, especially since it makes you pause and think about your health," said Rhee, manager of Fuqua's Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. "I just want to live a long life."