Rec center offers a new wellness program to staff
By Sarah Chacko
Staff Reporter

Faculty and staff members will soon be able to use a new wellness program, Human Resources Assistant Vice Chancellor John Weis said Thursday.

For an initial fee of $20, faculty, staff and their spouses would undergo a basic health assessment and profile to design a program appropriate for their individual health needs, Weis said. The program is set to begin at the end of April, he said.

“This program will add to the health and well-being of its participating members,” Weis said.

The Lifestyle Improvement Future Enrichment (LIFE) Center, an organization focused on achieving optimal health, will be hired to run the program. Janine Bowling, director of outreach and marketing, said a third party is used to keep personal health information independent of TCU.

“It’s important to feel that personal information isn’t going to be viewed by employers,” Weis said.

The basic assessment consists of a 40-question survey covering everything from exercise and nutrition habits to family and personal history, Bowling said. The information is broken down into a seven-page “health map” or “action plan” that identifies the individual’s wellness and makes recommendations for fitness goals, she said. An on-site registered nurse will go over the information and assist in making plans for nutritional goals and disease processes as they apply, she said.

“We could really develop a wonderful wellness program,” Bowling said. “Our motto is ‘Prevention Does Wonders.’ Even if they aren’t going to start a program today, it’s beneficial to find out their health risks.”

Bowling said TCU’s facilities offer more to its participants than other companies using the program. Where most have to travel off site for fitness services, TCU has more opportunities to monitor wellness on campus, she said. Faculty and staff have access to the on-campus recreation center, as well as nutrition and health services, Bowling said.

Additional assessments, such as cholesterol and glucose levels, will be available for a small fee, Weis said. These programs typically last 12 weeks to meet set goals, he said. As an incentive, the initial fee is refunded, any additional assessment fees are partially reimbursed and a one-year free membership to the University Recreation Center is granted to those who meet their goals at the end of the program, he said.

Roger Fisher, director of residential services, said the program encourages faculty and staff to participate for their own health. The LIFE Center’s $20 assessment is comparable to a $150 full physical exam given at a doctor’s office, he said. Fisher said he will do everything he can to encourage his staff’s participation.

“For $20, what you’re getting is extremely valuable,” Fisher said. “I hope we get good participation at TCU.”

Some staff members said they agree that the program will produce good results for participants and the university.

“This program promotes better health for employees, is favorable to the health care plan and will perhaps increase productivity while decreasing lost time,” Weis said. “It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.”

Sarah Chacko