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Show HMES April 6, 2006 Civilian Health Promotion Services increases awareness BY BETH YOUNG HEALTH SERVICES OFFERED Hilltop Times staff Civilian Health Promotion Services wants you, or at least your blood. And it's for your own good. To celebrate their one-year-anniversary last week, CHPS hosted an open house where the staff performed more than 20 blood draws for Hill civilians. These cholesterol screenings let participants know their total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, cholesterol ratio, and glucose. Best of all, this program is free and available to all Hill Civilian employees. "I think (CHPS) is a great program for the employees here at Hill," said Troy Tingey, Hill Union president, who was getting a health screening. "For people who don't have the time, they can just come over here and get their cholesterol, blood check and the whole nine yards. We just want to get more people over here and take advantage of this. It's free, it's convenient, and it's on official time. They are getting paid to do this - any other time they would have to pay someone to have this done." In the past year, CHPS has performed almost 3,000 cardiac risk profiles, more than 4,000 blood pressure checks and more than 2,400 civilians have participated in the program. "CHPS has had people who thought they were healthy, but it was convenient so they came," said Kathleen Cooper, human resources specialist. "They found out they were walking cases of diabetes and had no clue. CHPS has had life changing impacts for a couple of people." At the one-year-anniversary open house, many who had a blood draw also stayed for the cholesterol class held afterward. CHPS also hosts classes on various topics such as diabetes, heart disease, weight management, and hypertension. "The classes are another dimension of wellness," said Don Cazel, Ogden Air Logistics Center executive director, who also came Photo by Beth Young Patty Hancock, CHPS wellness counselor draws blood for cholesterol check for Don Cazel, Ogden Air Logistics Center executive director, during the CHPS one year anniversary open house. to have a blood draw. "This is information people need to know to be healthy. There are benefits for us as an employer, because a healthy workforce is a more productive, happier workforce. To me that's just a side benefit. The main benefit -- it's just good for our people." To make it even easier for civilians to get and stay healthy, if requested CHPS will take their program on the road and come out to people and do health assessments in the workplace. "It minimizes the time people have to be away from the shop," Ms. Cooper said. AFMC authorizes duty time for wellness classes BY BETH YOUNG Hilltop Times staff Last February, civilians were granted three hours a week of official duty hours for fitness activities. This Air Force Materiel Command health initiative was recently modified to include wellness activities, such as those offered at Civilian Health Promotion Services. "There are so many wellness resources available on AFMC bases that to deny folks access to them because they are not 'fitness-related' seemed a contradiction to the end-goal, which is total-body fitness and wellness," said Scott Blanch, American Federation of Government Employees Council 214 president. Program guidance requires that on-base facilities be used for fitness and wellness activities during duty time. Wellness programs at Hill include CHPS, which offers health assessments, cholesterol and blood pressure checks, and other resources such as health related classes. "In production all the time is categorized and by giving wellness a category, it helps put it in the spotlight and show that it's supported by leadership," said Kathleen Cooper, Hill human resources specialist. "Healthy people are more productive. In the long run you'll have healthy workers. Overall they are focusing on total wellness - education and prevention, as well as fitness." Civilians can also take advantage of some programs at the Health and Wellness Center, which also offers classes on nutrition, diabetes and tobacco cessation. "To use those three hours of fitness time to do some of these classes is another great opportunity for our people to take advantage of," said Don Cazel, Ogden Air Logistics Center executive director. "It's for their own health and welfare. Anything that can help us live longer is a good thing." The policy has also been changed to include both full- and part-time appropriated-fund Air Force civilians. "This program is about taking care of our people," Ms. Cooper said. "They can be on the clock up to three hours, but they are always welcome off the clock to take advantage of these programs." The guidelines for exercising during duty hours are only that one block of time per day is authorized. That time is to encompass all aspects of working out - from traveling to and from the exercise location, changing clothes, showering and returning to work. Physical fitness blocks may be combined with authorized breaks or regularly-scheduled lunch times. Unused weekly hours cannot be banked for future use. To participate in physical fitness programs, employees first need to contact their servicing employee relations specialists at their base civilian personnel offices, said Jane Hostler, a human resources specialist at AFMC headquarters. "They need to obtain a form entitled, 'Request for Approval of Excused Absence for Physical Fitness Activities,"' she said. "Employees need to have the form signed by their physician, which certifies the employee is fit and able to partake in a physical fitness program." The employee then submits the request form to his or her first-level supervisor. To participate in wellness programs, civilians are not required to submit a request form. Some program participants in the fitness and wellness program may be required to maintain a diary which tracks activities, goals and progress toward those goals. Excused absences for participants are noted on their bi-weekly timesheets. Information for this story came from an article written by Kathleen A.K. Lopez, Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs. --)— - • — -- —• - — For those with phobias to needles, who would like a health assessment, CHPS will soon be offering an alternative to blood draws. "We are switching over. Now it will just take a little finger prick," said Teresa Hussain, CHPS program director. "They will get their results right then and we can give some (health) counseling right then too." Air Force Materiel Command health initiative allows all federal civilians to use three hours a week during official duty time for physical fitness. A recent modification to this now includes wellness programs, such as the CHPS. The Civilian Health Promotions Service program offers a variety of free health awareness services to civilian employees including: • fasting blood draws (one per year) for cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL, and glucose • follow up appointments (up to four per year) for health questions, concerns, counseling • referrals to an on-line system to monitor personal health goals and progress • weight and blood pressure checks • health information and classes Employees can utilize the full range of services, or elect those services that meet their personal needs based on what they already know about their health and what works best for their health and goals. The Civilian Health Promotions Service clinic is located in Bldg. 546. Employees can contact the clinic for individual appointments and organizations can contact them for information on arranging on site visits for groups of employees. For more information, contact the clinic at 586$584. ..,_„,_..,..^ (M. ., ., ,, AprH CHPS classes Hypertension class offered today from 1-2 p.m. in Bldg 546 discussing what it is, what it does, and what you can do to prevent and control hypertension. Tobacco Cessation class offered Wednesday from 1-2 p.m. in Bldg 546. This class will give tips on how to quit tobacco. Seasonal Allergies class offered April 19, from 1-2 p.m. in Bldg 546 and discusses signs, symptoms, prevention, and treatment. ' •-£ Call CHPS for reservations at 5869584/85/86. New base veterinarian allows clinic to offer more services BY BETH YOUNG Hilltop Times staff It was a routine appointment - a possible ear infection. As Dr. Paul Nebeker performed the usual examination, the patient showed his appreciation by giving the doctor a big, slobbery kiss. This wasn't a big surprise for the newest member of the Hill Veterinary Clinic, considering his patient was ~ a 2-year-old beagle named Cosmo. "I'm not military but this way I can serve my coun- '• try in a sense, by ' serving those who ; serve us," Dr. Nebeker said. "I am excited to be here and provide a good service to them." Veterinary Clinics on bases of all branches of military service : are normally run : by the Army and this is no different for the Hill ; Clinic, which is run by U.S. Army Veterinary Corps ; officers and several civilian support personnel. ; The priority of the ' clinic is food in- \ spection, military • working dogs and control of zoonotic ' disease, with care of privately owned pets offered when resources are available. The recent addition of Dr. Nebeker, a civilian veterinarian, will allow the clinic to offer more to the furry family members of Hill. "For me, pets are first," he said. "We are pretty booked - people really like this service. I think the biggest frustration was getting in." The clinic has always offered routine care such as vaccines, wellness checks, parasite testing and health certificates for out of state travel. "I think the clinic is run very well," Dr. Nebeker said. "The technicians are very capable so I am able to focus on the really sick animals and that makes a great clinic." With Dr. Nebeker, the arthritis can be prevented, which not only keeps pets healthier but can save on veterinary bills, he said. "(Having another veterinarian) is really going to allow us to address the needs of the base," said Cindy Orvedahl, animal health technician. "I think he is a good vet. He is very thorough." "He already has a good HILL VETERINARY CLINIC Located in Bldg. 401 Hours: Monday, 8 a.m,-4p.m. Tuesday, 8 a.m.-4p.m. Wednesday, 8 a.m.-noon (Office only, no appointments) Thursday, 8 a.m.-4p.m. Friday, 8 a.m.-noon Saturday Open once a quarter as staffing is available Sunday, Closed The clinic is closed from noon to 1 p.m. for lunch. Animals are seen by appointment only Appointment Phone: 777-2611 Office Phone: 777-2969 clinic will be able to offer more appointments and expanded services, such as surgery and dental care, which happens to be Dr. Nebeker's passion. "Brushing (your pet's) teeth -- people laugh at that but one of the top (pet) problems is periodontal disease," he said. Being proactive is Dr. Nebeker's pet care philosophy. Many other pet health problems such as obesity and rapport with the clients he has seen," said Carrie Long, office manager. For the newest addition to the Hill clinic, being a veterinarian is more than just a job. "Most veterinarians sort of have an internal calling and I think I am one of those," he said. "As long as I can remember, it's all I have wanted to do. I love my job." Dr. Nebeker, who has a dog and two cats of his own in addition to his human family of a wife and two young children, has worked as a veterinarian in the local community for three years, but is new to the ways of the military. "I have zero military experience," he said. "They will have to bear with me. I am very inquisitive about where they have been, j what level they , are and what those symbols on their shirts mean." In addition to Dr. Nebeker, Ms. Long and Ms. Orvedahl, the Hill clinic staff includes: Dr. Lisa Kleist, who is available on Mondays; Army Sgt. Robert Cassill, NCOIC Dugway Proving Grounds food inspection; Army Sgt Jeff McQuade, clinic technician NCOIC; and Terri Stearman, certified technician. To make an appointment at the clinic, call 7772611, or for more information call 777-2969 or visit http://www.hill. af.mil/services/ index.htm and .: j click on the Veterinary Clinic link. Answers to today's puzzle from page 8. |