Notes from the Road: Roper St. Francis Healthcare
Roper St. Francis Healthcare (RSFH), spread through the Charleston area, includes Roper Hospital, Bon Secours St. Francis, and Mt. Pleasant Hospital. Wellness Works, a homegrown RSFH Wellness program supported by Bravo Wellness data management tool, will be a hybrid results/participation based program as of August 2011. Strong executive leadership support is evident at all locations. CEO’s and Vice Presidents are often seen participating in fitness events modeling healthy behaviors. Employees of the system are jumping on board with near a 70% participation rate in year one.
Incentives are tied into insurance premiums on a tiered basis dependant on points earned for elements of the program. Annual labs and biometrics are used to assess population health and identify health risks that exist. A Nurse Practitioner is on staff in Employee Health serving also as a health coach to assist employees with identified health risks to reach the outcomes required to regain their optimum health and qualify for the benefit incentive. The program is promoted at new hire orientation, employee forums and on the intranet with Wellness Works posts and links.
A tobacco free campus policy is enforced at all locations, including parking structures owned and leased by the system. A high volume of signs are seen throughout campus and parking structures. Language in their dress code policy prohibits the smell of tobacco products on employees while at work. Employees in violation of policy go through performance management just as any policy violation would warrant. There is no tobacco surcharge, however in the incentive structure being a tobacco user will not allow for the amount of points it would take to reach the highest incentive level. An attestation form self identifies employees and spouses as tobacco users. Employees are supported to quit tobacco by referral to cessation classes at no charge (minimal charge for spouses) and prescription cessation meds can be obtained at the same reduced co-pay as other prescriptions. Two new cessation prescriptions were just added to formulary so co-pays could apply. NRT is covered in the prescription plan for co-pays as well. In 2012 cessation classes will be added to more locations to reach more employees. One on one cessation counseling with the employee health NP is available for those who don’t find group classes appealing.
Morrison manages food service at both Roper and Mt. Pleasant. Bon Secours St. Francis campus is self managed. All locations are part of the system wellness committee. Nutrition label line IDs are used at the point decision and the dressings for the salad bar are even labeled. Healthy “outtakes” are available for employees on the go, all chips are currently being switched over to baked chips, and smaller single serving dressing packets are used to help control portions. The locations managed by Morrison implement the “Balance Program” using all whole wheat pasta and pizza dough, processed meat on salad bar has all been replaced by natural, only baked chips are available and they are moving toward a house made chip to further control the nutritional value. A minimum of 30% of their vending will be healthy. A Metabolic Weight Management program is run by 2 RD’s and a physician specially trained in weight management. The max insurance benefit per year for physician led weight loss program ends up covering more than half the cost of the program through reimbursement upon successful completion. A demo kitchen is being added to the newly renovated cardiac rehab area on the Roper campus to further boost educational offerings. Creating hyperlinks to the menu items from the wellness icon on the intranet is also in the works. The Mt. Pleasant campus is the first and only in the country to fully implement the Morrison Great Living Program. Product placement in the beverage coolers already displays water and zero calorie beverages on top and food vending machines identify healthy items. The self managed Bon Secours St. Francis campus offers an extensive salad bar, a yogurt bar at breakfast, and a non-fried entrée daily, as well as planning to make purchasing adjustments to be able to provide healthier options. The café at the Cancer Center on St. Francis’ campus features a salad of the day, 500 calorie or less specials prepared fresh to order and communicates their specials through morning emails each day.
Opportunities for physical activity exist on every campus. Roper will kick off the newly renovated cardiac rehab center in January that will be available for employees at a heavily discounted rate. Marketing efforts for kickoff look to boost membership and a reimbursement for use plan is in development. The Bon Secours St. Francis campus has a walking trail with markers every 1/8 mile and they are looking to add stations in 2012. A walking club has been started and employees can often be seen on breaks utilizing the trails when weather permits. A Meditation Garden with a Labrynth are prominently positioned and used for stress relief and a calm place to have lunch. Tai Chi also takes place in the garden on occasion. Mt. Pleasant is surrounded by a 5K run/walk trail that staff and the community use often. A plan to develop an additional walking trail through the wooded area on the back of the property is also in the works. The future cardiac rehab gym will be open to staff and they even sponsor an employee softball team to further encourage physical activity outside of work hours. The new construction of Mt. Pleasant has included beautiful open staircases and elevators that are tucked away. The Bridge Run is a big event in the Charleston so to encourage the participation of Hospital System staff there will be training groups at each of their locations.
