Employee Wellness

Schedule your Wellness Screening appointment
(February – April 2013)
http://baysport.com/SMCscreenings.html

• Go online and schedule your Wellness Screening before 2/28 and you'll become eligible to win a $100 gift card from your County health plan! After all the Wellness Screenings are finished in April, we will select one County Kaiser member and County Blue Shield health plan member who registered early and attended their Wellness Screening and they each will get a $100 giftcard!
• Problems with your Wellness Rewards? Who to contact.

January 2, 2013

Happy New Year! It’s a great time for each of us to re-dedicate ourselves to living a healthy lifestyle, AND a great time to schedule your next Wellness Screening appointment!

Since 2011, the County has been working with Blue Shield and Kaiser Permanente to augment our wellness programs and create a “Culture of Health” at the County. We are grateful for their unwavering commitment to our organization and for their financial support that has made this possible.

During these past two years, we have screened over 50% of the County workforce, an admirable accomplishment in such a short period time. And we are just beginning to see evidence that this undertaking is paying off – the employees who have participated in both years are, as a group, healthier now than they were in early 2011.

Most importantly, we’ve heard stories from many employees who have made healthy changes in their lifestyle and have succeeded in losing weight, exercising more or lowering their cholesterol or blood sugar. They have told us that “they’re feeling better, healthier, or have more energy.”

WELLNESS REWARDS ARE BACK! Kaiser Permanente and Blue Shield have re-affirmed their commitment to San Mateo County and to our employees by continuing to sponsor Wellness Rewards in 2013. Beginning in February 2013, employees who have selected Blue Shield or Kaiser Permanente as their County health insurance can earn up to $125 by participating in wellness programs and activities. There’s also a more ambitious screening goal this year – 50% participation or about 2,400 employees!

Wellness Screenings (February – April 2013 only)
The 30-minute screenings include body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. You will receive a $100 Wellness Reward from your health plan for completing the wellness screening AND the online health assessment. Advance sign up is required and space is limited. Screening clinics are held at many County worksites with travel times of less than 10-15 minutes for most employees.

County Kaiser Permanente and County Blue Shield health plan members can now register for their Wellness Screening appointment by going to http://www.smcgov.org/hr/wellness and selecting the Wellness Screening link under “Employee Wellness”

You can attend the Wellness Screening on County time with supervisor approval.

Online Health Assessment (complete by May 31, 2013)
The health assessment covers many health-related areas including nutrition, smoking, and exercise, and provides a personal health report with specific recommendations based upon your health information. You will receive a $100 Wellness Reward from your health plan for completing the wellness screening AND the online health assessment by May 31, 2013.

Wellness Activities (later in 2013)
Blue Shield and Kaiser Permanente members can earn an additional $25 Wellness Rewards by completing wellness activities offered through their insurance carrier. Your health insurance carrier will be sending printed or electronic information to you within the next four weeks. More information will be posted at www.smcgov.org/hr/wellness.

You can attend the Wellness Screening and complete the online health assessment on County time with supervisor approval. The wellness screening company and your insurance carrier are required by law to keep your personal health information confidential and will not share it with the County or any of its employees.

This is a great partnership for our County with great rewards for improving employee health. I encourage you to participate in this year’s Employee Wellness Program and to take steps to become your healthy best.

John L. Maltbie
County Manager