Is Your Company an Oklahoma Certified Healthy Business?

Vana Moore, owner of Way2Go Wellness, explains how an Oklahoma Certified Healthy Business will see a decrease in absenteeism and employee turnover as well as other benefits.

Way2Go Wellness owner Vana Moore helps companies develop and implement wellness programs. “A simple thing companies can do is encourage employees to use the stairs instead of taking the ­elevator. They need to ensure the stairwells are clean and well lit.”

The Oklahoma Certified Healthy Business initiative seeks to recognize both profit and non-profit businesses that are working to improve Oklahoma’s health status by providing health and wellness opportunities for their employees. The goal for the initiative is to encourage health insurers to consider rate changes for those businesses that become certified.

So how can your company become an Oklahoma Certified Healthy Business? Way2Go Wellness owner Vana Moore helps companies do just that. “As a worksite wellness consultant, I collaborate with businesses to develop customized, comprehensive wellness programs,” said Moore. “I start by conducting health screenings, personal health profiles and employee interest surveys.”

She then uses the results to develop and implement company wellness programs that adhere to the Oklahoma Certified Healthy Business guidelines. Certification criteria is based on disease prevention, health education, physical activities, tobacco use, nutrition, safety, community involvement, wellness policies, and any additional programs that have been implemented to support employee health.

“Research shows that companies practicing worksite wellness will see a decrease in absenteeism and employee turnover, reduced health care costs, fewer workers' comp claims and increased productivity,” Moore said. “Wellness works.”

According to Moore, companies need someone with a wellness background for their programs to be successful. “Human resource departments are sometimes responsible for developing company wellness programs. While these efforts are appreciated, often they are not trained in wellness,” she said. “Wellness becomes an added duty to their already full workload. That’s where I can help.”

While working several years ago as a pharmacy technician, Moore often heard customers complain about how expensive their prescriptions were and that their medications did not make them feel all that much better. “I began to wonder if there was a way to keep from getting sick in the first place,” she said. “When I discovered risk reduction through health promotion, I was hooked.”

Moore has 10 years experience in the wellness industry. She earned both her bachelor’s degree in health and her master’s in health care administration from Oklahoma State University. Moore is also an American College of Sports Medicine certified health and fitness specialist.

Some of Way2Go Wellness’s basic services include a wellness kick-off event, program surveys, weekly wellness e-mails, health promotion activities, personal coaching and employee evaluations.

Companies will receive secure, customized pages on Way2GoWellness.com, where employees can fill out their Personal Health Profile and find information about company wellness events.

Moore uses proven methods to help with cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, weight loss, nutrition and exercise. She also offers programs on stress, how to stay motivated, aging issues, men’s health and women’s health.

“It all comes down to what a company’s specific needs are,” said Moore. “If I learn there is a high rate of back pain in a company, I’ll implement a back safety program. If a large number of employees are not sleeping well, I’ll conduct a seminar on good sleeping habits.”

According to the 2009 America’s Health Rankings report, Oklahoma ranks 46th in the nation for overall health (it was 47th in 2008). The state is ranked 48th in prevalence of smoking and 46th in percentage of obesity. Since 1990, the prevalence of obesity in our state increased from 11.6 percent to 30.9 percent. “By improving employee health through worksite wellness, companies will be helping to improve the health of our state.”

For more information, contact

Way2Go Wellness

(918) 720-7058

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www.Way2GoWellness.com