UC is launching a new wellness program in 2008 at no additional cost. This program will help to improve and maintain your health and well-being. The University strongly believes that investing in the health of faculty and staff provides long-term payoffs for both employees and the University.

The program will be available through UC Living Well, UC's pilot wellness program that is being expanded to all locations. Employees, retirees, and their family members age18 and older enrolled in all medical plans except Kaiser will be eligible for the program. Kaiser provides extensive, fully integrated wellness resources to its members.

The new UC Living Well program will include:

• A Health Assessment to be taken online or via a paper version. The Health Assessment will assess your lifestyle habits and provide immediate personalized feedback to improve or maintain your health. Additional information and resources are also available to help you make lifestyle choices that will enhance your quality of life.
• A $75 gift certificate for completing the Health Assessment. If you redeem your gift certificate at a UC Recreational & Sports Facility for any eligible service, the facility will offer an additional $75 discount.
• Personalized health improvement programs with a Wellness Coach via the telephone, internet or mail.
• Access to additional wellness tools online. These resources may help you create positive lifestyle changes that will improve your health and well-being. They include:
  • A Family Center that provides information on self-care topics, like immunizations, men's and women's health issues, health pregnancy, and more.
  • Look It Up serves as a drug and nutrition guide. When you are wondering about a new prescription and its side effects, or adding a new vitamin to your diet, access important information to help you make the right decision.
  • What If you make healthy lifestyle changes? You will have the opportunity to complete a Health Assessment again. See how your positive lifestyle changes have benefited your health. You can also preview potential results and reduced health risks if you meet future health goals.
  • Health Tools help you create realistic goals and reminders for preventative screenings, appointments and exercise sessions. If you have a busy lifestyle, this tool can help you stay organized.
  • Health Centers offers a collection of online guides to help you with your identified health conditions. You can learn about healthy cholesterol numbers, receive tips on tobacco cessation, learn stress reducing techniques and more.

The program is completely voluntary and is available at no cost to you. StayWell Health Management, a leading provider of workplace health promotion programs and services, is the administrator of the program. More details will come, including introductory letters from StayWell to all eligible employees and retirees in early January.