Often, our educators are so committed to their work, they struggle to prioritize their wellness. Mary Hess, RN, director of health and wellness, Fort Wayne Community Schools (FWCS), shared how Parkview Health is partnering with the school system to reimagine care.
“At public schools, everybody's welcome,” Mary, who worked at Parkview for 15 years, said. She had the opportunity to transition to FWCS through a Parkview community outreach program.
Mary explained that team members being so dedicated to students, can sometimes result in them putting their own needs on the backburner. “And that can be dangerous when it comes to healthcare,” she said. “They're not going to the doctor until something's really bad.” Parkview and FWCS share the belief that these professionals deserve better.
“Parkview has been our partner for our Employee Wellness Clinics, where we're changing the model,” Mary said. “It’s very easy to get into the clinic for an illness or a routine physical or to manage a chronic disease. And it's completely covered for everybody on our insurance plan, so they have no out-of-pocket cost, no matter which health plan they are on.”
Mary shared that the service has been pivotal in both diagnosing and treating various conditions. “We see everything – physical and mental health issues, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, depression.”
Convenience
One aspect of the FWCS clinics is that employees don’t need an appointment. They can come by if they need to talk, need preventative care or other clinical needs.
“Parkview has been really great to us,” Mary said. “There's a great relationship between our employees and the providers. We increase the number of employees that utilize those clinics every year, and they love the centers and services. I think they trust them because they recognize that Parkview is known for their quality of care.”
The clinics have wellness coaches and other team members available. They really get to know the employees and coach them on a variety of topics, like nutrition, anxiety, weight management, etc. They help them set goals and work on progressing toward healthier lifestyle habits.
“It is so important to our kids to change the model of how healthcare is delivered,” Mary said. “I'm so grateful to be a part of that. It is a really good feeling to feel like you could change a person's life or step in at the right moment and make the connection for them. To get them where they need to go. It's worthy work because investing in our kids, I mean, there's nothing better in my opinion.”
To learn more, contact our Employer Solutions team at 260-373-9017 or ParkviewEmployerSolutions@parkview.com.
