Temple has launched a new voluntary wellness program for university employees that provides incentives for those who take steps to maintain and improve their overall health and well-being.

The expanded program, known as Total Wellness, began on July 1. Available to employees enrolled in either of the university's health insurance plans, it offers online resources and campus activities designed to help members of the Temple community to proactively manage and monitor their health. Participants earn rewards by engaging in healthy activities and team challenges and completing health-related milestones.

“Total Wellness is designed to help Temple employees take control of their own health,” said Geralyn O'Kane, director of wellness in Temple Human Resources’ Benefits Administration office. “So many of society’s chronic health problems stem from preventable diseases that can be mitigated with basic lifestyle changes.”

Fundamental to the program is a personalized on-line health assistant powered by WebMD, the leading online portal for health information. After voluntarily completing a Personal Health Profile (PHP), employees are offered individualized health improvement recommendations, resources and tools to help them set and and prioritize their own health improvement goals.

“The more information you provide, the better the recommendations you're going to get from the system,” said O’Kane. “The site offers information tailored to the needs of each individual — and it’s totally confidential and managed completely by the employee.”

By participating in team challenges, wellness seminars and health sessions, employees can earn points toward rewards of $50 gift cards — up to a $200 annual maximum.

The Total Wellness program expands on an initiative launched last year with biometric screenings, during which employees can test their cholesterol and glucose levels, body weight and body mass index. As an extension of the popular sessions, the university will host a wellness fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today in Mitten Hall’s Great Court. In addition to the screenings, the fair will include nutritional counseling, free flu shots and mini health consultations with Temple Employee Health. Other participating Temple groups will include the School of Medicine, Kornberg School of Dentistry, School of Podiatric Medicine, the Department of Communications Sciences and Disorders in the College of Health Professions and Social Work; Campus Recreation and Athletics.

Representatives of Independence Blue Cross also will be available to discuss the Healthy Lifestyles fitness program, which provides financial incentives for individuals and teams who meet annual fitness goals.

Total Wellness participants also have access to on-site nutritional counseling, including six free on-site counseling sessions per year. The program has been popular among employees, with appointments scheduled through the end of the year.

Another new initiative offers participants a chance to improve their fitness through friendly competition. For the Hit Your Stride walking challenge, employees will be grouped into teams to track and report the number of steps they walk during an eight-week challenge period, from Oct. 1 through Nov. 23.

The challenge is just one example of how Total Wellness programs can help faculty and staff improve their overall health and well being.

“We need to take advantage of all the tools and resources that we have available to us,” said O’Kane. “Little changes can can add up to giant benefits.”

For more information about the Total Wellness program, visit the HR Wellness website.