Preventive care, annual physicals play important role in overall health, wellness

The Center for Healthy Living, located on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus, offers primary care and preventive care services to benefits-eligible employees covered on a Purdue health plan. Covered dependents also are welcome to use the center for their primary care needs. Yearly physicals are among the many important services provided, and completing an annual physical plus biometrics is one of the three objectives to meet in order to qualify for and earn Healthy Boiler incentives.*

As a reminder, you have until September 30, 2018, to complete and log your completed objectives into the Healthy Boiler portal in order to receive incentive dollars for the 2018 program.

Yearly physical examinations at the center include well-woman, well-man and well-child checks. Both physicians and nurse practitioners can perform annual physicals and record biometrics. Employees are able to have their physicals and biometrics completed with their community provider should they choose. Those who have yet to establish with a primary care provider are welcome to do so with a physician or nurse practitioner at the Center for Healthy Living. Keep in mind, identifying a primary care provider is also one of the Healthy Boiler objectives.**

According to Ronald Shelton, MD, medical director at the Center for Healthy Living, it is recommended everyone get a yearly physical.

“It’s such a proactive move for individuals to take the time to have their yearly physicals and other preventive exams performed,” said Shelton. “Preventive services, such as physicals and biometrics, give patients and physicians alike the information needed to make the best plan of action when it comes to short- and long-term health and wellness. Early detection, if applicable, as well as identifying those who are at high risk for a disease, allows time to implement the needed lifestyle changes, preventive steps and / or treatment that is needed to provide the healthiest life possible.”

All preventive care at the center is covered at 100 percent for anyone 8 weeks and older who is covered on a Purdue medical plan. For more information on preventive care, Anthem provides a list that outlines preventive care services. Similarly, if an employee covered on a Purdue medical plan has an outside primary care provider, preventive care is covered at 100 percent there as well.

According to Candace Shaffer, director of benefits in Human Resources, the goal is for all employees to get their annual physicals, either at the center or at their community provider’s office.

“Annual physicals are the best way for employees to know where they stand in regards to their overall health and wellness,” Shaffer said. “We want our employees to seek out preventive care and get their annual physicals in order to be the happiest and healthiest versions of themselves possible. The on-site center provides convenience and great services, but we also understand that some employees have longstanding relationships with their outside providers. Many local in-network physicians are also available to support the health of our employees. Our goal is making sure employees are utilizing preventive care services wherever it makes the most sense for them. And with the Healthy Boiler Wellness Program incentives up for grabs, it gives an added bonus to identifying a primary care provider and having a physical and their biometrics performed.”

The bottom line is that getting and staying healthy is the best way to get in front of diseases that could become chronic.

The center offers many no-cost wellness options to complement primary care services – regardless of where that care is provided. The center works collaboratively with outside providers to ensure the best care possible for their patients.

“Annual physicals and preventive screenings offer the best way for both providers and patients to gain knowledge and get in front of any health concerns,” Shelton said.

The center is open Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lab hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For medical consultation after hours or on weekends, please contact the Anthem nurse line at 800-337-4770 (number is also available on the back of your Anthem member ID card) for assistance or utilize LiveHealth Online for a virtual appointment.

Healthy Boiler Wellness Program

In 2018, Purdue University – in partnership with the Center for Healthy Living on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus – introduced its Healthy Boiler Wellness Program to promote wellness within the university population. Healthy Boiler encourages employees to engage in their health and wellness by identifying a primary care provider, having an annual physical and biometrics screening and participating in wellness activities.

Eligibility to receive the incentive requires completing and logging the three objectives listed below into the Healthy Boiler portal:

**Select a primary care provider - $50 employee only/$100 employee & spouse
*Complete a physical & biometrics - $100 employee only/$200 employee & spouse
Complete two pre-approved wellness activities - $100 employee only/$200 employee & spouse

To stay up-to-date on all things Healthy Boiler, visit the Healthy Boiler Portal and follow the Healthy Boiler Purdue blog and Healthy Boiler on social media via the icons below.

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