Healthy Boiler

Living with a chronic condition? Resources are available to help you manage it

Individuals living with chronic diseases – conditions that require ongoing, continual adjustments by the affected individual and continual collaboration with members of the healthcare field – know all too well how those conditions affect their daily lives, not only physically and mentally, but financially as well.

Last year, 62 percent of money spent on healthcare by the University was related to chronic health issues such as diabetes (type 1, type 2 and pre-diabetes), asthma, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and depression. 

Chronic conditions are sometimes debilitating and overwhelming, and sometimes they can be effectively managed, having any extra help in the management of those conditions is a good idea. With that in mind, Purdue has a variety of resources on hand that target chronic conditions in order to help employees better manage and take control of their well-being. Let us help you.

Center for Healthy Living

At the Center for Healthy Living (CHL) on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus, the physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, health coaches and dietitian are on hand to help manage chronic conditions.

Health coaching in particular, provides continuous care over multiple sessions (on multiple topics including chronic condition management). Individuals who meet with health coaches engage in a partnership with their coach that motivates and encourages changes in behavior to help the individual obtain his or her health and wellness goals. For more information, review the “Questions and answers about health coaching” web page.

Telephonic wellness options with a health coach, dietitian or pharmacist provide employees who work off-site and on our regional campuses an opportunity to benefit from the resources at the CHL.

The Center for Healthy Living also offers an eight-week “Taking Care of My Diabetes” course that provides education, resources and more to help individuals with type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes. Contact the center at the number below for information on upcoming courses.  

Appointments with any of the providers at the center are available 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. To schedule or get more information on programs available, call 765-494-0111; appointments can also be made via the patient portal.

Anthem ConditionCare

ConditionCare is a no-cost health and wellness program provided by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield designed to help individuals take control of their health, especially when managing conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), coronary artery disease, type 1 or type 2 diabetes and heart failure. The program provides:

  • 24/7, toll-free phone access to nurses who can answer health questions.
  • Support from health care professionals to help you reach your health goals.
  • Educational guides, electronic newsletters and tools to help you learn more about your condition.

If you are interested in utilizing the ConditionCare program, call Anthem toll free at 866-962-0963 to get started.  Calls with Anthem are always confidential; the Anthem rep will ask for the individual’s name and date of birth to ensure identity.

Employees also can contact Anthem at the customer service number listed on the back of their ID card at any time to discuss the health programs and services offered.

Anthem Case Management

Do you need help to optimize your health care benefits? Call 1-855-732-4468 and speak with a licensed health care expert who will work with you and your doctors to develop a care management plan.

Virta Health

Virta Health is a program that helps people living with type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes better treat their conditions. Virta Health provides a customized care plan unique to each person. The program is designed to quickly, safely and sustainably lower A1c and lose weight—while helping to eliminate diabetes medications—all at no cost to you.*

*The blood work and EKG tests required for enrollment into Virta Health should be run through your health insurance plan, and may involve an out-of-pocket copay or expense for you.

More information

If you have a chronic illness, we are here to help you make sure you taking all the right steps to manage it the best way possible. Talk to your doctor, the providers at the Center for Healthy Living and Anthem representatives. Any general questions can be directed to hr@purdue.edu or you may call 765-494-2222 or toll free at 877-725-0222.