Center for Healthy Living opens, offers high-quality health care
February 27, 2013
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Rosemary Benjamin, registered dietitian at the
Center for Healthy Living, talks to visitors to the center during a tour on
Tuesday. Opening today (Feb. 27), the center will serve benefits-eligible
employees and their dependents covered on the Purdue Choice Fund, Purdue
Incentive or Purdue Copay medical plans.(Rodney McPhail/Human Resources Communications) |
A full team of experienced health care professionals will help the Center for Healthy Living fulfill its mission: Provide Purdue employees with high-quality health care that's convenient and affordable.
Opening today (Feb. 27) in the Purdue West Shopping Center at 1400 W. State St., the center will serve benefits-eligible employees and their dependents covered on the Purdue Choice Fund, Purdue Incentive or Purdue Copay medical plans.
A full-time physician and nurse practitioners will lead four teams providing health care at the center. In addition to a doctor or nurse practitioner, each team will have a registered nurse-health coach and a medical assistant. Employees and dependents using the center will see the same health team on each visit, allowing the team to get to know the client and become familiar with the client's health and wellness goals.
"Everyone should have a primary care provider -- a doctor or a nurse practitioner -- who knows your medical background and needs," says Deidre Dudley, nurse practitioner at the center. "The Center for Healthy Living can fulfill this role."
Depending on the client, on-campus programs and services may be offered for nutrition, stress management, physical activity and more.
"The Center for Healthy Living staff will focus on the whole person, not just the physical person," Dudley says.
When a Purdue employee already has a primary care provider from within the community, the provider may refer the employee to the center for services and education. With the employee's permission, the center will update the community doctor about services the employee receives.
The Center for Healthy Living staff will include a wellness coordinator, employee assistance counselor, and a registered dietitian who is a certified diabetes educator. A pharmacist with special training to help clients manage their medications will also be part of the team.
Wait times at the center should be shorter than employees generally experience at a doctor's office, and the Purdue West location may mean less traveling time to get care.
For information and photos of the Center for Healthy Living primary care providers and staff, go to www.purdue.edu/healthyliving. The website also provides information about services and costs.