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Wellness program searching for new name by Heather Woolwine Public Relations For many of us, taking care of ourselves takes a backseat to everything else. We have demanding jobs, want to spend time with our families, and a never-ending to-do list that precludes worrying about when we will have the time to take care of our mental and physical needs.   A new Employee Wellness program headed by Annie Lovering, R.N., program coordinator, will serve to shift some of that outward focus inward by offering employees opportunities to promote self-care.   “I really want people to know that I’m truly, truly concerned about the health and well-being of every MUHA, MUSC and UMA employee,” she said. “My goal is for this to be a fun, nurturing, and supportive program that employees will take advantage of. I don’t want people to feel like this is just some initiative that looks good on paper.”   Crediting her predecessor, Mandy May, with doing much of the planning, Lovering anticipates a future with an employee wellness program so well-known that employees don’t even have to think about it or its teachings: it will all simply become a way of life.   With a candid, refreshing outlook on configuring an accessible program that will benefit the health of employees, Lovering is already well-known throughout campus for her tireless work drumming up donations through a team concept in the MUSC American Red Cross donor room and most recently her work in the Hollings Cancer Center.     With joint funding from the university and medical center, Lovering and her supervisor, Deborah Williamson, DHA, College of Nursing associate dean for practice, to acquire additional funds through grants. Williamson discussed the program’s importance, “We are an academic health center that responds to the health needs of the region. It’s time to be proactive in developing a health-focused workforce on campus.”      “We’re going to have to take baby steps, but we’ve moved into the implementation phase and I’m really excited about the things we will accomplish in the coming months,” Lovering said. “We’re listening to employees, seeing what’s doable now and what needs to happen in the future. We want involvement at all staffing levels; I mean everyone. We want to be the umbrella for all current employee health initiatives and programs, and work with those other entities to forge a collaborative and well-planned effort to increase employees’ health and wellness.”   One of the first steps for the new program will be the launch of a new Web site. While currently under construction until early April, this site will offer everything from information about community events related to health and wellness and information and links to specific programs.   With results from the Employee Health Risk Survey conducted last fall, Lovering plans to implement particular health initiatives that respond to the concerns identified by those who responded to the survey.   Initial projects in the upcoming months are related to physical activity, stress management, proper nutrition, and occupational health and wellness. Some of the possible activities will include furthering current walking programs on campus, massages and healthy food baskets for staff on hospital floors, promoting smoking cessation programs, and stretching and ergonomics education. Lovering and Williamson hope that a minimum of 10 percent of MUHA, MUSC, UMA and all other MUSC agents will commit to participating in the first steps of the program.   For more information or to contact Lovering with your thoughts, e-mail her at loverina@musc.edu.     Friday, Feb. 10, 2006 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778, ext. 201.