Employee Wellness: 1/21

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Employee Wellness

If you have a behavior that puts yourself in danger, consider taking the New Year’s Safety Pledge. The MUSC Trauma Team and Safe Kids are encouraging MUSC employees to vow to change one behavior that will make their lives safer. Injury is the leading cause of death for ages newborn to 44 and is often preventable by people taking “one simple step.”

For the month of January, employees are being asked to sign a pledge to change one behavior. The change could be as small as deciding to talk on the phone while driving only in an emergency or to never text and drive.
Other examples of a change are:

Making sure parents and children are wearing a bike helmet every time when riding a bicycle
Paying closer attention to walking on crosswalks
Turning music down when exercising outside to be more aware of surroundings
Becoming more aware of yourself or friends driving a vehicle or boat after drinking
Wearing a helmet when driving or riding a motorcycle

The goal is for employees to be dedicated to changing one behavior and moving forward from there. Hospital units are encouraged to participate in the safety pledge as a hospital unit competition. Contact Stephanie Power at Powe@musc.edu for information. The Wellness Center is contributing day passes to the gym to foster the event.

MUSC Employee Wellness events
Chair massages: Free massages are offered to employees on Tuesday nights and midday Wednesdays. Look for broadcast messages for locations.

Discounted state park annual passes: Ranger John Phelps from Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site will be near Starbucks in the Children’s Hospital lobby from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan.
26 selling annual state park passes to employees at a 20 percent discount. Visit http://www.charlestowne.org/ or http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/ to learn more about the natural and historic settings in the community and state.

Worksite screening: A screening will be held Jan. 27 in the MUSC Wellness Center auditorium. The screening is $15 with the State Health Plan and advanced payment is required. Register at
http://www.musc.edu/medcenter/health1st.

Lunchtime Losers: 10-week lifestyle change program. Weekly classes meet on Thursdays during lunch with professionals from the MUSC Weight Management Center and the $98 fee can be payroll deducted. The next class begins Jan. 27. E-mail musc-empwell@ musc.edu to register.

Farmers market: Fresh fruits and vegetables are available from local farmers from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every Friday in the Horseshoe and in the grassy area next to Ashley River Tower behind Charleston Memorial Hospital.

Contact Susan Johnson at johnsusa@musc.edu to become involved in employee wellness at MUSC. Events, speakers, classes, or any other ideas are welcome.

Friday, Jan. 21, 2011

The Catalyst Online is published weekly by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. The Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to The 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 Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.