Month: September 2021

New safety enhancements for Ohio State students and community members.

| Emily Keeler
 

A suite of safety enhancements for The Ohio State University students and community members is now available as the university continues to pursue ways to strengthen safety on and off campus.

Protecting the campus community and keeping students, faculty, staff and families informed remain our top priorities. The following new tools help add to an existing toolkit of safety resources:

  • Stay Safe, Buckeyes is an online safety class that teaches students how to enhance their own safety through scenario-based exercises. Students can take the interactive course via BuckeyeLearn. Parents and interested community members can watch all 10 videos on YouTube.
    • Classes focus on topics most relevant to students who live and gather off-campus and include crime prevention, crime reporting, when and why the university issues safety notices, mental health, police engagement and the differences between where Ohio State and Columbus police patrol.
  • Portable personal safety devices that students can attach to their backpacks or purses and pull to signal a loud alarm. The Office of Student Life is offering thousands of these devices that can attract attention in the case of an emergency. This is in addition to the nearly 5,000 window and door alarms, safety timers and smoke alarm batteries that have already been distributed to students this year. Students can register for a pickup time online to get one of the devices at the Willie J. Young, Sr. Off-Campus and Commuter Student Engagement office in the Ohio Union.
  • Increasing access to Ohio State News Alerts – the new communications tool that offers timely updates to students, faculty and staff ­­­– to parents and families of students. These are separate and distinct from Buckeye Alerts. Instead, these brief, timely updates are designed to provide safety tips and information, health resources, timely traffic information and more.
  • Expanding the Office of Student Life’s Community Ambassador program. Another outcome of the safety task force, ambassadors – students who serve as off-campus advocates and focus on an assigned off-campus area to help promote a safer, engaged and collaborative community ­– is expanding in size and scope.

The university recently expanded Lyft Ride Smart at Ohio State into the Short North area along High Street. Program hours run 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. and the discounted rides are no longer capped each month.

“These new offerings provide students with additional tools and give parents and families more information about what’s happening around campus,” President Kristina M. Johnson said in an email to the campus community.

Other recent additions include increased private security and mobile lighting and camera systems to support police patrols in the off-campus area.

After the tragic death last October of Ohio State student Chase Meola, President Johnson established the Task Force on Community Safety and Well-Being to help identify and implement holistic solutions to safety and well-being in the campus area.

So far, 13 of the task force’s 15 recommendations from the task force have been partially or fully implemented. An overview of safety measures and actions, and how the university has communicated about safety issues, can be seen here via the Department of Public Safety.

 

PharmD Opportunity – Art of Analysis

| Emily Keeler

“I will approach patients with an open and curious mind, not brush off something that doesn’t make sense to me, and not anchor to one thing or diagnosis and stop exploring” – past participant  

The Art of Analysis brings together students from all seven of the health science colleges at OSU for an evening at the Columbus Museum of Art, exploring art and developing analytical and empathetic skills needed for the medical profession. This single-evening program supports a culture of close looking and collaborative learning, using art as a catalyst for conversation and new ways of thinking. No prior experience with the arts is necessary.
October 7, 2021
6:00 – 7:30pm

Columbus Museum of Art
480 E. Broad St.
 

Art of Analysis is offered free-of-charge and is open to a select number of students from the OSU Colleges of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Optometry, Pharmacy, Public Health, Veterinary Medicine, and undergraduates in the Humanism in Medicine program.

Contact Tracie McCambridge to sign up:

tracie.mccambridge@osumc.edu

 
Medicine & the Arts is part of the Linda C. Stone, MD, Program for Humanism & the Arts in Medicine and is supported by grants from the Ohio State University College of Medicine, the OSU College of Medicine Alumni Society, the Wexner Medical Center Service Board and generous donors to the Medicine and the Arts Fund with the OSU Foundation.

Poetry: Good Rx

| Emily Keeler
A poetry reading brought to you by the Hospital Poets

Welcome to the first Hospital Poets reading this year! Poets Beth Weinstock, M.D., Fred Andrle, and Charlene Fix will share a variety of great poems to lift your spirits, bring heart to mind in medical practice, and inspire quiet reflection. A recent NYTimes article includes a quote stating: “Poetry can serve as a vaccine for the soul.” We hope you can join us at this virtual event! To register, click the link below.
Poetry: Good Rx
September 17, 2021

noon-1 p.m.
ZOOM

Register Now

Safety Spotlight: RAVE Guardian

| Emily Keeler
Never walk alone again. Download Rave Guardian, a free safety app for students, faculty and staff that can enhance safety as you travel to and from campus. In this week’s Safety Spotlight, OSUPD’s Lt. Marjorie Rizalvo shows users how to use the app to select friends or family to follow them virtually via GPS tracking as they travel. Watch the video to get started.
 

Register for the 2021 State of Health and Wellness in Buckeye Nation

| Emily Keeler

State of Health and Wellness
September 27, 2-3 pm
Zoom

The program will celebrate wellness across The Ohio State University. The address will include updates about wellness efforts at Ohio State, highlights of initiatives by Buckeye Wellness Innovators, the announcement of Wellness Leadership Awards and remarks from Vice President for Health Promotion and Chief Wellness Officer Bernadette Melnyk in addition to leaders from units across campus.

Lear more at https://wellness.osu.edu/chief-wellness-officer/state-health-and-wellness.

Join the Buckeye Wellness Innovator Program

| Emily Keeler

September 21, 1-4:45 p.m.
Zoom

Share your love of wellness and inspire your colleagues! Buckeye Wellness is recruiting faculty and staff for its September 2021 cohort. Members will receive training, tips, YP4H points and opportunities to coordinate and attend special events. Apply for the program and attend our free virtual orientation on September 21 from 1-4:45 p.m.

https://wellness.osu.edu/buckeye-wellness/buckeye-wellness-innovators

A Message from the Chief Wellness Officer

| Emily Keeler

 

If your heart speeds up when you pay a bill, you are not alone. Sixty-three percent of Americans said they have experienced an increase in their financial stress since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Financial uncertainty can affect stress levels, and if elevated stress levels persist over time, they can lead to increased risk of ulcers, migraines, high blood pressure, heart attacks, depression and anxiety. Financial stress can also affect your psychological and emotional well-being, distracting you at work and complicating personal relationships. Clearly, your mind and body can’t afford excessive financial stress.

Use these tips to improve your financial wellness:

·     Set aside time to thoroughly evaluate your finances.

·     Utilize the financial resources from the Ohio State Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for guidance.

·     Reduce worry about financial emergencies by saving a cushion of at least six months’ pay.

View more tips about financial wellness.

When you analyze, plan diligently and take control of your finances, you can make significant changes in how you spend, save and feel!

September is National Suicide Prevention month. Remember, taking care of yourself is not selfish. It is critical for your optimal health and well-being. We have so many evidence-based programs and resources here at our university to help you and your colleagues deal with stress and improve your mental resiliency. See wellness.osu.edu. Take time during the day to participate in these programs. And, if you see someone struggling, ask “RUOK today?” and get them the help they need.

Thanks so much for all that you do. It and you are greatly appreciated. Go Buckeyes!

Apply now for Outreach and Engagement Staff Grants

| Emily Keeler

The Office of Outreach and Engagement is offering two new grants for university staff. The Outreach and Engagement Community Programs and Events Grant provides staff the opportunity to create and implement community engaged programs, while the Outreach and Engagement Professional Development Grant provides staff funding to further their career growth and development. Both grants are for a maximum of $500 and applications are due on Sept. 30.  

 

Read more: https://engage.osu.edu/outreach-and-engagement-staff-grants

Flu immunizations and biometric screenings for the College of Pharmacy

| Emily Keeler

Don’t put your health on hold. It’s important to continue preventive care, such as your annual well exam or biometric screening, even in the midst of a pandemic. Enrolled faculty and staff can earn a $25/month premium credit, or up to $40/month with an enrolled spouse, off of employee medical plan contributions by completing a Personal Health and Well-being Assessment (PHA) and a verified Biometric Screening to earn premium credit.

Your verified Biometric Screening, consisting of height, weight, blood pressure, total cholesterol, HDL, and blood sugar value (either glucose or A1C), can be completed in one of the following ways.

OPTION 1

Your values obtained during an annual exam with an OSU or Central Ohio Primary Care (COPC) provider are received by the OSU Health Plan (OSUHP). Once all values are received (height, weight, blood pressure, total cholesterol, HDL and a blood sugar value: glucose or A1c), OSUHP will provide verification that you have a complete biometric screening.

  • NOTE: If you complete your exam via Telehealth, not all values can be recorded. After your visit, please reach out to OSUHP to confirm your screening is verified.

OSUHP must receive all of your values by December 30, 2021 to count your screening as complete and verified. Some file feeds can take 10-30 days to process. Please plan your well exam/physicals with this in mind and reach out to OSUHP if you have questions about getting your verification in by the deadline.

OPTION 2

If you see a provider outside of the OSU or COPC network, you may need to have your values submitted by your provider. Please have your provider complete the Provider Fax Form and submit to OSUHP to verify that you have completed a biometric screening with him or her. Forms received after December 30, 2021 will not be processed or accepted.

OPTION 3

If you complete an on-campus screening*   you will automatically receive credit for completing the verified biometric screening. Due to the pandemic, increased safety protocol and many still working remotely, screening events will be available but limited.

  •  On October 20th, the OSU Health Plan’s (OSUHP) RN Health Promotion Specialist(s) will be in  Room 202 to complete complimentary biometric screenings* and flu vaccinations for our department. See below for screening registration details. 2 separate appointments are needed:  1 for biometric screening and 1 for flu vaccination.

Registration Details for biometric screenings:

If you would like to register for the upcoming biometric health screening in our department, follow the steps below:

1.      Visit yp4h.osu.edu and click the “Schedule a Screening” button in the middle of the page.

2.      Log in with your Ohio State name.# and password.

3.      Highlight “Biometric Health Screening” and find the “Appointment Code” box.

4.      In the “Appointment Code” box type in PARK21   Do NOT copy and paste as this doesn’t always work to activate the code.

5.      Click “Find Appointments or Classes”- This will show only the appointments available for this screening event.

6.      Continue to schedule the appointment.  If you experience any difficulty, please contact Customer Service at 292-4700 with your Appointment Code.

FLU SHOTS:

Registration Details for flu shots:

If you would like to register for the upcoming flu shot event in our department, follow the steps below:

1.      Visit yp4h.osu.edu and click the “Schedule a Screening” button in the middle of the page.

2.      Log in with your Ohio State name.# and password.

3.      Highlight “Flu Vaccinations” and find the “Appointment Code” box.

4.      In the “Appointment Code” box type in PARK21   Do NOT copy and paste as this doesn’t always work to activate the code.

5.      Click “Find Appointments or Classes”.

6.      Continue to schedule the appointment.  If you experience any difficulty, please contact Customer Service at 292-4700.

 

Personal Health and Well-being Assessment (PHA)

Once you’ve completed a verified Biometric Screening, you will need to complete the PHA. A new PHA is available for 2021 and can be found under “Health Check” in your Virgin Pulse account.

The newly designed PHA has been improved so it can be completed quicker and provider a better completion experience on mobile devices than in previous years. Once you’ve completed a verified Biometric Screening, your values will be populated into your PHA.

Confirm Screening & PHA Completion

 When your verified Biometric Screening and PHA have been processed, it will be reflected in your Virgin Pulse account. To confirm completion, log in to your Virgin Pulse account and select “REWARDS” under the Home tab. When you see a checkmark and date beside the PHA and screening descriptions, you have completed the requirements to earn the premium credit.

Privacy & Participation

Participation in YP4H biometric screenings, PHA and the incentive program is completely voluntary. To learn how your personal information is protected, please visit Your Privacy.

*As a reminder, you are only eligible for one on campus screening per calendar year. If you are unsure of when your last screening took place, please log in to LinktoHealth and click on the “Biometric Health Data” tab to view your history.