Author: Emily Keeler

Student loan forgiveness program resources

| Emily Keeler
Ohio State has a new benefit to help alleviate strain and stressors related to student loan debt for eligible campus faculty and staff. As a public service employer, Ohio State employees may be eligible to apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). To help navigate the process and requirements, campus Ohio State employees and their dependents have access to Savi, a resource that helps borrowers lower their payments and reduce student loan debt overall. There are various levels of services provided by Savi at discounted rates or for free for Ohio State employees.
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Mask Update Starting March 11

| Emily Keeler
Starting at 6 p.m. Friday, March 11, masks will be optional in most indoor spaces on The Ohio State University campuses, including residence halls, dining facilities, classrooms, offices and the Ohio Union.
While the university continues to require masks in clinical health care settings (including at the Wexner Medical Center), COVID-19 testing locations, child care centers and on public transportation, Ohio State will be lifting indoor mask requirements in its academic and general-purpose buildings.
For most spaces, the updated masking policy will take effect at 6 p.m. on March 11, with the start of the university’s spring break. Public events, such as those that take place at the Schottenstein Center and the Covelli Center, are mask optional, effective immediately.
Throughout the pandemic, the university has followed guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Ohio Department of Health as well as federal, state and local policy. Ohio State’s updated masking policy reflects improving COVID-19 case counts after the Omicron surge, the high vaccination rate of the university community and the lifting of mask requirements in many jurisdictions, including the city of Columbus this week.
In settings where masks are optional, students, faculty, staff and visitors can decide on an individual basis whether or not they will continue to wear a mask – unless they are Wexner Medical Center employees who received an exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement. Those employees must wear a mask inside any medical center facility. The university continues to distribute masks at various locations on campus.
More than 93% of university community members are vaccinated, and 25% have reported that they have received a booster shot to enhance their protection against COVID-19. The positivity rate among those in Ohio State’s COVID-19 testing program has steadily improved throughout the semester. As of March 6, the seven-day average positivity rate was 0.6%, down from 8.5% on Jan. 19.
Ohio State continues to urge all members of the community to take necessary precautions against COVID-19, including receiving all vaccination and booster shots for which they are eligible. Through the first week of April, students, faculty and staff who report their booster shots to the university are eligible for prizes in the Buckeye Booster Drawing.
The university will continue to adjust COVID-19 measures as appropriate based on science as well as guidance from national, state and local agencies.
For now, the university will maintain its COVID-19 surveillance testing program, which includes weekly testing of students in university housing, in social fraternities and sororities, and with approved exemptions to the university’s vaccination requirement. Employees with approved exemptions are also required to test weekly.
Individuals should stay home if they are feeling sick and follow CDC guidelines if they test positive for COVID-19 or are exposed to someone with the virus. These guidelines include wearing a mask for at least 10 days.
Specifics of the university’s mask policy are posted on the Personal Safety Practices page of the Safe and Healthy Buckeyes website. Under the updated policy, masks must continue to be worn indoors in the following settings:
  • In clinical settings where patient interactions occur – including at the Wexner Medical Center, the Wilce Student Health Center and other health care clinics. This includes corridors, lobbies and nursing stations of the hospital and ambulatory clinics.
  • At COVID-19 testing centers, including Jesse Owens North.
  • In child care centers, including the Nisonger Center at the Wexner Medical Center.
  • And on transportation, including CABS and shuttle buses.

 

Register today for the 2022 Pharmathon 5K

| Emily Keeler

Sign up today for the 2022 Pharmathon, a 3.1 or 1.5-mile run/walk to promote health, wellness, and provide education on prescription drug misuse and prevention. This event was established in 2015 through a collaborative effort amongst the Pharmacy Alumni Society Governing Board and the College of Pharmacy Students. Learn more and register at go.osu.edu/pharmathon.

March 26, 2022
RPAC, The Ohio State University Campus
10 am race start

A Message from the Chief Wellness Officer

| Emily Keeler

Hello Buckeye Wellness Innovators,

Healthy, balanced eating is important year-round and March is National Nutrition Month. Remember to build your healthy eating plan with your lifestyle and nutritional needs in mind. Spring and summer are great times to change up your menus and try new things.

If you are trying to lose weight, set reasonable, short-term goals and avoid fad diets. Make sure you are getting your five daily servings of fruits and vegetables. I get my five servings in almost every day by making a smoothie for breakfast in my NutriBullet—in it goes spinach, an avocado, blueberries, raspberries/strawberries, and a banana with protein powder, 1 tsp of flaxseed oil, and a tsp of turmeric with a little pomegranate juice and water. Try it and see how you feel!

Warmer weather also means garden season is approaching! Some gardeners find that tending to their sprouts is a great stress reliever! If you lack time and/or a green thumb, farmers’ markets also are a great choice. With warmer weather, you can also try grilling fruit for an even sweeter taste. Watermelon and peaches are good starting options. And, don’t forget, fish or poultry are healthy and tasty grilling choices, too. Visit Choose My Plate and learn about healthy options to choose for your meal.

As you continue to make healthy choices, I encourage you to try a new recipe or make an old one healthy!

Last of all, remember to keep taking and giving a dose of Vitamin G for gratitude every day to improve your own and others’ moods. Evidence from studies support that, if practiced daily, it works to improve your cardiovascular health and mental well-being.

Go Buckeyes!

Faculty and Staff Biometric Screenings for the COP

| Emily Keeler

Biometric Screenings – Back by popular demand!

May 10, 2022

Parks Hall Room 200

Read the directions below on how to sign up. Code is “cop22”.

Additional screenings AND flu shots will be held in October. Stay tuned for more!

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

 

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.

 

o  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 20, 2022 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 Form and submit to OSUHP to verify that you have completed a biometric screening with him or her. Forms received after December 31, 2022 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 May 10th and October 17th,  the OSU Health Plan’s (OSUHP) RN Health Promotion Specialist(s) will be in  Parks Hall 200 to complete complimentary biometric screenings*  for our department. See below for screening registration details.

 

On-Campus biometric screening registration for our department:

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

1.        Visit the registration portal here.

2.        Log in with your Ohio State credentials (last name.# and password)

3.        Click “Schedule Appointment or Class”

4.        Select “Biometric Health Screening” as the appointment type.

5.        In the From date box, place 5/10/22.  In the Thru date box, place 10/17/22.

6.        In the “Appointment Code” box type in   COP22   Do NOT copy and paste as this doesn’t always work to activate the code.

7.        To search for an available time, click “Find Appointments or Classes”- This will show only the appointments available for this screening event.

8.        Complete registration to schedule the appointment. If you experience any difficulty, please contact OSUHP Customer Service at 292-4700 with your Appointment Code.

 

Personal Health and Well-being Assessment (PHA)

 

Once you’ve completed a verified Biometric Screening, you will need to complete the PHA (under “Health Check” in your Virgin Pulse account).

 

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 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.

Massage for Boosting Immunity with Alysann

| Emily Keeler

Massage for Boosting Immunity with Alysann

 

Thursday, February 24, 2022

6:00 pm

ZOOM – RSVP HERE

 

Grab a partner and join Alysann Jones, an experienced licensed massage therapist with over 17 years of experience, will lead participants in a virtual experience to learn how to massage themselves and others in order to boost immune response. You will gain hands on experience and the class is designed to be fun and informative and no previous experience is necessary. You will learn professional tips on how to give a good massage, what to avoid, as well as how to avoid injuries to yourself and others.

 

Please note, this class is not suitable if you have a compromised immune system, are ill, or have lymphedema. Participants should be aware of their abilities, and assume responsibility for their participation.

 

Participants are encouraged to pair up with a friend or loved one for this event in order to practice the activities in real time.

Upcoming Faculty and Staff Opportunities

| Emily Keeler

OSU Health Plan wellness webinars open for registration Benefits-eligible faculty and staff can explore free wellness programs offered by the OSU Health Plan as a service of Your Plan for Health. Topics relate to healthy eating, active living, emotional well-being and weight management. Upcoming wellness webinars include: 

  • Meal Planning for the Winter Season on Dec. 6
  • Figuring Out Food Labels on Dec. 7
  • Coping With Seasonal Affective Disorder on Dec. 9

Visit LinktoHealth for complete details and to register (click Educational Program under Appointments and Classes).Join your fellow Buckeyes for Group Health CoachingJoin your fellow Buckeyes on a similar journey by attending the next series of Group Health Coaching webinars:

  • Recipes, Recipes and More Recipes beginning Dec. 6
  • Mindful Minutes: Simple, Everyday Strategies beginning Dec. 7.

Times and webinar details are available when you register via LinktoHealth (click Group Heath Coaching under Appointments and Classes). Join Asian Pacific Islander Desi American ERG Ohio State’s Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Employee Resource Group (APIDA ERG) cultivates belonging and community by promoting professional and personal development of APIDA members through networking, advancing cultural competency, recruitment and retention, improving visibility of APIDA members and increasing representation in executive leadership. This ERG is supported by the Diversity Council, the Wexner Medical Center and health science colleges, but any employee at the university or medical center can join. Complete the APIDA ERG membership form to join. The group’s first town hall meeting is from 4-5 p.m. today, and will feature senior leaders, expert talks and open dialogue. Register to attend via Zoom. Attend Career Roadmap town hall for staffThe University Staff Advisory Committee (USAC) will host a Career Roadmap town hall for staff from 1-2 p.m. Wednesday via Zoom. The event will allow staff the opportunity to submit questions about Career Roadmap to Jeff Risinger, PhD, senior vice president for Talent, Culture and Human Resources. Submit your questions ahead of time when you register to attend the town hall. Questions will also be accepted live during the event. After you register, you’ll receive a confirmation email with details about how to join the webinar. Live transcription services will be provided. If you can’t attend the event, a recording will be available on the USAC website.

Empower Students to Engage in Wellness with LIVEWELL Classrooms

| Emily Keeler

The pandemic and its continuous uncertainty has brought new and unique challenges for faculty to keep up with the needs of our students. Unfortunately, more students are languishing, struggling with burnout, anxiety, depression and stress now more than ever. However, faculty play a key role in helping our students.

Join us for the LIVEWELL webinar series, which uses evidence-based strategies and resources to empower you and provide the tools needed to combat these issues for your students. Learn how to support students in developing and sustaining resiliency and healthy lifestyle behaviors through incorporating wellness strategies into teaching and learning. Gain the skills needed to help your students perform their best and take care of themselves.

You will also learn how to create a LIVEWELL classroom by adopting a classroom wellness philosophy and how to incorporate wellness strategies in online and in-person learning formats.

This monthly virtual series begins at noon on Wednesday, November 17. For more information about the series, speakers or registration, please visit our website.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to Buckeye Wellness with questions.