Tuesday, April 24th

Today we got the opportunity to listen to Francie Astrom.  She is the dietitian at WellWorks, the universities wellness and fitness center for faculty and staff.  WellWorks is primarily supported by membership fees.  WellWorks provides a wide variety of different programs.  They consider themselves to be more wellness focus compared to the typically medical model.  They aim to help each member reach optimal health for their own individual status.  One of their biggest programs is Healthy Ohio.  It involves faculty and staff receiving a biometric assessment and also receive health coaching.  They also have another program called Risk Reduction.  This program is aimed at helping reducing some of the major health risks some people face.  Some of the other services they provide are a fitness center with personal trainers, massage therapy, wellness coaching and blood pressure and cholesterol screening around campus.  

In order to join WellWorks, you need to be a faculty staff member or a dependents.  OU retirees and their dependents are also able to join.  Community members can join, but at a higher cost compared to faculty members.  Their are also corporate members who have worked with WellWorks.  They have a little over 1,600 members.  

There are different ways programs are developed.  First off, their main goal is to identify the needs of the OU community based off the different assessments they conduct during the year.  They also take special requests from different departments and programs. 

The registered dietitian is an integral to success of the WellWorks program.  They are responsible to provide up to date nutrition information.  They are responsible to review and interpret current literature for clients and also current staff members.