The road to good health - Time Well Spenttimewellspent-ca.anthem.com/images/other-medical... · 2017. 1. 17. · Taking an active role in the health of your employees is a noble task

The road to good health

23058CAEENABC 8/11

Arthritis

Table of contentsMonth 1: Arthritis 101 Month 2: What are the signs of arthritis? Month 3: Do you have arthritis? Month 4: Managing arthritis Month 5: Keeping a handle on arthritis Month 6: We’ve only just begun

Dear Employer,Taking an active role in the health of your employees is a noble task with so many benefits. Healthy employees enjoy better quality of life, which means your workplace environment is positive and productive – and that helps your bottom line. Good health is good for everyone.

Arthritis is the most common cause of disability in the U.S. About one in five U.S. adults, or an estimated 50 million people, say they’ve been diagnosed.*

While arthritis is more common among the 65-and-older crowd, people of all ages can have arthritis.*

If you can educate your employees about this disease, you’ll be playing a key role in helping to improve the health and well-being of your staff and your business.

We are sending you this arthritis awareness campaign kit to support you as you help your employees with arthritis. This disease can significantly affect your employees physically, emotionally and financially. Some may not even know they have arthritis. You can help them by creating awareness about arthritis, how you get it and how you manage it.

Within this kit you’ll find a month-by-month plan that includes:

}} Materials}to}inform}your}employees}about}arthritis

}} Helpful}tips}for}managing}the}effects}of}the}disease

}} Events}or}activities}you}can}add}to}lead}your}employees}down}the}path}to}good}health

The first step is to let your employees know about the campaign. Click here for wording you can use in an email or a letter to introduce the campaign to your workforce.

Next, use the tools provided in this kit to launch an informative, interactive campaign to help change behaviors in your employees – for their benefit and yours. Here’s what we’ve provided for each month:

} Day 1:}Send}the}introductory}email}or}letter}explaining}the}materials}and}activities}for}the}month.}If}a}poster}is}provided,}print}and}hang}it}around}your}offices.}

} Week 1:}Send}the}educational}article}by}email}or}distribute}hard}copies.}If}it}suits}you,}put}this}information}in}a}newsletter}you}are}publishing}that}month.}

} Week 2 or 3:}Depending}on}the}resource}provided,}send}an}email}to}your}employees}including}the}link}to}the}video}or}distribute}the}flier}inviting}Anthem}members}to}join}a}Lifestyle}Improvement}ProgramSM.

} Week 4:}Sum}up}the}month}with}an}interactive}fun}activity}or}an}email/letter}encouraging}your}employees}to}visit}anthem.com/ca}and}load}up}on}great}resources}for}those}concerned}about}arthritis.}

We know this kit can be a helpful roadmap as you take your employees on a journey toward good health.

*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: Arthritis: Meeting the Challenge – At a glance 2011 (February 2011): cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/AAG/arthritis.htm

Month 1Arthritis}101

Resources for month 1

Email or letter for employees (next page)This introduces the campaign to your employees and explains the materials and activities for the month. Send this communication to your employees on the first day of the month. Send it in an email or a letter, or whatever format works best for you.

Educational articleThis helpful article can be sent by email or hard copy to your employees. It’s good for newsletters too:

} Arthritis:}Stay}active}and}involved}in}your}care

Multimedia contentYour employees can watch a video about arthritis:

}} Arthritis:}Who’s}at}risk?

Online resourcesEncourage your employees to visit anthem.com/ca and load up on great resources for those who are concerned about arthritis.

1.} Log}in}to}anthem.com/ca.}

2.} If}you’re}not}registered}to}use}the}site,}follow}the}instructions}to}register.

3.} Click}on}“Health}&}Wellness.”

4.} Under}“Health}Topics,”}click}on}“View}all.”

5.} Under}“Conditions,”}click}“Arthritis.”

6.} Check}out}the}questions}and}answers,}and}read}some}of}the}articles}under}“Overview.”

http://materials.anthem.com/10331CAMENABC.pdf

http://healthvideo.healthology.com/hybrid/hybrid-autodetect.aspx?content_id=4028&focus_handle=&brand_name=healthvideo

http://www.anthem.com/ca

Month 1: Arthritis}101

Dear <INSERT COMPANY NAME> Employee,

We realize that everyone has a different path to health. We’re here to help you take that first step on your journey to good health. We’ll give you the tools and information you need.

One of the more common health problems today is arthritis. You probably know someone who has arthritis. It could be your spouse, someone in your family or a friend. Or, maybe you’re dealing with arthritis yourself or think you might be at risk.

While arthritis is more common among those who are 65 years of age and older, people of all ages can have arthritis.*

Arthritis is the most common cause of disability in the U.S. About one in five U.S. adults, or an estimated 50 million people, say they’ve been diagnosed.*

New program to help those with arthritis

If you or a loved one have arthritis, we have some help for you! We are introducing a new six-month program to help you learn more about arthritis and take steps to control it.

Are you ready to make a few healthy changes? You don’t have to tackle arthritis all at once, or all by yourself. Make small changes, a few at a time and you’ll be surprised at what a difference it can make in your life.

Here’s how it will work

For the next six months, we’ll be giving you information and resources that you can use to learn about arthritis and manage it.

This first month, you can learn about arthritis by checking out the “Arthritis: Stay active and involved in your care” article.

You can also watch a video about arthritis:

} Arthritis:}Who’s}at}risk?

Want to send this email to your employees? Just click here to copy the content.

http://healthvideo.healthology.com/hybrid/hybrid-autodetect.aspx?content_id=4028&focus_handle=&brand_name=healthvideo

Find out even more at anthem.com/caIt’s simple, just follow these steps:

1.} Log}in}at}anthem.com/ca.


3. Click on “Health & Wellness.”

4. Under “Health Topics,” click “View all.”

5. Under “Conditions,” click “Arthritis.”

6. Check out the questions and answers, and read some of the articles under “Overview.”

*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: Arthritis: Meeting the Challenge – At a glance 2011 (February 2011):

cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/AAG/arthritis.htm


Month 2What}are}the}signs}of}arthritis?


Email or letter for employees (next page)This explains the materials and activities for the month. Send this communication to your employees on the first day of the month. Send it in an email or a letter, or whatever format works best for you.


}} Types}and}symptoms}of}arthritis

PosterPrint this poster and place it around your company’s building:

}} Arthritis}is}a}pain





4.} Under}“Health}Topics,”}click}“View}all.”


6.} Read}the}article}“When}You}Should}Call}a}Doctor}About}Arthritis}Symptoms”}under}

“Symptoms.”


http://materials.anthem.com/MCASH0311ABC.pdf



Month 2: What}are}the}signs}of}arthritis?


Do your joints – such as your knees or hips – hurt or feel stiff and swollen? If so, you may have arthritis.

There are many kinds of arthritis and each one has different symptoms and treatments. The most common types of arthritis are:

} Osteoarthritis}often}affects}older}people,}but}younger}people}can}develop}it}too.}It}starts}when}tissue,}called}cartilage,}begins}to}break}down}and}wear}away.}Cartilage}pads}the}bones}in}a}joint}and}when}it}has}worn}away,}bones}rub}against}each}other.}It}usually}affects}the}hands,}neck,}lower}back}or}weight-bearing}joints}such}as}knees}and}hips.*}

} Rheumatoid arthritis}happens}when}the}immune}system}attacks}the}joint}tissues.}It}causes}pain,}swelling}and}stiffness}that}can}last}for}hours.}Rheumatoid}arthritis}can}affect}many}joints}at}the}same}time}and}is}more}common}in}women}than}men.*}

} Gout}is}one}of}the}most}painful}types}of}arthritis}and}usually}affects}the}big}toe,}but}can}happen}in}other}joints.}Swelling}can}make}the}skin}pull}tightly}around}the}joint}and}result}in}the}area}turning}red}or}purple}and}very}tender.*

To}learn}more}about}the}signs}and}kinds}of}arthritis,}read Types}and}symptoms}of}arthritis.

*National Institute on Aging website: Arthritis Advice (August 2009): nia.nih.gov/healthinformation/publications/arthritis.htm


http://materials.anthem.com/25919WPMENMUB.doc

You can find out more about arthritis at anthem.com/caTo get more information, just follow these steps:






6.} Read}the}article}“When}You}Should}Call}a}Doctor}About}Arthritis}Symptoms”}under}“Symptoms.”


Month 3} Do}you}have}arthritis?




}} Tests}and}diagnosis}of}arthritis


}} Talking}to}your}doctor}about}arthritis

Online resourcesEncourage your employees to visit anthem.com/ca and load up

on great resources for those who are concerned about arthritis.


2.} If}you’re}not}registered}to}use}the}site,}follow}the}instructions}}

to}register.




6.} Read}the}articles}under}“Health}tips.”




Month 3: Do}you}have}arthritis?


As you learn more about arthritis, including the signs and symptoms of the condition, you may suspect that you have arthritis.

It’s important to see a doctor and get the right tests to find out if you have arthritis and the type of arthritis. You may need to see a doctor called a rheumatologist who specializes in treating arthritis.

Your doctor will conduct a physical exam and ask you for a complete medical history, including your symptoms.

You may get an X-ray or lab test on your blood, urine or joint fluid to help your doctor figure out the type of arthritis you may have.

Next, your doctor can help you map out a course of treatment so you can stay physically active and enjoy life.

To learn more about the signs of arthritis, read the article “Tests}and}diagnosis}of}arthritis.”









6.} Read}the}articles}under}“Health}tips.”


Month 4} Managing}arthritis




} Medical treatments for arthritis


} Show arthritis who’s boss







6.} Read}some}of}the}articles}under}“Treatments.”




Month 4: Managing}arthritis


If}you}know}that}you}have}arthritis,}it’s}time}to}take}that}first}step}to}manage}it.}We}know}that}it}can}be}hard}to}change}old}habits.}It’s}against}human}nature.}But}it’s}well}worth}it.

As}you’ve}been}learning}more}about}arthritis,}you’ve}probably}been}thinking}about}getting}the}treatment}you}need}to}stay}healthy.}The}goal}of}treatment}is}to}relieve}pain}and}help}you}to}move}your}joints}so}you}can}stay}active.

You can take some simple steps to successfully live with arthritis. This}includes:

}} Getting}enough}sleep}

}} Doing}the}right}type}of}exercise}

}} Eating}a}healthy,}balanced}diet}

}} Learning}how}to}use}and}protect}your}joints}

Treatment}may}also}include}medication,}controlling}your}weight,}and}surgery.}Learn}more}about}arthritis}and}managing}it}by}checking}out}the}article}


“Medical treatments for arthritis.”







4.} Under}“Health}Topics,”}click}“View}all.”}

5.} Under}“Conditions,”}click}“Arthritis.”}

6.} Read}some}of}the}articles}under}“Treatments.”


Month 5} Keeping}a}handle}on}arthritis




} Daily living and coping with arthritis


} Stress relief for arthritis

Smoking Cessation Lifestyle Improvement ProgramThis}flier}invites}your}employees}to}join}the}Smoking}Cessation}Lifestyle}Improvement}Program.}You}can}email}this}PDF}or}print}it}and}post}it}around}your}office.

} Quitting}is}a}team}effort

Sign up for a Lifestyle Improvement ProgramSM

Lifestyle Improvement Programs are self-paced and help your employees make some positive changes, such as quitting smoking, losing weight and exercising. By making these changes, employees can be healthier and have a longer life.

Here’s how they can sign up:


2.} If}you’re}not}registered}to}use}the}site,}follow}the}instructions}to}

register.


4.} On}the}left-hand}side}of}the}page,}click}on}“Wellness}Tool}Kit.”

5.} Under}“Lifestyle}Improvement,”}select}a}Lifestyle}Improvement}

Program}to}get}started.





Month 5: Keeping}a}handle}on}arthritis


By now, you’ve probably figured out that it’s best to keep things simple when it comes to arthritis. Making a few small steps can add up to big rewards like a more active lifestyle.

Taking care of small problems before they become big ones can make a huge difference in your life. With arthritis, that’s especially true.

For example, when your joints are hot and inflamed, put something cold on the joints to help reduce the pain and swelling. You can even use a bag of frozen vegetables if you don’t have an ice pack.

You can find more information and tips in

If you smoke, did you know that it can increase your risk of having more problems from arthritis? This is why you should think about quitting. Besides, there are many other health benefits when you stop smoking.

Sign up for a Lifestyle Improvement ProgramSM

Would you like some help with kicking the smoking habit? If so, you should check out Anthem’s Lifestyle Improvement Programs.SM

These online programs allow you to go at your own pace and make positive changes, such as quitting smoking, exercising and losing weight. By making these changes, you can be healthier and have a longer life.

For more information, see


“Quitting is a team effort.”

“Daily living and coping with arthritis.”



$$$/Dialog/Behaviors/GoToView/DefaultURL


Here’s how you sign up:




4.} On}the}left-hand}side}of}the}page,}click}on}“Wellness}Tool}Kit.”}

5.} Under}“Lifestyle}Improvement,”}select}a}Lifestyle}Improvement}Program}to}get}started.}


Month 6} We’ve}only}just}begun




} Nutrition and exercise for arthritis


} Tips for coping with arthritis

Special activity (next page)Test your employees’ knowledge of arthritis and consider offering a prize for the person who answers all of the questions correctly first.



*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: Arthritis: Meeting the Challenge – At a glance 2011 (February 2011): cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/AAG/arthritis.htm

Month 6: We’ve}only}just}begun


Can you believe that six months have already passed since we started the “Road to good health” arthritis awareness program? We hope that you’ve learned some important information about arthritis and made some small steps to health.

One of the most important steps you can take is staying physically active. This includes exercise such as walking, bicycling and swimming. Exercise has important benefits, such as reducing pain and improving your quality of life.*

To find out more about exercise and nutrition when you have arthritis, see

We want you to continue on your road to health. This is just a start. As a refresher, try your hand at this quick quiz.

[OPTIONAL COPY] If you are the first person to answer all of the questions correctly, you’ll win a prize.

Arthritis quiz(Note: Questions are based on articles; however, different questions can be used. Answers are : d, d, c, d and d.)

1. Which exercises can benefit a person with arthritis?a. Stretchingb. Strength trainingc. Aerobic exercisesd. All of the above

2. Which of the following statements is TRUE?a. There are more than 100 types of arthritisb. There are only 10 types of arthritisc. Two of the most common types are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritisd. Both a and c


“Nutrition and exercise for arthritis.”



3. What foods are good for those with arthritis?a. Food and drinks high in sugarb. Fried or processed foodsc. Foods with Omega-3 fatty acids, like fish and flaxseedd. White bread, or other foods low in fiber

4. What are some symptoms of arthritis?a. Stiffness and swellingb. Painc. Mood changesd. Both a and b

5. Which of the following can be helpful tips to reduce arthritis symptoms?a. Get enough sleepb. Reduce stressc. Maintain a healthy weightd. All of the above

Anthem Blue Cross is the trade name of Blue Cross of California. Independent licensee of the Blue Cross Association. ® ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross name and symbol are registered marks of the Blue Cross Association.

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The road to good health - Time Well Spenttimewellspent-ca.anthem.com/images/other-medical... · 2017. 1. 17. · Taking an active role in the health of your employees is a noble task