Prospective Health Helps Employee Take First Step Towards Milestone
When Alan Welch crossed the finish line of the America's Walk for Diabetes in September, he completed more than a 5-mile walk - he achieved a personal goal that began seven months ago when he took the first step.
Welch, a promotions specialist with Duke Stores, said he has always had a strong aversion to exercise. So five miles seemed like a marathon, and taking the first step seemed like an insurmountable hurdle.
But it was a call from Alene Timberlake, a care manager with Duke Prospective Health, that motivated Welch to take that first step.
"I thought the idea of Duke becoming more proactive about employees' health was a good idea," Welch said. "It turned out to be the incentive I needed to finally do something about my own health."
Because of his specific health care needs as a diabetic, Welch was offered the opportunity to work one-on-one with Timberlake, who served as his central point of contact throughout the program, helping him create his health goals, determine the best way to go about meeting those goals, and track his progress.
"Whether you have one night a week, a 30-minute lunch break, or a couple of hours a day to participate, we strive to make the program fit your schedule and lifestyle so you can get your health heading in the right direction," Timberlake said.
In addition to the one-on-one support, Welch also participated with others in the Prospective Health program in health coaching sessions led by the Duke Center for Integrative Medicine to learn more about how to live healthier and remain committed to his goals. Welch was impressed with the program's approach to begin by setting small, easily attainable goals that he could meet and then to use the motivation generated by meeting those goals to set higher ones.
"My initial goal was to start walking three days a week, which was three days more a week than I had been walking," Welch explained. "The first couple of weeks were tough because I have a busy schedule, but I finally managed to start walking, and it got easier and easier. I was soon up to achieving my goal of three days a week and by the end of the program, I had increased to between four and five times."
Welch decided his next goal would be to participate in a local walk event, something he had never done before. Inspired by his determination to succeed, Timberlake offered to join him, and in September, they walked together as part of the "Duke Prospective Health Troopers" team, in the America's Walk for Diabetes. That day, Welch walked farther than he had ever walked since beginning his career at Duke.
Since making the time in his schedule to walk and be more conscious about what he eats, Welch's blood sugar and cholesterol levels have improved dramatically. Welch attributes his success to the support and resources he took advantage of through Prospective Health.
"I hate to admit it after all of these years of avoiding exercise, but now that I have started walking regularly, I feel better physically and about myself as a person."
From someone who still hates exercise but now uses his accomplishments as his motivation to keep at it, Welch encourages others to give it a try.
"Participating in Prospective Health has been one of the better decisions I have made," Welch said. "Making changes isn't easy, but I am really happy with the improvements I have seen in my health, and that has made the hard work worthwhile."
Getting Started
Duke Prospective Health is offered to faculty, staff and their family members who participate in either Duke Basic or Duke Select health care plans. Getting started in Duke Prospective Health is easy. All participants have to do is complete a simple health questionnaire and select a primary care physician, if they have not done so already. For enrolling in the program, you will receive a $25 gift certificate to Harris Teeter grocery stores. In addition, you will be eligible to win $1,000 worth of gift cards to Harris Teeter. Through the Duke Prospective Health Giveaway Program, $1,000 worth of gift cards to Harris Teeter will be awarded to one participant per month through December 2004 through a drawing of participants.
All of the personal and health information used in the program remains confidential among the individual, the physician and the Duke Prospective Health clinical care team.
To get started in the program or for more information about Duke Prospective Health, visit
www.dukeprospectivehealth.org or call 1-888-279-9445.
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