Page 2 - JacksonHospital

DEAR FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS: As you know, in several past columns I have spoken candidly about our recommendation to community members to get an annual physical and then to use the fndings from the physical to chart a new personal goal of in-creased health and wellness. However, to quote from Shakespeare, “the fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.” Therefore, beginning this month we have chal-lenged our own staff at Jackson to model this behavior by get-ting an annual physical and then to work over the next year to improve their health status by working with our employee wellness coordinator (coach) based out of our family medicine center. Similar to the employees of the state of Alabama and other major industries in our state, we are utilizing both posi-tive incentives and health premium plan changes in order to accomplish this goal.

While these measures are not without controversy, my view is that it gets down to the core philosophy of how we are go-ing to deliver the best healthcare services to the citizens of our region. Can we as healthcare providers really be at our best if

our health status is not within normal parameters in a number of key areas? I would argue that we cannot. As I have written previously, the great majority of physicians practicing medicine here in our community are role models in maintaining a posi-tive health outlook and good personal health habits as well. My feeling is that the rest of us who are not following this example need to awaken to the saying “If you play when you are young you will pay when you are older.” The price, which we see every day in patients who visit our hospital and other facilities, is dif-fcult and sometimes insurmountable negative health outcomes Modern medicine is wonderful, but it can only go so far. I am really thankful that our city and county leadership has embraced this philosophy as well. The number of health-related fun walks and runs is multiplying, along with other healthy ac-tivities. There really is no reason why our city, which ranks heart-breakingly low in health status nationally, cannot begin to move the bar in a positive direction. It just takes one frst step from everyone along a challenging path. Or, to quote from the comic strip Pogo , “we have met the enemy and he is us.”

Getting your medicine just got easier with bed-side delivery! While you concentrate on getting well, Walgreens will concentrate on giving Jack-son Hospital patients top-quality pharmaceutical care. Walgreens is now offering an exceptional level of individualized service, including the delivery of your medication right to your hospi-tal room.

And it’s easy to take advantage of this new service, even after you are discharged. With just some basic information, Walgreens will con-tinue to ensure that you receive all the appropri-ate prescriptions. For more information, call