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Make It Your Business to Get Vaccinated
December 5 to 11 marks the annual observance of National Influenza Vaccination Week which highlights the importance of extended flu vaccination opportunities for everyone 6 months of age and older.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the timing and duration of flu seasons vary. While flu outbreaks can happen as early as October, most influenza activity peaks in January or later, so getting vaccinated now provides ample opportunity to ward off the flu, prevent days of missed work and enjoy family holiday time.
This year's flu vaccine includes the H1N1 2009 pandemic strain as well as the H3N2 and Influenza B viral strains. Make it your business to get vaccinated. Schedule an onsite flu clinic today and keep everyone on your payroll healthy this season.
Special offers are available for onsite vaccination clinics. Please call (248) 967-8355 or kpawlicki@vna.org for more details.
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TASTE OF HEALTH
Baked Salmon Dijon
Ingredients:
1 C fat-free sour cream
2 tsp dried dill
3 Tbsp finely chopped scallions
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 ½ lb salmon fillet with skin (cut in center)
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp black pepper
Fat-free cooking spray as needed
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400 °F.
Whisk sour cream, dill, onion, mustard, and lemon juice in small bowl to blend.
Lightly oil baking sheet with cooking spray.
Place salmon, skin side down, on prepared sheet.
Sprinkle with garlic powder and pepper, then spread with the sour cream mixture.
Bake salmon until just opaque in center, about 20 minutes.
Nutrition Information Per Serving:
Calories 196
Total Fat 7 g
Saturated Fat 2 g
Cholesterol 76 mg
Sodium 229 mg
Fiber less than 1 g
Protein 27 g
Carbohydrates 5 g
Source: Keep the Beat: Heart Healthy Recipes from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
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Customized Wellness Programs
VNA's Corporate Health Services are available on-site and offer a convenient, cost-effective way to help improve your employees' health. Services include:
Contact VNA Today!
(248) 967-8355
vna@vna.org
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Does Your Wellness Program Walk the Talk?
Whether your company has an established wellness program or is just starting to build one, be sure that kind gestures like company- sponsored meals are not sabotaging your efforts. As your company works toward building a culture of wellness, unintentional damage can come about through offerings of high fat and high sodium foods, as well as access to unhealthy vending machine snacks.
During last month's meeting of the Oakland County Wellness Coalition, NorthAmerican Bancard showcased its efforts to make significant changes in food offerings and vending machine options. Changes included offering healthy food choices through relationships with local restaurants as well as healthy vending machine options sold at cost, while unhealthy snacks were marked up by approximately 25%, with proceeds benefiting a local food pantry.
These small, but relatively impactful steps are a stepping stone in the development of North American Bancard's wellness culture.
Below are some suggestions for healthful meals and snacks:
Breakfast Options:
- Fruit and/or 100% fruit juice
- Whole grain cereal and low-fat milk
- Low-fat yogurt
- English muffins
Lunch Options:
- Baked chicken with vegetables and brown rice
- Pasta with vegetables
- Veggie pizza
- Green salads
- Bean and veggie burritos
Snack Options:
- Sliced vegetables with low-fat yogurt dip
- Pretzels with mustard
- Nuts and trail mix
- Low-salt chips and salsa
- Graham or animal crackers
As the new year approaches, make it your company's resolution to establish or strengthen your wellness culture by taking a close look at how your company aligns its actions to its wellness mission. |
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Diabetes Management: More Than Just Sugar
Daily management of blood glucose (sugar) levels is an important part of overall diabetes management. Often individuals with diabetes may overlook important routine checkups which can lead to serious complications.
Two diabetes-related complications are neuropathy (nerve damage) and peripheral vascular disease (poor blood flow).
Nerve damage might make you unable to feel pain, heat or cold in your legs and feet. A sore or cut on your foot may worsen when you do not know it is there. Additionally, nerve damage combined with poor blood flow, can lead to a sore or an infection that is difficult to heal and may lead to more serious complications.
What can I do to take care of my feet?
· Wash your feet in warm water every day. Make sure the water is not too hot by testing the temperature with your elbow or a bath thermometer. Do not soak your feet. Dry your feet well, especially between your toes.
· Look at your feet every day to check for cuts, sores, blisters, redness, calluses or other problems. Checking every day is even more important if you have nerve damage or poor blood flow. If you cannot bend over or pull your feet up to check them, use a mirror. If you cannot see well, ask someone else to check your feet.
Take Care of Your Feet for a Lifetime is a free booklet that will assist you with tips on how to care for your feet and avoid serious foot problems.
Source: National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse
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We Want to Hear from You
Take advantage of Healthy at Work, make this free newsletter a part of your wellness program. Share it with your employees and send us your thoughts regarding topics that are of interest to you and your business.
E-mail us at kpawlicki@vna.org and share your wellness program ideas. We would be glad to highlight your wellness programs in our newsletter.
Examples of ideas can include topics such as:
- Low-cost ways to implement a wellness program
- Employee health challenges
- How to achieve higher participation rates
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Get Paid for Your Opinion and Help Our Community
Your time is valuable. To the hundreds of uninsured patients that VNA of Southeast Michigan serves, this has never been more true thanks to a new partnership with Opinions for Good (Op4G).
Op4G is a market research company that partners with nonprofit organizations both to build their database and to give back to the community. Market research companies pay people to take their surveys, but Op4G makes it possible not only for you to get paid, but also for VNA to receive 25 percent or more of the fee.
To learn more, please visit our website at www.vna.org. You may also sign up directly through this VNA/Op4G link. Be sure to list VNAMICH1234 as the code so that VNA of Southeast Michigan is indicated as your nonprofit of choice.
Sign up today and make your opinion count for VNA!
VNA is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization. Please contact our Development Department with any questions: (248) 967-9600 or email vna@vna.org
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