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sQ1=new Array();sQ1[1]=new Array("index.php","Welcome to The Alliance Employer Resource Center","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... ARE YOU A MEMBER?          ENTER HERE forgot your username or password?   Welcome to the Employer Resource Center You've arrived at more than just a website. The Alliance's Employer Resource Center is a springboard to a healthier employee. Loaded with relevant, straightforward health information, the Employer Resource Center will provide plenty of health-enriching resources for your organization. For the Organization: Helping you build a healthier business. Along with informing employees on ways to lead a healthy life, the Employer Resource Center can help an organization's well-being. From this site, you can generate reports that give you a clear-cut understanding of your health care costs. You'll also learn about evolving methods for using health promotions and innovative plan designs that will add to the long-term health of your organization. For the Employees: Information for a happier, longer life. Knowledge is a critical tool for everyone’s health. With the Employer Resource Center, you'll have access to fun-filled health facts and in-depth articles and reports. Altogether, a wealth of health information – right at your fingertips. If you are not an Alliance member, learn how to become one!  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[2]=new Array("contact.php","The Alliance :: Contact Us","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Contact Us  Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or comments. Sales and Member Services email: mms@the-alliance.org sales: 608.210.6638 member services: 608.210.6634 toll free: 800.223.4139 fax: 608.276.6626 The Alliance 37 Kessel Ct., Suite 201 P.O. Box 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[3]=new Array("employer_home.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Employer Tools","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Employer Tools Alliance Newsletter Case Studies Education Forum Summaries Employer Networking Groups Health Provider Network Lending Library Preferred Pricing QualityCounts Toolkit Summary Plan Description Workers' Comp Network  Employer Tools The resources to keep your health care program in good health. As an employer, your time is extremely limited. With so much to do, there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to research how to run elements of your health care program. Our resources provide easy access to the information you need. Presented in a variety of different formats – including timely articles, networking groups, toolkits and benchmarking reports – you can tap into the resources essential for maintaining and improving the health of your health care program.  Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[4]=new Array("employee_home.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Employee Health and Education","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Resources for your Employees Babylove Toolkit Blood Pressure Screening Brown Bag Lunch Sessions Consumer Newsletters Diabetes Toolbox Health and Wellness Brochures Health Club and Fitness Center Discounts Health Risk Assessments Monthly Wellness Planner Open Enrollment and Benefit Fairs Patient Safety Toolkit QualityCounts Report Self-care Guide Books Tobacco Cessation  Employee Health and Education Keep them informed and you’ll keep them healthy. An employee armed with health care knowledge can be your most valuable asset when it comes to reducing health care costs. Our communication toolkits can be the driving force in your employee education efforts. You can use the toolkits to raise issues, build knowledge, create dialogues, and improve the overall health and wellness of your workplace. The toolkit pages are written specifically for your employees and can easily be reproduced for use at your workplace. If you’d like to customize any of the toolkits for use with your employees, just let us know. We'd be happy to add your company logo and any additional information that you want to share with your employees.  Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[5]=new Array("ReportsonDemand.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Reports on Demand","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: .......................  Reports on Demand  FOCUS Reports Summarize health care claims received by The Alliance under an employer's benefit plan. The FOCUS—Findings on Claims Utilization Statistics—Report contains charts and graphs to help identify trends in expenditure and medical conditions not only for your company, but can also provide a comparison against industry peer populations and The Alliance peer population (all Alliance employers). Claims Detail Shows an employer's overall savings percentage received for a specific time period analyzed. The Claims Detail report further breaks down the information into major types of care, providers utilized and whether they are in- or out-of-network, and claims volume and total charges for the providers seen. Claims Summary (ROI) Reports an employer's return on investment (how much the company saved for every dollar invested in the cooperative) and summary of claims for a specific time period analyzed. Eligibility Roster Allows employers access to a roster of employees and dependents that according to our records are eligible for and enrolled in health plans that utilize The Alliance provider network. Invoice Archive Allows employers to view archived Alliance invoices and associated reports. Monthly invoices and reports will continue to be sent via mail to Alliance employer members and, if applicable to their related parties (administrator, agent, etc). Premium Equivalent Facilitates calculation of a maximum premium equivalent, comparable to fully insured market premium. ("Maximum" because the actual claim costs incurred are less than those listed due to cost-sharing plan provision and non-covered benefit exclusions).  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[6]=new Array("become_member.htm","The Alliance :: Become a Member","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Become a Member  To learn more about becoming a member of The Alliance, contact: Scott Bellefeuille Account Executive email: sbellefeuille@the-alliance.org phone: 608.210.6638 toll free: 1.800.223.4139  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[7]=new Array("newsletters.php","The Alliance ERC ::  The Alliance Newsletter","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Employer Tools Alliance Newsletter Case Studies Education Forum Summaries Employer Networking Groups Health Provider Network Lending Library Preferred Pricing QualityCounts Toolkit Summary Plan Description Workers' Comp Network The Alliance Newsletter Where health care is always in the headlines. To keep yourself updated on the latest ways The Alliance can help you, check out The Alliance Newsletter. It's loaded with the latest health care developments here at The Alliance, including tips on how to make new programs work to your advantage. It also serves as an invaluable reference source as you develop new strategies, especially previous "In the News" articles. The newsletter is a must-read for all the key players who drive your health care strategies. 2006 ISSUES .......................... November October September .......................... view ARCHIVES  Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day   ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[8]=new Array("case_studies.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Case Studies","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Employer Tools Alliance Newsletter Case Studies Education Forum Summaries Employer Networking Groups Health Provider Network Lending Library Preferred Pricing QualityCounts Toolkit Summary Plan Description Workers' Comp Network Case Studies How your peers became quick studies in using The Alliance to improve their health care. If you need insight on how to make your health care strategies work, there's nothing better than learning from the success of other employers. This collection of case studies includes the winning strategies other companies have used to manage health care costs. You'll see real-world examples of how The Alliance programs can really work for you, including valuable tips on getting employees on-board with your health care program. Use the case studies to understand how to make other organizations' proven results part of your health care strategies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Webcrafters, Inc. ( pdf) Features rich details on Webcrafters' approach for managing health care costs by increasing its employee health and wellness efforts. The 'Lighten Up Webcrafters' program incorporates a range of wellness strategies and encourages employees to take control of their health. Winterthur North America ( pdf) Presents Winterthur North America's transition from offering various HMO and PPO options to providing a single self-funded plan. The self-funded plan allowed the employer to rein in double-digit cost increases, gain more control, create consistency, and resulted in significant improvements in just 18 months. Flambeau, Inc. ( pdf) Describes how Flambeau achieved a 10 percent savings in its health care costs by eliminating competing health plans and redesigning its self-funded plan. Examines how the employer tapped into Alliance services to effectively communicate with employees and network with other self-funded employers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . You will need Acrobat Reader to view The Alliance case studies. This is a free download from Adobe.  Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day   ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[9]=new Array("education_forum_summaries.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Education Forum Summaries","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Employer Tools Alliance Newsletter Case Studies Education Forum Summaries Employer Networking Groups Health Provider Network Lending Library Preferred Pricing QualityCounts Toolkit Summary Plan Description Workers' Comp Network Education Forum Summaries  Coming Soon.  Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[10]=new Array("employer_networking.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Employer Networking Groups","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Employer Tools Alliance Newsletter Case Studies Education Forum Summaries Employer Networking Groups Health Provider Network Lending Library Preferred Pricing QualityCounts Toolkit Summary Plan Description Workers' Comp Network Employer Networking Groups Share the health with a growing network of employers. If knowledge is power, then it's time for you to meet 10 people who can help you with health care's heavy lifting. Join our Employer Networking Group, and share best practices and winning strategies with other employers. The Employer Networking Group meets twice a year and provides an open forum on health care challenges. You gain valuable insight and get the answers you need right on the spot. And you'll also be part of a network dedicated to helping each other on an ongoing basis. To join an Employer Networking Group, please contact: Member Services phone: 608.276.6620 direct: 608.210.6634 toll free: 800.223.4139  Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[11]=new Array("provider_network.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Health Provider Network","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Employer Tools Alliance Newsletter Case Studies Education Forum Summaries Employer Networking Groups Health Provider Network Lending Library Preferred Pricing QualityCounts Toolkit Summary Plan Description Workers' Comp Network Health Provider Network The Alliance's service area is south-central Wisconsin, northern Illinois and Iowa. Our network includes hospitals, clinics, home health, durable medical equipment, mental health and chiropractic providers. View The Alliance Employer and Provider Network Composition See a map of our service area (pdf ) Check out the Online Provider Directory Nominate a Provider - At The Alliance, we continually work to expand our provider network. If you know of a provider you would like to be part of The Alliance network, please complete and submit a nomination form. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . Recent additions to The Alliance provider network include: Hess Memorial Hospital, Mauston, WI Marshfield Clinics, Marshfield, WI Miles Bluff, Mauston, WI Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital, Oconomowoc, WI Tri-State Independent Physicians Association, Dubuque, IA Waukesha Elmbrook Health Care SC, Waukesha, WI Waukesha Memorial Hospital, Waukesha, WI  Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[12]=new Array("lending_library.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Lending Library","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Employer Tools Alliance Newsletter Case Studies Education Forum Summaries Employer Networking Groups Health Provider Network Lending Library Preferred Pricing QualityCounts Toolkit Summary Plan Description Workers' Comp Network Lending Library We wrote the book on valuable health care resources. At no cost, you have access to a collection of multimedia health care resources. Books, planning guides, videos, DVDs, CD-ROMs – they're all easily accessible and waiting for you at the Lending Library. View the Lending Library for Employers (pdf ) Don't see what you're looking for? Just suggest a subject, and we'll let you know if we can do the legwork on finding the information for you. To access your resource material or to suggest a topic, please contact: Member Services phone: 608.276.6620 direct: 608.210.6634 toll free: 800.223.4139 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . You will need Acrobat Reader to view the Lending Library list. This is a free download from Adobe.  Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[13]=new Array("preferred_pricing.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Preferred Pricing","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Employer Tools Alliance Newsletter Case Studies Education Forum Summaries Employer Networking Groups Health Provider Network Lending Library Preferred Pricing QualityCounts Toolkit Summary Plan Description Workers' Comp Network Preferred Pricing Pooling our purchasing power gives you access to customized benefit programs. There is strength in numbers, especially when it comes to reigning in health care costs. By leveraging the collective purchasing power of our member companies and our ability to create win-win relationships, you can take advantage of preferred pricing, administrative discounts, and performance guarantees on a variety of employee benefit programs. The programs include: Prescription Benefit Management with Wisconsin RX Dental benefits through Delta Dental Health management from Auxiant Vision benefits via DeltaVision  Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[14]=new Array("qualitycounts_toolkit.php","The Alliance ERC ::  QualityCounts Toolkit","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Employer Tools Alliance Newsletter Case Studies Education Forum Summaries Employer Networking Groups Health Provider Network Lending Library Preferred Pricing QualityCounts Toolkit Summary Plan Description Workers' Comp Network QualityCounts™ Toolkit Educating employees on important health care quality and cost differences. An employee well-informed on health care issues is more likely to be a healthier employee. The QualityCounts toolkit can play an essential role in helping you build employee awareness about variations in hospital costs, quality and safety. The mainstay of the toolkit is our QualityCounts report. The report teaches employees about important quality and safety issues for hospitals that participate with The Alliance. According to a national health policy journal, QualityCounts has helped create significant improvements with hospital care in Wisconsin. The QualityCounts toolkit is loaded with useful materials. In addition to the report, it contains tools to help you share the report with your employees. It includes a professionally-written letter, email, newsletter article, promotional poster, PowerPoint presentation, electronic version of the report, and instructions for creating a direct link from your company Intranet to the QualityCounts Web site. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Download the toolkit (3.25MB zip file)  Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[15]=new Array("summary_plan_description.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Summary Plan Description","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Employer Tools Alliance Newsletter Case Studies Education Forum Summaries Employer Networking Groups Health Provider Network Lending Library Preferred Pricing QualityCounts Toolkit Summary Plan Description Workers' Comp Network Summary Plan Description See how other employers manage their health benefits. A proven way to determine the effectiveness of your health care coverage is by comparing your benefit plan design with your peers. The Alliance makes benchmarking easy with our annual Summary Plan Description Report. We've done the market research for you by analyzing more than 100 different member plans. The report includes detailed information on the components of the benefit plan designs, including: Specific stop-loss coverages Percentage of premium paid Common plan designs, including deductible levels, prescription drug co-pays and pre-certification requirements for hospital admissions You can also request custom analyses to learn about things not included in the report but maintained in our database. The customized information is available to you at no additional cost—it's a benefit of being an Alliance member. We depend on our member companies to share details about their benefit plan designs. Be sure to submit your annual SPD so that we can expand our research and create a more robust benchmark. By participating, you'll receive the summary report for free. Non-participants may request the report for a fee of $75.00. As always, we maintain strict confidentiality in all aspects of our reports. For more information contact: Member Services phone: 608.276.6620 direct: 608.210.6634 toll free: 800.223.4139  Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[16]=new Array("workers_comp.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Workers' Compensation Network","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Employer Tools Alliance Newsletter Case Studies Education Forum Summaries Employer Networking Groups Health Provider Network Lending Library Preferred Pricing QualityCounts Toolkit Summary Plan Description Workers' Comp Network Workers' Compensation Network Managing workers' compensation provider claim costs Members of The Alliance are eligible to participate in The Alliance workers' compensation network. The Objective is to bring cost savings for workers' compensation health care related claims to Alliance employers. The Benefits The Alliance Healthy People at Work program benefits Alliance employers by: Providing access to The Alliances' comprehensive cost effective network of providers. Preventing cost shifting by providers from medical care to workers' compensation care. Accessing Healthy People at Work As an Alliance employer you are eligible to participate in the program. However, you will need to check with your current workers' compensation carrier or our Member Services staff to see if your carrier will interface with The Alliance. Once this is accomplished, there are only two steps to implementation: Sign an Alliance workers' compensation program agreement and complete an implementation form. Have your workers' compensation carrier submit compensable workers' compensation health claims for repricing to The Alliance. (we will reprice the claims and return them to the workers' compensation carrier for final adjudication) We charge a share of claim savings for this program. You'll need to inform us of where to submit the monthly invoice. "We continue to look for additional costs saving opportunities by utilizing the Alliance resources. The "Healthy People at Work" program seemed to be the next logical step. Our Workers' Compensation insurance carrier did not think that they would logistically be able to utilize the Alliance network. After we were able to work through the details, we have worked out a process and a system for utilizing this program. The savings that we receive are substantially higher than any wrap network our carrier was using. Based on our experience, the move to this program was a "No Brainer". " Tim Wolff Sr. Manager-Benefits The Swiss Colony   Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[17]=new Array("healthclub_discounts.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Health Club and Fitness Center Discounts","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Resources for your Employees Babylove Toolkit Blood Pressure Screening Brown Bag Lunch Sessions Consumer Newsletters Diabetes Toolbox Health and Wellness Brochures Health Club and Fitness Center Discounts Health Risk Assessments Monthly Wellness Planner Open Enrollment and Benefit Fairs Patient Safety Toolkit QualityCounts Report Self-care Guide Books Tobacco Cessation  Health Club and Fitness Center Discounts Your plans for a healthy workforce are shaping up. Medical experts worldwide agree that exercise is one of the keys to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. With The Alliance health club discounts, you can provide the financial incentive employees need to get off the couch and into the gym. The discount is available at all participating health clubs, and requires no paperwork or enrollment on your part. All your employees need to do is show up at the club and present their medical ID card with a logo or claims address. Participating clubs will then offer a discount on new or renewal memberships. Be aware that The Alliance does not endorse one particular club over another. We only coordinate the discount program. You are welcome to suggest new clubs for the discount program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Check out the list of participating health clubs and fitness centers (pdf) that offer a discount on membership! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . You will need Acrobat Reader to view the list of health club and fitness centers offering discounts. This is a free download from Adobe.   Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[18]=new Array("diabetes_toolkit.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Diabetes Toolbox","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Resources for your Employees Babylove Toolkit Blood Pressure Screening Brown Bag Lunch Sessions Consumer Newsletters Diabetes Toolbox Health and Wellness Brochures Health Club and Fitness Center Discounts Health Risk Assessments Monthly Wellness Planner Open Enrollment and Benefit Fairs Patient Safety Toolkit QualityCounts Report Self-care Guide Books Tobacco Cessation  Diabetes Toolbox Communication is the first line of defense against diabetes. The impact of diabetes on our population cannot be overstated. The disease strikes two out of every 25 people. It can result in heart and kidney disease, blindness, amputations and death. And it drains $2.8 billion in health care costs every year. Your most effective tool in the battle against diabetes is communication. This Diabetes Toolbox is filled with information that can heighten employee awareness about a disease that can be prevented. The kit includes: A diabetes overview, which details the cause and burden of the disease. How your employees can be proactive with prevention and detection of diabetes. Educate your employees so they can determine if they are at risk. How to create wellness activities for employees with diabetes. Tools to help employees stay healthy and avoid the disease. View all of the Diabetes Toolbox Resources.  Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[19]=new Array("MWP_home.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Monthly Wellness Planner","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... The Alliance has developed a Monthly Wellness Planner for employers. Each month features health-related topics with national campaigns and promotions that encourage disease prevention, early detection, awareness and education. Employers can use the calendar to promote wellness and reinforce messages their employees might hear from other groups and organizations.       . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Search health and wellness topics by month: January February March April May June July August September -National Glaucoma Awareness Month -National Volunteer Blood Donor Month -Thyroid Awareness Month -Heart Health Month -Your Heart and You -National Colon Cancer Screening Awareness Month -National Nutrition Month -The American Diabetes Alert -Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month -Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month -Alcohol Awareness Month -Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs -Kick Butts Day: April 5th -National Alcohol Screening Day: April 6th -Skin Cancer Awareness Month -May 1st: Melanoma Monday -National High Blood Pressure Education Month -Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month -Lyme Disease -Better Sleep Month -Mental Health Month -Hepatitis Awareness Month -Fibromyalgia Awareness Day: May 12th -National Employee Health and Fitness Day: May 17th -Bike to Work Week: May15th-19th -Men's Health Week: June 12-18 -Vision Health -National Cancer Survivors Day: June 4 -National Headache Awareness Week: June 4-10 -Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy -Focus on Fitness -UV Safety Month -Water Safety -Eye Injury Prevention Month -National Immunization Awareness Month -Adult Immunization Recommended Schedule -Cataract Awareness Month -Psoriasis Awareness Month -World Breastfeeding Week: August 1-7 -National Cholesterol Education Month -Prostate Cancer Awareness Month -National Pain Awareness Month -Healthy Aging Month -Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month -Fruit and Vegetable Month -World Suicide Prevention Day: September 10 -National Breast Cancer Awareness Month -Talk About Prescriptions Month -National Depression Screening Day: October 5 -National Mammography Day: October 20 -National Dental Hygiene Month -Healthy Lung Month -American Diabetes Month -Great American Smokeout: November 16 -Smoking Cessation -It's Flu Season! -TMJ Awareness Month -National Hospice Month -Prematurity Awareness Month -National Hand Washing Awareness Week: December 3-9 -Surviving the Holidays -Tis the Season NOT to Drink and Drive -World AIDS Day October November December View ALL health and wellness topics:  Adult Immunization Schedule AIDS Alcohol Awareness Alcohol Screening American Diabetes Asthma and Allergy Awareness Better Sleep Bike to Work Breast Cancer Awareness Breastfeeding Cancer Survivors Cataract Awareness Cholesterol Education Colon Cancer Screening Dental Hygiene Depression Screening Drinking and Driving Employee Health and Fitness Eye Injury Prevention Fibromyalgia Awareness Focus on Fitness Fruits and Vegetables Glaucoma Awareness Great American Smokeout Hand Washing Awareness Headache Awareness Healthy Aging Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs Healthy Lungs Heart Health Hepatitis Awareness Hospice Immunization Awareness It's Flu Season! Kick Butts Lyme Disease Mammography Day Melanoma Men's Health Mental Health Multiple Sclerosis Education High Blood Pressure Education Nutrition Ovarian Cancer Awareness Pain Awareness Prematurity Awareness Prostate Cancer Awareness Psoriasis Awareness Skin Cancer Awareness Smoking Cessation Surviving the Holidays Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy Talk About Prescriptions The American Diabetes Alert Thyroid Awareness TMJ Awareness UV Safety Vision Health Volunteer Blood Donor Water Safety Workplace Eye Health and Safety World Suicide Prevention Your Heart and You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Make Health Education a Year-Round Event The Monthly Wellness Planner is a terrific way to make health issues a current event for your employees. But when there are some gaps in the calendar, you can continue to make health a hot topic with these web-based and printable resources. Printable Flyers Web-based Resources Featured Month: DECEMBER National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[20]=new Array("December.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Monthly Wellness Planner - December","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Search health and wellness topics by month: January February March April May June July August September -National Glaucoma Awareness Month -National Volunteer Blood Donor Month -Thyroid Awareness Month -Heart Health Month -Your Heart and You -National Colon Cancer Screening Awareness Month -National Nutrition Month -The American Diabetes Alert -Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month -Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month -Alcohol Awareness Month -Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs -Kick Butts Day: April 5th -National Alcohol Screening Day: April 6th -Skin Cancer Awareness Month -May 1st: Melanoma Monday -National High Blood Pressure Education Month -Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month -Lyme Disease -Better Sleep Month -Mental Health Month -Hepatitis Awareness Month -Fibromyalgia Awareness Day: May 12th -National Employee Health and Fitness Day: May 17th -Bike to Work Week: May15th-19th -Men's Health Week: June 12-18 -Vision Health -National Cancer Survivors Day: June 4 -National Headache Awareness Week: June 4-10 -Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy -Focus on Fitness -UV Safety Month -Water Safety -Eye Injury Prevention Month -National Immunization Awareness Month -Adult Immunization Recommended Schedule -Cataract Awareness Month -Psoriasis Awareness Month -World Breastfeeding Week: August 1-7 -National Cholesterol Education Month -Prostate Cancer Awareness Month -National Pain Awareness Month -Healthy Aging Month -Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month -Fruit and Vegetable Month -World Suicide Prevention Day: September 10 -National Breast Cancer Awareness Month -Talk About Prescriptions Month -National Depression Screening Day: October 5 -National Mammography Day: October 20 -National Dental Hygiene Month -Healthy Lung Month -American Diabetes Month -Great American Smokeout: November 16 -Smoking Cessation -It's Flu Season! -TMJ Awareness Month -National Hospice Month -Prematurity Awareness Month -National Hand Washing Awareness Week: December 3-9 -Surviving the Holidays -Tis the Season NOT to Drink and Drive -World AIDS Day October November December View ALL health and wellness topics:  Adult Immunization Schedule AIDS Alcohol Awareness Alcohol Screening American Diabetes Asthma and Allergy Awareness Better Sleep Bike to Work Breast Cancer Awareness Breastfeeding Cancer Survivors Cataract Awareness Cholesterol Education Colon Cancer Screening Dental Hygiene Depression Screening Drinking and Driving Employee Health and Fitness Eye Injury Prevention Fibromyalgia Awareness Focus on Fitness Fruits and Vegetables Glaucoma Awareness Great American Smokeout Hand Washing Awareness Headache Awareness Healthy Aging Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs Healthy Lungs Heart Health Hepatitis Awareness Hospice Immunization Awareness It's Flu Season! Kick Butts Lyme Disease Mammography Day Melanoma Men's Health Mental Health Multiple Sclerosis Education High Blood Pressure Education Nutrition Ovarian Cancer Awareness Pain Awareness Prematurity Awareness Prostate Cancer Awareness Psoriasis Awareness Skin Cancer Awareness Smoking Cessation Surviving the Holidays Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy Talk About Prescriptions The American Diabetes Alert Thyroid Awareness TMJ Awareness UV Safety Vision Health Volunteer Blood Donor Water Safety Workplace Eye Health and Safety World Suicide Prevention Your Heart and You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . December National Hand Washing Awareness Week A special week to ensure we don't wash our hands of a potentially dangerous situation. The heightened awareness of hand-washing is designed to also emphasize how important this is in the event of flu vaccine shortages. Surviving The Holidays These links are filled with information regarding everything from fire prevention techniques to healthy eating and workouts. Also included are tips on how to maintain positive mental health through a potentially stressful time. Holiday Safety Tips from the American Red Cross Christmas Tree Tips from the National Safety Council Holiday Stress and Divorced Families from the National Network for Child Care Coping with Holiday Stress from the American Psychological Association When Family is No Fun from InteliHealth, Inc. Holiday Depression and Stress from Mental Health America Get Ready for the Holidays with WeightWatchers Tips for a Heart-Healthy Holiday Season from the American Heart Association 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk A collection of helpful tips (pdf) on how to prevent someone from driving drunk. World AIDS Day This special day is dedicated to raising global awareness of the perils of AIDS. A number of websites can be found loaded with information regarding HIV/AIDS with articles, prevention tactics, and the latest regarding the battle against AIDS. AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin - www.arcw.org The AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin provides "aggressive HIV education and prevention; access to comprehensive services for people affected by HIV disease; clinical research on HIV treatment and HIV advocacy through nine offices statewide." Daily News Summary from the CDC National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention - www.cdcnpin.org/news/prevnews.htm This Web site provides a daily summary of HIV/AIDS related articles from peer-reviewed journals and major news services. AEGIS (AIDS Education Global Information System) - www.aegis.com AEGIS provides an extensive database of HIV/AIDS related information that is searchable. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Prevention Information Network - www.cdcnpin.org This site offers a variety of HIV/AIDS prevention information, including daily HIV/AIDS news updates, a database of HIV/AIDS funding opportunities, and an extensive listing of HIV/AIDS educational materials.  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[21]=new Array("babylove.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Babylove Toolkit","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Resources for your Employees Babylove Toolkit Blood Pressure Screening Brown Bag Lunch Sessions Consumer Newsletters Diabetes Toolbox Health and Wellness Brochures Health Club and Fitness Center Discounts Health Risk Assessments Monthly Wellness Planner Open Enrollment and Benefit Fairs Patient Safety Toolkit QualityCounts Report Self-care Guide Books Tobacco Cessation  Babylove Toolkit The first steps toward a successful pregnancy start here. Having a child is a miraculous event. It's also a great responsibility. Encouraging your employees, and their dependents, to be proactive with prenatal and pregnancy care is essential for a healthy, happy baby—and mom. At no cost, your employees can access our confidential services. By contacting our BabyLove education service, expectant moms will receive a free and confidential health risk screening. A registered nurse will determine if the baby and/or mom are at high risk and provide helpful referrals and practical tips. Your employees will also receive numerous resources on pregnancy and parenting. As a special bonus for contacting BabyLove, we'll provide an essential reference book: What to Expect When You're Expecting What to Expect – The First Year, or What to Expect – The Toddler Years     To promote BabyLove at your worksite: Download a BabyLove flyer ( pdf), or Request a BabyLove poster by contacting: Member Services phone: 608.276.6620 direct: 608.210.6634 toll free: 800.223.4139   Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[22]=new Array("bloodpressure_screening.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Blood Pressure Screening","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Resources for your Employees Babylove Toolkit Blood Pressure Screening Brown Bag Lunch Sessions Consumer Newsletters Diabetes Toolbox Health and Wellness Brochures Health Club and Fitness Center Discounts Health Risk Assessments Monthly Wellness Planner Open Enrollment and Benefit Fairs Patient Safety Toolkit QualityCounts Report Self-care Guide Books Tobacco Cessation  Blood Pressure Screening On-site visits keep your employees on top of their condition. Part of keeping your employees aware of their health care is making sure they know their own personal health conditions. Our complimentary on-site blood pressure screening is a simple, quick way for employees to keep track of one of the body's most important indicators. By coming on-site, you can make this simple, painless test a part of an employee's regular workday. It's a great way to detect potential problems before they occur. And by establishing it as part of an employee's regular routine, it can make preventive health care less intimidating. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To schedule a blood pressure screening at your work place, please contact: Member Services phone: 608.276.6620 direct: 608.210.6634 toll free: 800.223.4139  Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[23]=new Array("brownbag_lunch.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Brown Bag Lunch Sessions","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Resources for your Employees Babylove Toolkit Blood Pressure Screening Brown Bag Lunch Sessions Consumer Newsletters Diabetes Toolbox Health and Wellness Brochures Health Club and Fitness Center Discounts Health Risk Assessments Monthly Wellness Planner Open Enrollment and Benefit Fairs Patient Safety Toolkit QualityCounts Report Self-care Guide Books Tobacco Cessation  Brown Bag Lunch Sessions They bring the lunch, we bring the latest in health care. The easiest way to raise awareness on health care issues is to make it convenient for your employees. The Brown Bag Lunch series from The Alliance couldn't be easier. Your employees bring their lunch, and we bring brief, informative presentations. It's a painless – and tasty – way to get up-to-speed on health care developments. Our two current Brown Bag Lunch Presentations include: QualityCounts™ We'll review and orient your employees to our report on hospital care and discuss our latest QualityCounts report to build employee awareness about variations in hospital costs, quality and safety. Our aim is to encourage them to be active and informed health care consumers. Wise Healthcare Consumer You can't just be a smart patient in today's health care world – you also need to be a savvy consumer. This presentation touches on important ways your employees can get the most bang for their bucks – including saving money on prescription medications, understanding their bills, and making the most of every doctor visit. Take an advanced peek at the powerpoint presentation and booklet (pdf) on "How to Be a Wise Healthcare Consumer". Each presentation provides plenty of opportunity for Q & A and discussion with your employees. To schedule a presentation at your work place, please contact: Member Services phone: 608.276.6620 direct: 608.210.6634 toll free: 800.223.4139 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . You will need Acrobat Reader to view "How to Be a Wise Healthcare Consumer". This is a free download from Adobe.    Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[24]=new Array("consumer_newsletters.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Consumer Newsletters","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Resources for your Employees Babylove Toolkit Blood Pressure Screening Brown Bag Lunch Sessions Consumer Newsletters Diabetes Toolbox Health and Wellness Brochures Health Club and Fitness Center Discounts Health Risk Assessments Monthly Wellness Planner Open Enrollment and Benefit Fairs Patient Safety Toolkit QualityCounts Report Self-care Guide Books Tobacco Cessation  Consumer Newsletters Let them 'read all about it' with QualityCounts for Employees Your communications department may not  have the time or the resources to create in-depth information on health care. Let The Alliance do it for you. Our employee newsletter, QualityCounts for Employees, provides you with timely articles including details on our latest programs, great health tips, and new developments in the industry. Make it a must-read for your staff. 2006 ISSUES .......................... October September July/August .......................... view ARCHIVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . You will need Acrobat Reader to view the QualityCounts for Employees newsletter. This is a free download from Adobe.  Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[25]=new Array("brochures.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Health and Wellness Brochures","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Resources for your Employees Babylove Toolkit Blood Pressure Screening Brown Bag Lunch Sessions Consumer Newsletters Diabetes Toolbox Health and Wellness Brochures Health Club and Fitness Center Discounts Health Risk Assessments Monthly Wellness Planner Open Enrollment and Benefit Fairs Patient Safety Toolkit QualityCounts Report Self-care Guide Books Tobacco Cessation  Health and Wellness Brochures In-depth information to keep employees in the know. A little knowledge can go a long way to containing health care costs. In this case, however, The Alliance can provide you with a lot of knowledge. We have an ever-expanding library of Health and Wellness brochures, each containing plenty of background on health issues that matter most to your employees. Our brochures cover such topics as: Allergies Common colds Hepatitis High blood pressure Diabetes Migraines Osteoporosis Medication Obesity These complimentary brochures can be ordered by contacting: Member Services phone: 608.276.6620 direct: 608.210.6634 toll free: 800.223.4139  Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[26]=new Array("HRAs.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Health Risk Assessments","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Resources for your Employees Babylove Toolkit Blood Pressure Screening Brown Bag Lunch Sessions Consumer Newsletters Diabetes Toolbox Health and Wellness Brochures Health Club and Fitness Center Discounts Health Risk Assessments Monthly Wellness Planner Open Enrollment and Benefit Fairs Patient Safety Toolkit QualityCounts Report Self-care Guide Books Tobacco Cessation  Health Risk Assessments  Coming Soon.  Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[27]=new Array("open_enrollment.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Open Enrollment and Benefit Fairs","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Resources for your Employees Babylove Toolkit Blood Pressure Screening Brown Bag Lunch Sessions Consumer Newsletters Diabetes Toolbox Health and Wellness Brochures Health Club and Fitness Center Discounts Health Risk Assessments Monthly Wellness Planner Open Enrollment and Benefit Fairs Patient Safety Toolkit QualityCounts Report Self-care Guide Books Tobacco Cessation  Open Enrollment and Benefit Fairs Open enrollment rolls around quickly each year. We realize this can be an incredibly busy time for you—and we're here to help! We have a lot of complimentary resources that you can share with your employees, including information on our prenatal health education program; health care consumerism, patient safety and diabetes toolkits; and brochures on more than a dozen health topics. To see a complete list of the resources and/or to request a sample packet of our health brochures, please review the Programs for Your Health order form (pdf). If your organization offers more than one health plan, say for example a self-funded and a fully-insured plan, we can also provide Open Enrollment Kits for you to use with your employees. The kits can help your employees better understand The Alliance, learn about important health care quality and cost information, and help them choose the plan that is best for their family. We'd also be happy to attend your benefit/health fair. We can talk with your employees about The Alliance, the importance of health and wellness, and how to be a wise health care consumer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To request the Open Enrollment Kits or discuss an upcoming benefit/health fair, please contact: Member Services phone: 608.276.6620 direct: 608.210.6634 toll free: 800.223.4139   Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[28]=new Array("patient_safety_toolkit.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Patient Safety Toolkit","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Resources for your Employees Babylove Toolkit Blood Pressure Screening Brown Bag Lunch Sessions Consumer Newsletters Diabetes Toolbox Health and Wellness Brochures Health Club and Fitness Center Discounts Health Risk Assessments Monthly Wellness Planner Open Enrollment and Benefit Fairs Patient Safety Toolkit QualityCounts Report Self-care Guide Books Tobacco Cessation  Patient Safety Toolkit Your link to a safer healthcare experience. For a medical patient and their families, safe care is critical. To provide you with easy access to invaluable safety information, the Patient Safety Toolkit was developed with the following community partners: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations Madison Patient Safety Collaborative State Bar of Wisconsin UW Health It's loaded with links to patient safety resources – vital information that can heighten your employees awareness on a variety of issues such as: Getting Safer Health Care Managing your Medication Preparing for your Hospital Visit Going Home from the Hospital View all of the Patient Safety Resources.  Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[29]=new Array("selfcare_guidebooks.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Self-care Guidebooks","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Resources for your Employees Babylove Toolkit Blood Pressure Screening Brown Bag Lunch Sessions Consumer Newsletters Diabetes Toolbox Health and Wellness Brochures Health Club and Fitness Center Discounts Health Risk Assessments Monthly Wellness Planner Open Enrollment and Benefit Fairs Patient Safety Toolkit QualityCounts Report Self-care Guide Books Tobacco Cessation  Self-care Guidebooks A guidebook a day can keep those doctor visits away. If your health care program is ailing because of spiraling costs, consider one prominent expense: unnecessary doctor visits. How many trips to the doctor could have been eliminated if your employees had just a little better understanding of what was ailing them? Provide them with one of two self-care guidebooks that have been proven to reduce unnecessary doctor visits. The books – offered to members at a discounted rate - provide quick, easy-to-understand information on a wide variety of medical symptoms. They guide the user into understanding if a medical visit is necessary or if self-treatement is appropriate, and what that self-treatment is. Take Care of Yourself. Includes information on over 175 health care problems. Also details how your home medicine chest should be stocked, and clear-cut explanations on how to navigate through the health-care system. This book is also available in Spanish, call "Cuidate".  Taking Care. Insight on over 100 common symptoms, as well as in-depth information on 22 long-term conditions. Also includes information on leading a healthy lifestyle, working with doctors, workplace health, and forms to record important health information  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hope Health Publications Another great resource is Hope Health Publications, a health-based communications company specializing in producing information distributed at workplaces. They offer a wide variety of lifestyle-related information in various formats including newsletters, brochures, booklets, posters, calendars, and electronic media. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Download a pricing sheet (pdf) for these products or contact: Member Services phone: 608.276.6620 direct: 608.210.6634 toll free: 800.223.4139   Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[30]=new Array("smoking_cessation.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Smoking Cessation","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Resources for your Employees Babylove Toolkit Blood Pressure Screening Brown Bag Lunch Sessions Consumer Newsletters Diabetes Toolbox Health and Wellness Brochures Health Club and Fitness Center Discounts Health Risk Assessments Monthly Wellness Planner Open Enrollment and Benefit Fairs Patient Safety Toolkit QualityCounts Report Self-care Guide Books Tobacco Cessation  Tobacco Cessation Help your employees breathe easier with cessation resources. The destructive effects of tobacco can be devastating to an organization. In the workplace, it causes employee absenteeism, reduces productivity, and spikes your healthcare costs. For both employers and employees, making a concerted effort to reduce tobacco usage can have a tremendous positive impact.  Check out the tobacco cessation resources from these organizations: The Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention. One of the strongest sources of local cessation support, the Center provides numerous aids for people trying to kick the habit, including: The Wisconsin Quit Line. Because people who rely on a telephone counseling service are 3 to 4 times more likely to stop smoking, this free telephone counseling service generates impressive results. It's a place to turn when the craving becomes overwhelming. The program has two components: The Fax to Quit program: Includes a workplace-based tobacco discussion and the subsequent phone line counseling service. Quit Line printed materials: These include brochures, bookmarks and business cards available in multi-lingual formats, including English, Spanish and Hmong. To order, use the Quit Line Material Order Form (pdf). World Health Organization. Known for its sponsorship of the annual " World No Tobacco Day", this organization is eager to share materials you can use to help smokers young and old participate in a potentially life-saving day. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC is recognized as one of the top resources for educational printed materials on smoking cessation. Printed in English and Spanish, notable guides include: Making Your Workplace Smoke-free: A Decision Maker's Guide. Have you set your sights on a smoke-free workplace? This guide is loaded with practical, proven strategies for clearing the air in your workplace. Coverage for Tobacco Use Cessation Treatments. A business perspective of the positive impacts of tobacco cessation, this resource highlights the health coverages available to employees – including over-the-counter medications and other programs.  Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[31]=new Array("AllianceNews2006/November2006.htm","Alliance News November 2006","","The Alliance News November 2006 The Alliance Refreshes QualityCounts™ Report Coming Soon Exclusively for Members Preferred Rate on Worksite-based Flu Shots Kudos to Wendy Collins Teri Schacker Joins The Alliance WHIO Hires New Executive Director QualityCounts for Employees Alliance Provider Update News You Can Use About Alliance News The Alliance Refreshes QualityCounts™ Report With the release of our QualityCounts™ report this spring, we noted that the report would be refreshed and released again this autumn. The Autumn 2006 report is ready for you to share with your employees and is now available on the password protected portion of our QualityCounts™ Web site. The new report contains more recent data on overall patient care, cardiac care, and birthing care. It also includes performance results for three additional hospitals: Aspirus Wausau Hospital, Memorial Hospital at Oconomowoc, and Waukesha Memorial Hospital, Inc. The QualityCounts Toolkit has been updated as well and will be available through the soon-to-be-released Employer Resource Center. The Toolkit contains valuable resources that you can use to help your employees learn the new report and build employee awareness about variations in hospital costs, quality, and safety. Members of The Alliance staff can also help educate your employees about the new report and how to make more informed health care decisions. Let us know how we can be of assistance; please contact Cindy Schlough, 608.210.6622. Back to Top Coming Soon Exclusively for Members We're putting the finishing touches on the Employer Resource Center, our new members-only section of the Web site that will provide you with important information for managing your health care costs. You will receive a letter in the next few weeks with more details on the Employer Resource Center, including instructions on how to access the site. Back to Top Preferred Rate on Worksite-based Flu Shots Good news!! We've secured preferred pricing on flu shots for your employees. Home Health United/Visiting Nurse Services (HHU/VNS) is offering Alliance member companies a preferred rate of $23 per flu shot; the retail price is $28. There is an additional administration fee of $50 for fewer than 15 flu shots and $25 for 15-30 shots. There is no administration fee if you order more than 30 shots. To schedule your flu shots, please contact Pat or Lindsey at HHU/VNS. Pat, 608.276.7583 Lindsey, 608.276.7584 Please let Pat or Lindsey know that you are an Alliance member and ask for the preferred rate. HHU/VNS will bill you directly. Back to Top Kudos to Wendy Collins Wendy Collins has been promoted to executive assistant/office manager. Wendy has been a member of our administration team for 15 years. She has assumed primary responsibility for managing key vendor relationships and administering organization-wide projects in addition to her executive assistant role. Please join us in congratulating Wendy on her promotion, 608.210.6632. Back to Top Teri Schacker Joins The Alliance We are pleased to welcome Teri Schacker as our new Director of Marketing and Communications. Teri joined The Alliance in October and is responsible for product management, brand development, market research, and communications. Teri brings substantial experience in strategic marketing, having previously worked with the Credit Union Executives Society (CUES). Please join us in welcoming Teri to The Alliance, 608.210.6633. Back to Top WHIO Hires New Executive Director In the February 2006 and April 2006 issues of the newsletter, we introduced you to the Wisconsin Health Information Organization (WHIO)—an independent and innovative non-profit organization that The Alliance helped create to improve the affordability, quality, efficiency, and safety of health care. WHIO recently choose Julie Bartels to serve as its Executive Director. Bartels brings over 20 years of extensive experience in health insurance. She previously held executive leadership positions at Employers Health Insurance (now Humana) and American Medical Security (now UnitedHealthCare). WHIO also issued the final Request for Proposal (RFP) to select a vendor to develop its statewide health care data warehouse and will award the contract by the end of this year. The data repository will be used by key stakeholders to support value-based purchasing and make health care improvements in Wisconsin. Back to Top QualityCounts for Employees The Alliance encourages employers to distribute the QualityCounts for Employees information piece to their employees. • Caring for the Caregiver • Don't Let Diabetes Destroy Your Life...Make the Link Back to Top Alliance Provider Update The Alliance encourages employers to distribute the Provider Update listing to their employees. Back to Top News You Can Use The Alliance highlights health care and benefit management news for employers in News You Can Use with a link to take you to the original story or report. • Strategies that Impact Your Bottom Line • U.S. Lags in Health Care IT • Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Guide • Eat Better, Live Better and Get a Bonus Back to Top About Alliance News Each month, Alliance News delivers the latest news about Alliance services, programs, and events as well as information on health benefit trends, issues, and ideas. Subscriptions are available on a complimentary basis for Alliance employer members. To subscribe, please send an e-mail message with your name, title, and organization to the Sales and Member Services Department. Reader comments, suggestions, and topics are always welcome. Cindy Schlough, Editor Melanie Cannon, Designer Mary Borland, Director of Sales and Member Services");sQ1[32]=new Array("AllianceNews2006/October2006.htm","Alliance News October 2006","","The Alliance News October 2006 Alliance Board of Directors Coming Soon: Employer Resource Center On-Site Blood Pressure Screenings Keep Employees Well and Health Care Costs Go Down New Online Provider Directory Coming in 2007! QualityCounts for Employees Alliance Provider Update News You Can Use About Alliance News Alliance Board of Directors We recently held our annual meeting, which included electing the 2007 Board of Directors. We’re pleased to share the results of the Board election. (Newly elected members appear with an asterisk.) We’d also like to recognize the individuals for their exceptional leadership, service, and support of The Alliance. Blackhawk Community Credit Union, Stewart Ramsey, President/CEO* Fiskars Garden and Outdoor Living, Rich Walker, Vice President of Human Resources HUFCOR Inc., Pat Whitmore, Vice President of Human Resources* Park Bank, Laurie Kelly, Compensation and Benefit Analyst Seats, Inc., Jerry Ward, Vice President of Operations The Alliance, Cheryl DeMars, CEO The Swiss Colony, Tim Wolff, Senior Manager of Human Resources/Benefits Trek Bicycle Corporation, Mark Joslyn, Director of Human Resources* United Industries, Inc., Becky Chewning, Chief Financial Officer Winterthur North America, Jennifer Tratnyek, Organizational Strategy Analyst Wisconsin Auto & Truck Dealers Association, Lee Bauman, Vice President of Insurance and Finance Zimbrick, Inc., Vikki Brueggeman, Director of Human Resources* Back to Top Coming Soon: Employer Resource Center A talented project team has been working over the last year to develop a hands-on, Web-based resource to help you quickly and easily access relevant information for your organization. The Employer Resource Center will provide a one-stop shop for tools, employee education materials, and reports on demand. You’ll be able to tap into a wealth of resources that can be a driving force in managing your health care costs. Watch for additional information on the Employer Resource Center in the next few weeks. Back to Top On-Site Blood Pressure Screenings We make it easy for you to help your employees detect serious health issues through our complimentary blood pressure screenings. As an Alliance member, you can schedule free screenings twice each year for your employees. You just need to contact Michele Gjertson, 608.210.6607 or Mary Borland , 608.210.6640. We'll ask a few questions to determine how best to conduct the screening at your workplace and then we'll take care of all the other arrangements...it's that easy! We encourage you to take advantage of this valuable member benefit. The blood pressure screenings can help identify individuals who might not know they have a significant health problem. You can help them before it gets worse or before it's too late. Back to Top Keep Employees Well and Health Care Costs Go Down As health care costs continue to increase, many employers are encouraging their employees to focus on disease prevention and healthy habits. Healthy habits, such as exercising on a regular basis, can go a long way toward improving employee health and reducing medical expenses. Your employees have access to more than 25 area health club and fitness centers—at a discount. Your Alliance enrollees are automatically eligible for the discounts. No sign-up or approval process is required. To help you share this exciting information with your employees, we've created a single-page Health Club and Fitness Center Savings flyer to display on a bulletin board or include as a payroll insert. The flyer describes the discounts and explains how to access the most current list of participating health and fitness facilities. If there is a specific health club or fitness center that you'd like us to encourage to participate in the savings program, please contact Mary Borland, 608.210.6640. Back to Top New Online Provider Directory Coming in 2007! Beginning in January 2007, The Alliance Online Provider Directory will have a brand-new look and feel. Among the changes will be the ability for your employees to select a practitioner by medical condition, such as diabetes or asthma; create and print maps of the provider's location, including driving directions; and save search results for future use. It will also allow for the future inclusion of QualityCounts™ data. Stay tuned for more information in the New Year. Back to Top QualityCounts for Employees The Alliance encourages employers to distribute the QualityCounts for Employees information piece to their employees. • Make the Most of Your Health Insurance Back to Top Alliance Provider Update The Alliance encourages employers to distribute the Provider Update listing to their employees. Back to Top News You Can Use The Alliance highlights health care and benefit management news for employers in News You Can Use with a link to take you to the original story or report. • Take the Challenge! • Worksite Wellness Resource Kit • Helping Medicare Beneficiaries Make the Most of Their Benefits • Heath Care Premiums Outpace Wage Growth Back to Top About Alliance News Each month, Alliance News delivers the latest news about Alliance services, programs, and events as well as information on health benefit trends, issues, and ideas. Subscriptions are available on a complimentary basis for Alliance employer members. To subscribe, please send an e-mail message with your name, title, and organization to the Sales and Member Services Department. Reader comments, suggestions, and topics are always welcome. Cindy Schlough, Editor Melanie Cannon, Designer Mary Borland, Director of Sales and Member Services");sQ1[33]=new Array("AllianceNews2006/September2006.htm","Alliance News September 2006","","The Alliance News September 2006 Online Payments Save Time Resources Available for Open Enrollment and Benefit Fairs BabyLove Pregnancy Resource Hess Memorial Hospital and Mile Bluff Join The Alliance Watch Your Mailbox: Annual Meeting Invitation WisconsinRx Announces More Aggressive Pricing QualityCounts for Employees Alliance Provider Update News You Can Use About Alliance News Online Payments Save Time Making payments online is a growing trend that saves time and reduces paperwork. Electronic payment systems simplify administrative processes and automate routine payments. You can make electronic payments to The Alliance—thanks to the Automated Clearing House (ACH) payment system. The ACH is a reliable and efficient nationwide electronic fund transfer system, and was designed to eliminate the use of paper checks. Signing up is easy! We can send you an ACH authorization agreement that lists our account and routing numbers. You can use the agreement to arrange the electronic transfer with your bank or ACH vendor. The Alliance does not charge a fee for electronic payments, but you’ll want to ask if your bank or ACH vendor charges for this service. They typically do not; however, you’ll want to ask just to be safe. Once you sign up, you’ll continue to receive your monthly invoices which you can use for paying monthly access and retainage fees as well as purchasing self-care guide books. If you’d like to request an ACH authorization agreement, please contact Sunshine Mikulak, 608.210.6634. Back to Top Resources Available for Open Enrollment and Benefit Fairs It's that time of year again: open enrollment. We realize this can be an incredibly busy time for you—and we're here to help! We have a lot of complimentary resources that you can share with your employees, including information on our prenatal health education program; health care consumerism, patient safety and diabetes toolkits; and brochures on more than a dozen health topics. To see a complete list of the resources and/or to request a sample packet of the health brochures, please review the Programs for Your Health order form. If your organization offers more than one health plan, say for example a self-funded and a fully-insured plan, we can also provide Open Enrollment Kits for you to use with your employees. The kits can help your employees better understand The Alliance, learn about important health care quality and cost information, and help them choose the plan that is best for their family. We’d also be happy to attend your benefit fair. We can talk with your employees about The Alliance, the importance of health and wellness, and how to be a wise health care consumer. To request the Open Enrollment Kits or discuss an upcoming benefit fair, please contact Sunshine Mikulak, 608.210.6634. Back to Top BabyLove Pregnancy Resource Good prenatal care is important for a smooth delivery and a healthy baby. Costs associated with complicated births can be significant. Prenatal programs that educate your employees and assess their risks can save considerable money. As part of your membership, Alliance enrollees and their dependents have access to a free and confidential prenatal health education program: BabyLove. BabyLove is staffed by registered nurses and includes a private health risk screening, information on prenatal self-care, and a popular pregnancy or baby care book. Posters are available to help you promote BabyLove at your worksite; you can request the BabyLove posters by contacting Sunshine Mikulak, 608.210.6634. Back to Top Hess Memorial Hospital and Mile Bluff Join The Alliance We recently signed agreements with Hess Memorial Hospital and the Mile Bluff Medical Center. Based in Mauston, Wisconsin the group also has clinic locations in Elroy, Necedah, New Lisbon, and Wisconsin Dells. The Hess Memorial and Mile Bluff agreements are effective September 1, 2006. We are in the process of updating our on-line Provider Directory. In the meantime, please visit the Hess Memorial/Mile Bluff Web site for additional information. If there are additional health care organizations or providers that you’d like our Provider Relations and Health Information team to pursue, please contact our Sales and Member Services department or complete the Provider Nomination form. Back to Top Watch Your Mailbox: Annual Meeting Invitation We'll hold our Annual Meeting in Madison at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center from 7:45 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday, October 4. The Annual Meeting promises to be interesting, informative, and fun! You’ll hear a report from the Board of Directors, elect the 2007 Board, and learn how The Alliance is working and growing to better meet your needs.The invitation should arrive in your mailbox within the next week. We encourage you to join us as we celebrate our 16th year of success and explore the future. If you’d like to register now or have someone added to the invitation list, please contact Sunshine Mikulak, 608.210.6634. Back to Top WisconsinRx Announces More Aggressive Pricing WisconsinRx provides industry-leading prescription benefit services and capabilities, coupled with member control that ultimately allows employers to manage and monitor the fastest-rising component of health care costs: prescription drugs. "WisconsinRx has recently negotiated even more aggressive pricing and terms with our pharmacy benefit management partner: Caremark", said Mary Borland, WisconsinRx Board Chair and Director of Sales and Member Services for The Alliance. "WisconsinRx growth has afforded us the chance to offer better terms to all members even though we were in the middle of a 3 year contract." WisconsinRx's new pricing package includes two clinical service programs. The iBenefit™ Report is a consumer directed, personalized pharmacy benefit report that drives generic utilization and appropriate mail order. The Client Participant Safety and Quality Management Program curbs the misuse and overuse of controlled substances. These innovative programs are provided at no additional cost. WisconsinRx has also expanded its business opportunities across the country and developed a new name for business outside of Wisconsin: National CooperativeRx, which offers the same purchasing clout and services nationwide. Founded in 2003, WisconsinRx currently represent nearly 200,000 members through over 500 different plan sponsors. A recent audit demonstrated actual savings of 12% - 30% of total drug spend, a doubling of rebates, substantial reduction in fixed costs (including dispensing fees), and increased use of generics. For more information about WisconsinRx, contact Deb Thomsen, Greg Horstman or call WisconsinRx at 866.679.9479. Back to Top QualityCounts for Employees The Alliance encourages employers to distribute the QualityCounts for Employees information piece to their employees. • Living With Asthma • BabyLove Pregnancy Resource Back to Top Alliance Provider Update The Alliance encourages employers to distribute the Provider Update listing to their employees. Back to Top News You Can Use The Alliance highlights health care and benefit management news for employers in News You Can Use with a link to take you to the original story or report. • Obesity Epidemic Getting Worse • Patients May Be Last to Know About Medical Errors • Executive Order Promotes Health Care Quality and Efficiency Back to Top About Alliance News Each month, Alliance News delivers the latest news about Alliance services, programs, and events as well as information on health benefit trends, issues, and ideas. Subscriptions are available on a complimentary basis for Alliance employer members. To subscribe, please send an e-mail message with your name, title, and organization to the Sales and Member Services Department. Reader comments, suggestions, and topics are always welcome. Cindy Schlough, Editor Melanie Cannon, Designer Mary Borland, Director of Sales and Member Services");sQ1[34]=new Array("newsletters_archives.htm","The Alliance ERC ::  The Alliance Newsletter archives","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Employer Tools Alliance Newsletter Case Studies Education Forum Summaries Employer Networking Groups Health Provider Network Lending Library Preferred Pricing QualityCounts Toolkit Summary Plan Description Workers' Comp Network The Alliance Newsletter (archives) return to current newsletters 2006 ISSUE ARCHIVES July/August June May April March February .......................... 2005 ISSUE ARCHIVES December/January November October September August July June May April March February .......................... 2004 ISSUE ARCHIVES December/January November October September August July June May April March January/February  Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day   ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[35]=new Array("network_composition.htm","The Alliance ERC ::  Provider Network Composition","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Employer Tools Alliance Newsletter Case Studies Education Forum Summaries Employer Networking Groups Health Provider Network Lending Library Preferred Pricing QualityCounts Toolkit Summary Plan Description Workers' Comp Network Health Provider Network return to Health Provider Network The Alliance Employer and Provider Network Composition (As of August 1, 2006) Alliance Employers  Covered Lives (Employees and Dependents) 69,342 Large to Mid-Size Employers 143 Provider Network Composition  Provider sites 2,376 Medical Doctors (MDs) 4,145 All Professional Service Providers 5,945 Hospitals 39 Medical clinics 1,649 clinic sites Chiropractic clinics 323 clinic sites Mental health clinics 305 clinic sites Home care agencies 95 provider sites Primary service area counties: Adams Jefferson Columbia Lafayette Dane Richland Dodge Rock Grant Sauk Green Walworth Iowa  Plus a strong presence in Waukesha, WI and in Dubuque, Iowa. Please consult The Alliance Participating Provider Directory or our Web site at www.the-alliance.org for more information on the providers available.  Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[36]=new Array("pdfs/AllianceLendingLibrary.pdf","AllianceLendingLibrary.pdf","","Lending Library for Employers As part of our effort to support the interests of employer members, The Alliance is developing a lending library so employers can have easy access to important health and wellness resources. Alliance employer members may borrow the materials (books, planning guides, videos, DVDs, CDROMs, etc.) at no cost. If you'd like to borrow an item and/or suggest a topic or resource, please contact Sunshine Mikulak at The Alliance (608.210.6634 smikula k@allia ncehea lthcoop.com). Please note the lending library is under development and items will be added in the future updated listings will be posted at [http:// www.the-alliance.org/ReportsResources/AllianceLendingLibrary.pdf]. Absolute Advantage: The Workplace Wellness Magazine Designing Wellness Incentives, Part 1 of 2 Part Series Incentives are about getting people to do things they would not generally other wise do. Like it or not, people frequently don't do what will help them stay hea lthy and live longer. Changing this situation is what this issue is all about. Designing Wellness Incentives, Part 2 of 2 Part Series In this issue, you find more infor mation on how to structure and implement proactive incentive ca mpaigns that will significantly incr ease participation rates in wellness progra ms. Benefit Manager Outreach Packet includes relationshipbuilding tools to adva nce employee access to bariatric care including infor mation from the employers' perspective on treating obesity. Beyond Cost Containment to Health and Productivity: A Shift in Employers' Healthcare Focus The latest research results by the Integrated Benefits Institute, reflecting responses from 620 employers. The results show that employers' long ter m approach to the business value of health is not related to their shortterm strategies for dealing with the rising costs of healthcare. Diabetes at Work A 90minute video recording of an Alliance sponsored meeting on the effect of diabetes and strategies employers can use to reduce its impact. Examines how diabetes and other chronic diseases can impact productivity and the bott om line, showcases a free Webbased resource kit (http://www. diabetesatwork. org/), and offers an inside look at successful worksite wellness strategies implemented at Lands' End. Diabetes Prevention and Control: A Guide for Hispanic Americans This video features Congr essman Joe Baca, actress Liz Torres and actor Edward James Olmos, who have personal experience with diabetes. It is filled with helpful infor mation and advice from diabetes experts such as Jorge Mestman, MD and Carlos Isales, MD, including what puts you at risk for diabetes, preventing diabetes, and mor e. Mail Address: PO Box 44365, Madison, WI 537444365 Street Address: 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 | Fax: 608.276.6626 www.the-alliance.org The Economic Return from Worksite Wellness A threepart CDROM designed to help employers understand and assess the return on investment from worksite wellness programs. Includes PowerPoint presentations and 90minute audio recordings of Larry Chapma n, Chairman/CoFounder of Summex Corporation. · The Strength of Current ROI Evidence exa mines the challenge of showing the economic potentia l of workplace wellness programs, reviews literature on return on investment, and outlines an approach for creating the business case for senior management. · Methods for Deter mining Economic Return and ROI of Your Program provides an introduction to return on investment concepts, presents eight major methods for deter mining return on investment, and identifies the data requir ed for each ROI method. · Methods for Enhancing the ROI of Your Wellness Program explores hea lth cost drivers and presents a wea lth of program strategies, health benefit plan linkage options, and complementary health cost ma nagement interventions to incr ease the economic return associated with wellness programs. FitForums for Employers A comprehensive stepbystep guide designed to help employers plan and conduct a health and wellness fair. Includes detailed checklists and timelines with recommended scr eenings, demonstrations and activities a CDROM with easy to customize promotional templates and administrative tools and hea lth education materials on arthritis, cardiovascular health, diabetes, mental health, and general wellness. Making Your Workplace Smoke free: A Decision Maker's Guide A fantastic resource for employers interested in creating a smoke free work environment. It was developed in conjunction with the Wellness Councils of Amer ica (WELCOA) and the Amer ican Cancer Society. The guide serves as a how to stepbystep resource, and offers practical, proven and effective strategies for implementing successful policies in a variety of work settings. Managing Stress: A Practical Handbook to Program Planning , 50 Great Ideas for Working Well Part of a new series of books introduced by The Wellness Councils of America (WELCOA). Each book focuses on a specific health concern and provides 50 tips on how to implement programs on each topic. It also provides you with a checklist to rate your program's perfor ma nce. This interactive tool will help you take these ideas and translate them into reality. Medicare Connections: Resources on Medicare Part D and the Family Because the Medicare drug benefit is now available, the Medicare Connections program has been designed to encourage your current plan members to help their friends and older fa mily members to consider the benefits of enrolling in the Medicare drug benefit, understand it better, and decide which plan to join. This kit contains ever ything you need, including how to facilitate the program and articles for your company newslett ers. Proof Positive A book that evaluates 42 health promotion case studies and helps employers understand the best return on investment for wor ksite wellness programs. It describes what type of populations wer e involved in the health promotion, what measurement methods wer e used, and what type of statistical analysis wer e applied--a nd helps employers understand the return on investment for wellness and health promotion programs. Understanding Weight Loss Surgery As more morbidly obese patients seek bariatric surgery, the role of primary care physicians has increased to include identifying possible surgical candidates, screening patients, and providing longter m followup care. Use this infor mation to educate yourself and others about the severity of this disease and bariatric surger y as appropriate treatment. Mail Address: PO Box 44365, Madison, WI 537444365 Street Address: 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 | Fax: 608.276.6626 www.the-alliance.org Wellness Program Management Yearbook, 3rd Edition Use this yearbook to get benchmark infor mation, realworld statistics, comparative infor mation, and new program ideas. Get practical advice based on best practices of your peers for ma naging your program and see what's working elsewher e. This material has been organized into eight subject categor y chapters, including: · Trends in Worksite Wellness and Health Promotion · Goals and Responsibilities of Worksite Wellness Management Professionals · Managing Wor kplace Wellness and Health Promotion Programs · Wellness Program Management Strategies · Focus on Wor kplace Identified Diseases and Injuries · Motivating and Incentivizing Employees to Participate in Workplace Wellness Programs · Making the Case: How Documenting Wellness Program Results Can Prove Value to Senior Management · Management and Program Infor mation Resources for Workplace Wellness Management Mail Address: PO Box 44365, Madison, WI 537444365 Street Address: 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 | Fax: 608.276.6626 www.the-alliance.org");sQ1[37]=new Array("|mms@the-alliance.org","|mms@the-alliance.org","","Lending Library for Employers As part of our effort to support the interests of employer members, The Alliance is developing a lending library so employers can have easy access to important health and wellness resources. Alliance employer members may borrow the materials (books, planning guides, videos, DVDs, CDROMs, etc.) at no cost. If you'd like to borrow an item and/or suggest a topic or resource, please contact Sunshine Mikulak at The Alliance (608.210.6634 smikula k@allia ncehea lthcoop.com). Please note the lending library is under development and items will be added in the future updated listings will be posted at [http:// www.the-alliance.org/ReportsResources/AllianceLendingLibrary.pdf]. Absolute Advantage: The Workplace Wellness Magazine Designing Wellness Incentives, Part 1 of 2 Part Series Incentives are about getting people to do things they would not generally other wise do. Like it or not, people frequently don't do what will help them stay hea lthy and live longer. Changing this situation is what this issue is all about. Designing Wellness Incentives, Part 2 of 2 Part Series In this issue, you find more infor mation on how to structure and implement proactive incentive ca mpaigns that will significantly incr ease participation rates in wellness progra ms. Benefit Manager Outreach Packet includes relationshipbuilding tools to adva nce employee access to bariatric care including infor mation from the employers' perspective on treating obesity. Beyond Cost Containment to Health and Productivity: A Shift in Employers' Healthcare Focus The latest research results by the Integrated Benefits Institute, reflecting responses from 620 employers. The results show that employers' long ter m approach to the business value of health is not related to their shortterm strategies for dealing with the rising costs of healthcare. Diabetes at Work A 90minute video recording of an Alliance sponsored meeting on the effect of diabetes and strategies employers can use to reduce its impact. Examines how diabetes and other chronic diseases can impact productivity and the bott om line, showcases a free Webbased resource kit (http://www. diabetesatwork. org/), and offers an inside look at successful worksite wellness strategies implemented at Lands' End. Diabetes Prevention and Control: A Guide for Hispanic Americans This video features Congr essman Joe Baca, actress Liz Torres and actor Edward James Olmos, who have personal experience with diabetes. It is filled with helpful infor mation and advice from diabetes experts such as Jorge Mestman, MD and Carlos Isales, MD, including what puts you at risk for diabetes, preventing diabetes, and mor e. Mail Address: PO Box 44365, Madison, WI 537444365 Street Address: 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 | Fax: 608.276.6626 www.the-alliance.org The Economic Return from Worksite Wellness A threepart CDROM designed to help employers understand and assess the return on investment from worksite wellness programs. Includes PowerPoint presentations and 90minute audio recordings of Larry Chapma n, Chairman/CoFounder of Summex Corporation. · The Strength of Current ROI Evidence exa mines the challenge of showing the economic potentia l of workplace wellness programs, reviews literature on return on investment, and outlines an approach for creating the business case for senior management. · Methods for Deter mining Economic Return and ROI of Your Program provides an introduction to return on investment concepts, presents eight major methods for deter mining return on investment, and identifies the data requir ed for each ROI method. · Methods for Enhancing the ROI of Your Wellness Program explores hea lth cost drivers and presents a wea lth of program strategies, health benefit plan linkage options, and complementary health cost ma nagement interventions to incr ease the economic return associated with wellness programs. FitForums for Employers A comprehensive stepbystep guide designed to help employers plan and conduct a health and wellness fair. Includes detailed checklists and timelines with recommended scr eenings, demonstrations and activities a CDROM with easy to customize promotional templates and administrative tools and hea lth education materials on arthritis, cardiovascular health, diabetes, mental health, and general wellness. Making Your Workplace Smoke free: A Decision Maker's Guide A fantastic resource for employers interested in creating a smoke free work environment. It was developed in conjunction with the Wellness Councils of Amer ica (WELCOA) and the Amer ican Cancer Society. The guide serves as a how to stepbystep resource, and offers practical, proven and effective strategies for implementing successful policies in a variety of work settings. Managing Stress: A Practical Handbook to Program Planning , 50 Great Ideas for Working Well Part of a new series of books introduced by The Wellness Councils of America (WELCOA). Each book focuses on a specific health concern and provides 50 tips on how to implement programs on each topic. It also provides you with a checklist to rate your program's perfor ma nce. This interactive tool will help you take these ideas and translate them into reality. Medicare Connections: Resources on Medicare Part D and the Family Because the Medicare drug benefit is now available, the Medicare Connections program has been designed to encourage your current plan members to help their friends and older fa mily members to consider the benefits of enrolling in the Medicare drug benefit, understand it better, and decide which plan to join. This kit contains ever ything you need, including how to facilitate the program and articles for your company newslett ers. Proof Positive A book that evaluates 42 health promotion case studies and helps employers understand the best return on investment for wor ksite wellness programs. It describes what type of populations wer e involved in the health promotion, what measurement methods wer e used, and what type of statistical analysis wer e applied--a nd helps employers understand the return on investment for wellness and health promotion programs. Understanding Weight Loss Surgery As more morbidly obese patients seek bariatric surgery, the role of primary care physicians has increased to include identifying possible surgical candidates, screening patients, and providing longter m followup care. Use this infor mation to educate yourself and others about the severity of this disease and bariatric surger y as appropriate treatment. Mail Address: PO Box 44365, Madison, WI 537444365 Street Address: 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 | Fax: 608.276.6626 www.the-alliance.org Wellness Program Management Yearbook, 3rd Edition Use this yearbook to get benchmark infor mation, realworld statistics, comparative infor mation, and new program ideas. Get practical advice based on best practices of your peers for ma naging your program and see what's working elsewher e. This material has been organized into eight subject categor y chapters, including: · Trends in Worksite Wellness and Health Promotion · Goals and Responsibilities of Worksite Wellness Management Professionals · Managing Wor kplace Wellness and Health Promotion Programs · Wellness Program Management Strategies · Focus on Wor kplace Identified Diseases and Injuries · Motivating and Incentivizing Employees to Participate in Workplace Wellness Programs · Making the Case: How Documenting Wellness Program Results Can Prove Value to Senior Management · Management and Program Infor mation Resources for Workplace Wellness Management Mail Address: PO Box 44365, Madison, WI 537444365 Street Address: 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 | Fax: 608.276.6626 www.the-alliance.org");sQ1[38]=new Array("pdfs/HealthClubs_discounts.pdf","Plus Perks FAQs","","Health Club/Fitness Center Discounts The Alliance wants you to be healthy, active and fit and is supporting your efforts by securing discounts with area health clubs and fitness centers. This program allows you to receive discounts at your favorite health and fitness club. Participating health clubs and fitness facilities offer Alliance members (as identified by their medical ID card) discounts off membership fees for new and/or renewal memberships. How to receive your discount All health plan members of an employer member of The Alliance are automatically eligible for discounts. No signup is necessary. Simply show your medical I.D. card with The Alliance logo at the participating business to earn your discount. Savings Each club has different membership rates. Please check out the facility below or call the specific club for details on the discount they are offering to Alliance members. Your only cost will be the discounted costs and fees you pay directly to the participating businesses at the time of purchase. All discounts are paid for by the participating businesses. The Alliance only coordinates the program. We do not charge our members to participate and there are no costs added into your health care premium. FAQ Are the products and services offered here considered covered benefits? No. The Alliance health club discounts is a "discount" program, not a covered benefit or insurance program. Do participating businesses carry an endorsement from The Alliance? No, inclusion in The Alliance program is not an endorsement. You are responsible for making judgments about the quality of these businesses, products and services, as well as their appropriateness to your needs. How can I suggest a new business to be added to the program? New businesses that offer products or services for healthful living will be evaluated for addition to the program periodically. If you would like to suggest a new business participant, please contact the program administrator at (608) 210-6640. Can I be reimbursed for exercising? Not from The Alliance. Check with your employer's Human Resources department for programs they may have in place to encourage you to exercise. This is a discount only program and is not a pay-for-performance program. You will be responsible for any and all enrollment and membership fees the club may charge, less the discount. Participating Health and Fitness Clubs BRODHEAD HEALTH & FITNESS offers members a 10% discount on a 1-year membership. 804 23rd Street, Brodhead 608-897-3488 www.brodheadfitness.com CURVES- BARABOO offers members $100 off registration fee with a 12 month commitment. 614 Oak Street, Baraboo 608-355-0100 CURVES ­ BELOIT offers members $100 off the service fee to join the club. 2713 Prairie Ave., Beloit 608-368-0306 404 Gardner St., S. Beloit 815-389-3800 CURVES- COTTAGE GROVE offers members $100 off the service fee to join the club. In addition, 2 Week free coupon available at the club to try them out. 536 Southing Grange, Suite #F, Cottage Grove 608-839-1980 CURVES- EDGERTON offers members $100 off the service fee to join the club. 22 W. Fulton, Edgerton 608-884-8100 CURVES- JANESVILLE offers members $100 off the service fee to join the club. 1800 Humes Rd, Suite 2, Janesville 608-756-5100 1824 W. Court St., Janesville 608-756-5000 CURVES- LODI offers members $100 off the service fee to join the club. 105 South Main Street, Lodi 608-592-1987 CURVES- MADISON area offers members $100 off the service fee to join the club. 1645 Thierer Road, Madison-East 608-241-7171 2623 Monroe St., #130 Madison, WI 53711 608-232-1180 5708 Raymond Road, Madison-Southwest 608-271-1010 6630 Mineral Point Road, Madison-West 608-833-8383 CURVES- MIDDLETON offers members $100 off the service fee to join the club. 2514 Allen Blvd., Middleton 608-836-3661 CURVES- MONONA offers members $100 off the service fee to join the club. 6300 Monona Drive, Monona 608-222-1212 CURVES ­ OREGON offers members $100 off the service fee to join the club. 852 Janesville St., Oregon 608-835-3000 CURVES- REEDSBURG offers waiver of sign up fee to join the club. 2015 E. Main Street, Reedsburg 608-524-4800 CURVES- STOUGHTON offers members $100 off the service fee to join the club. 1312 Hamilton, Stoughton 608-873-8000 CURVES- SUN PRAIRIE offers members $100 off the service fee to join the club. 1268 W. Main Street, Sun Prairie 608-834-8808 CURVES- SAUK CITY offers members $100 off the service fee to join the club. 620 Jackson St., Sauk City 608-644-9110 CURVES- WAUNAKEE offers members $100 off the service fee to join the club. 205 S. Century Ave., Waunakee 608-850-6999 FENNIMORE FITNESS offers $3 off/month for single membership; $5 off/month for couple membership when joining using the electronic funds transfer (EFT) payment option. For questions call 608-822-4066. 815 Lincoln Ave. Fennimore, WI 53809 email:fennimorefitness@yahoo.com HARBOR ATHLETIC CLUB offers members the discounted corporate rate for a new or renewing 2-year contract. Additional discounts available if your employer is willing to utilize payroll deduction of fees for several employees. 2529 Allen Blvd., Middleton 608-831-6500 www.harborathletic.com JANESVILLE ATHLETIC CLUB offers a $100 discount off their initial membership fees 1301 Blackbridge Road, Janesville 608-756-3737 MATC Fitness Center offers 10% - 20% discount on membership (dependent on volume of Alliance members) 3550 Anderson St., Madison 608-243-4095 McFARLAND TAN & FITNESS offers corporate rate with a 12-month membership 4725 Dale-Curtin Drive, McFarland 608-838-9000 ORANGE SHOE GYM offers members a 10% discount on all regular priced memberships and class punch cards 6220 Nesbitt Road, Madison 608-270-9480 E-mail: info@orangeshoegym.com www.orangeshoegym.com PRINCETON CLUB offers a two week complimentary membership (print out coupon for use at both East and West locations.) * 8080 Watts Road, Madison-West 608-833-2639 * 1726 Eagan Road, Madison-East 608-241-2639 www.princetonclub.net PRAIRIE ATHLETIC CLUB offers members a corporate discount on many packages to choose from. 1010 N. Bird Street, Sun Prairie 608-837-4646 www.prairieathletic.com RIDGE HEALTH & FITNESS CENTER offers memberships at the corporate rate. 2900 New Pinery Rd., Portage 608-742-2348 RIVERFRONT ATHLETIC CLUB, THE offers a $100 discount off their initial membership fees 15 W. Milwaukee St., Janesville 608-757-6855 SUPREME HEALTH & FITNESS offers a $50 discount on a new or renewing 2-year membership and 50% off a 2-week trial membership. 555 Odana Road Madison 608-274-5080 www.supremehealthfitness.com SWIM WEST offers memberships at the corporate rate. 1001 Demin Way, Madison 608-831-6829 SYMONS RECREATION COMPLEX offers members a 10% discount on an annual membership. 1250 Hwy. 14 West, (on the UW-Richland Campus), Richland Center 608-647-8522 www.symonsrec.com");sQ1[39]=new Array("January.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Monthly Wellness Planner - January","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Search health and wellness topics by month: January February March April May June July August September -National Glaucoma Awareness Month -National Volunteer Blood Donor Month -Thyroid Awareness Month -Heart Health Month -Your Heart and You -National Colon Cancer Screening Awareness Month -National Nutrition Month -The American Diabetes Alert -Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month -Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month -Alcohol Awareness Month -Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs -Kick Butts Day: April 5th -National Alcohol Screening Day: April 6th -Skin Cancer Awareness Month -May 1st: Melanoma Monday -National High Blood Pressure Education Month -Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month -Lyme Disease -Better Sleep Month -Mental Health Month -Hepatitis Awareness Month -Fibromyalgia Awareness Day: May 12th -National Employee Health and Fitness Day: May 17th -Bike to Work Week: May15th-19th -Men's Health Week: June 12-18 -Vision Health -National Cancer Survivors Day: June 4 -National Headache Awareness Week: June 4-10 -Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy -Focus on Fitness -UV Safety Month -Water Safety -Eye Injury Prevention Month -National Immunization Awareness Month -Adult Immunization Recommended Schedule -Cataract Awareness Month -Psoriasis Awareness Month -World Breastfeeding Week: August 1-7 -National Cholesterol Education Month -Prostate Cancer Awareness Month -National Pain Awareness Month -Healthy Aging Month -Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month -Fruit and Vegetable Month -World Suicide Prevention Day: September 10 -National Breast Cancer Awareness Month -Talk About Prescriptions Month -National Depression Screening Day: October 5 -National Mammography Day: October 20 -National Dental Hygiene Month -Healthy Lung Month -American Diabetes Month -Great American Smokeout: November 16 -Smoking Cessation -It's Flu Season! -TMJ Awareness Month -National Hospice Month -Prematurity Awareness Month -National Hand Washing Awareness Week: December 3-9 -Surviving the Holidays -Tis the Season NOT to Drink and Drive -World AIDS Day October November December View ALL health and wellness topics:  Adult Immunization Schedule AIDS Alcohol Awareness Alcohol Screening American Diabetes Asthma and Allergy Awareness Better Sleep Bike to Work Breast Cancer Awareness Breastfeeding Cancer Survivors Cataract Awareness Cholesterol Education Colon Cancer Screening Dental Hygiene Depression Screening Drinking and Driving Employee Health and Fitness Eye Injury Prevention Fibromyalgia Awareness Focus on Fitness Fruits and Vegetables Glaucoma Awareness Great American Smokeout Hand Washing Awareness Headache Awareness Healthy Aging Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs Healthy Lungs Heart Health Hepatitis Awareness Hospice Immunization Awareness It's Flu Season! Kick Butts Lyme Disease Mammography Day Melanoma Men's Health Mental Health Multiple Sclerosis Education High Blood Pressure Education Nutrition Ovarian Cancer Awareness Pain Awareness Prematurity Awareness Prostate Cancer Awareness Psoriasis Awareness Skin Cancer Awareness Smoking Cessation Surviving the Holidays Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy Talk About Prescriptions The American Diabetes Alert Thyroid Awareness TMJ Awareness UV Safety Vision Health Volunteer Blood Donor Water Safety Workplace Eye Health and Safety World Suicide Prevention Your Heart and You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . January National Volunteer Blood Donor Month A national drive sponsored by the American Association of Blood Banks and the American Red Cross. Encourage your employees to give the gift of life through a donation of blood. National Glaucoma Awareness Month Glaucoma is a disease that can strike anyone, but particularly people who are over 45, African-American, have diabetes, and are nearsighted. Everyone is urged to have regular check-up. Have your employees take an on-line survey to assess their risk. Thyroid Awareness Month Over 27 million American have overactive or under active thyroid glands – but many are undiagnosed. Thyroid hormones affect the heart, brain, liver, kidneys and skin, with poorly function thyroids leading to many problems. Use these great resources to keep your employees in the know: Thyroid Fact Sheet (pdf) Simple Tips for Patients with Thyroid Disorders (pdf) Patient Brochure on Hypothyroidism(pdf) Patient Brochure on Hyperthyroidism (pdf)  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[40]=new Array("February.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Monthly Wellness Planner - February","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Search health and wellness topics by month: January February March April May June July August September -National Glaucoma Awareness Month -National Volunteer Blood Donor Month -Thyroid Awareness Month -Heart Health Month -Your Heart and You -National Colon Cancer Screening Awareness Month -National Nutrition Month -The American Diabetes Alert -Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month -Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month -Alcohol Awareness Month -Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs -Kick Butts Day: April 5th -National Alcohol Screening Day: April 6th -Skin Cancer Awareness Month -May 1st: Melanoma Monday -National High Blood Pressure Education Month -Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month -Lyme Disease -Better Sleep Month -Mental Health Month -Hepatitis Awareness Month -Fibromyalgia Awareness Day: May 12th -National Employee Health and Fitness Day: May 17th -Bike to Work Week: May15th-19th -Men's Health Week: June 12-18 -Vision Health -National Cancer Survivors Day: June 4 -National Headache Awareness Week: June 4-10 -Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy -Focus on Fitness -UV Safety Month -Water Safety -Eye Injury Prevention Month -National Immunization Awareness Month -Adult Immunization Recommended Schedule -Cataract Awareness Month -Psoriasis Awareness Month -World Breastfeeding Week: August 1-7 -National Cholesterol Education Month -Prostate Cancer Awareness Month -National Pain Awareness Month -Healthy Aging Month -Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month -Fruit and Vegetable Month -World Suicide Prevention Day: September 10 -National Breast Cancer Awareness Month -Talk About Prescriptions Month -National Depression Screening Day: October 5 -National Mammography Day: October 20 -National Dental Hygiene Month -Healthy Lung Month -American Diabetes Month -Great American Smokeout: November 16 -Smoking Cessation -It's Flu Season! -TMJ Awareness Month -National Hospice Month -Prematurity Awareness Month -National Hand Washing Awareness Week: December 3-9 -Surviving the Holidays -Tis the Season NOT to Drink and Drive -World AIDS Day October November December View ALL health and wellness topics:  Adult Immunization Schedule AIDS Alcohol Awareness Alcohol Screening American Diabetes Asthma and Allergy Awareness Better Sleep Bike to Work Breast Cancer Awareness Breastfeeding Cancer Survivors Cataract Awareness Cholesterol Education Colon Cancer Screening Dental Hygiene Depression Screening Drinking and Driving Employee Health and Fitness Eye Injury Prevention Fibromyalgia Awareness Focus on Fitness Fruits and Vegetables Glaucoma Awareness Great American Smokeout Hand Washing Awareness Headache Awareness Healthy Aging Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs Healthy Lungs Heart Health Hepatitis Awareness Hospice Immunization Awareness It's Flu Season! Kick Butts Lyme Disease Mammography Day Melanoma Men's Health Mental Health Multiple Sclerosis Education High Blood Pressure Education Nutrition Ovarian Cancer Awareness Pain Awareness Prematurity Awareness Prostate Cancer Awareness Psoriasis Awareness Skin Cancer Awareness Smoking Cessation Surviving the Holidays Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy Talk About Prescriptions The American Diabetes Alert Thyroid Awareness TMJ Awareness UV Safety Vision Health Volunteer Blood Donor Water Safety Workplace Eye Health and Safety World Suicide Prevention Your Heart and You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . February Heart Health Month Heart Health Month is all about what makes you tick – and how to keep it going strong. The American Heart Association provides information on diet, nutrition, healthy lifestyles and other resources. Your Heart and You ( pdf)   ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[41]=new Array("March.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Monthly Wellness Planner - March","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Search health and wellness topics by month: January February March April May June July August September -National Glaucoma Awareness Month -National Volunteer Blood Donor Month -Thyroid Awareness Month -Heart Health Month -Your Heart and You -National Colon Cancer Screening Awareness Month -National Nutrition Month -The American Diabetes Alert -Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month -Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month -Alcohol Awareness Month -Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs -Kick Butts Day: April 5th -National Alcohol Screening Day: April 6th -Skin Cancer Awareness Month -May 1st: Melanoma Monday -National High Blood Pressure Education Month -Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month -Lyme Disease -Better Sleep Month -Mental Health Month -Hepatitis Awareness Month -Fibromyalgia Awareness Day: May 12th -National Employee Health and Fitness Day: May 17th -Bike to Work Week: May15th-19th -Men's Health Week: June 12-18 -Vision Health -National Cancer Survivors Day: June 4 -National Headache Awareness Week: June 4-10 -Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy -Focus on Fitness -UV Safety Month -Water Safety -Eye Injury Prevention Month -National Immunization Awareness Month -Adult Immunization Recommended Schedule -Cataract Awareness Month -Psoriasis Awareness Month -World Breastfeeding Week: August 1-7 -National Cholesterol Education Month -Prostate Cancer Awareness Month -National Pain Awareness Month -Healthy Aging Month -Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month -Fruit and Vegetable Month -World Suicide Prevention Day: September 10 -National Breast Cancer Awareness Month -Talk About Prescriptions Month -National Depression Screening Day: October 5 -National Mammography Day: October 20 -National Dental Hygiene Month -Healthy Lung Month -American Diabetes Month -Great American Smokeout: November 16 -Smoking Cessation -It's Flu Season! -TMJ Awareness Month -National Hospice Month -Prematurity Awareness Month -National Hand Washing Awareness Week: December 3-9 -Surviving the Holidays -Tis the Season NOT to Drink and Drive -World AIDS Day October November December View ALL health and wellness topics:  Adult Immunization Schedule AIDS Alcohol Awareness Alcohol Screening American Diabetes Asthma and Allergy Awareness Better Sleep Bike to Work Breast Cancer Awareness Breastfeeding Cancer Survivors Cataract Awareness Cholesterol Education Colon Cancer Screening Dental Hygiene Depression Screening Drinking and Driving Employee Health and Fitness Eye Injury Prevention Fibromyalgia Awareness Focus on Fitness Fruits and Vegetables Glaucoma Awareness Great American Smokeout Hand Washing Awareness Headache Awareness Healthy Aging Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs Healthy Lungs Heart Health Hepatitis Awareness Hospice Immunization Awareness It's Flu Season! Kick Butts Lyme Disease Mammography Day Melanoma Men's Health Mental Health Multiple Sclerosis Education High Blood Pressure Education Nutrition Ovarian Cancer Awareness Pain Awareness Prematurity Awareness Prostate Cancer Awareness Psoriasis Awareness Skin Cancer Awareness Smoking Cessation Surviving the Holidays Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy Talk About Prescriptions The American Diabetes Alert Thyroid Awareness TMJ Awareness UV Safety Vision Health Volunteer Blood Donor Water Safety Workplace Eye Health and Safety World Suicide Prevention Your Heart and You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March National Colon Cancer Screening Awareness Month Launched in 1999, National Colorectoral Cancer Awareness Month was created to make people aware of the third leading cause of cancer death among both men and women. Many of these deaths are preventable, which is why colorectal screening tests are considered essential. When caught early, this cancer has a 90 percent survival rate. For more information, see "Talk to Your Health Care Provider About Screening Options To Prevent Colon Cancer" (pdf), an American Cancer Society newsletter article, or contact the American Cancer Society at 1.800.ACS.2345 or visit www.cancer.org. National Nutrition Month Nutrition and education are key messages from the American Dietetic Association. Along with promoting good eating habits and food choices, physical activity is also stressed. Resources are available to help you and your employees make the right nutrition decisions. The American Diabetes Alert Are you or anyone else you know, at risk for diabetes? This one-day call-to-action wants people to determine their own risk level by taking the Diatetes Risk Test. In addition to this risk assessment, The Alliance also provides information through its Diabetes Toolkit under the "Employee Health and Education" category on The Alliance's Employer Resource Center web site. Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month With nearly 2,000 workplace eye injures occurring each day at a cost of more than $1 billion dollars, this public awareness effort by Prevent Blindness America is critical. Of those injuries, nearly 100,000 will be disabling, which is plenty of motivation to access the organization's resources. Prevent Blindness America offers these free fact sheets: Preventing Occupational Eye Injuries (pdf) Workplace Eye Injuries (pdf) Workplace Eye Safety Quiz (pdf) Contact Lens Use in Industry (pdf) Multiple Scleroris Education and Awareness Month For young adults, multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common disabling neurological condition in the world today. This month-long outreach effort includes booklets to be used as educational tools. They can be ordered by emailing support@msfocus.org or calling Program Services Department at 1-888-MSFOCUS. View available booklets here.  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[42]=new Array("April.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Monthly Wellness Planner - April","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Search health and wellness topics by month: January February March April May June July August September -National Glaucoma Awareness Month -National Volunteer Blood Donor Month -Thyroid Awareness Month -Heart Health Month -Your Heart and You -National Colon Cancer Screening Awareness Month -National Nutrition Month -The American Diabetes Alert -Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month -Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month -Alcohol Awareness Month -Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs -Kick Butts Day: April 5th -National Alcohol Screening Day: April 6th -Skin Cancer Awareness Month -May 1st: Melanoma Monday -National High Blood Pressure Education Month -Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month -Lyme Disease -Better Sleep Month -Mental Health Month -Hepatitis Awareness Month -Fibromyalgia Awareness Day: May 12th -National Employee Health and Fitness Day: May 17th -Bike to Work Week: May15th-19th -Men's Health Week: June 12-18 -Vision Health -National Cancer Survivors Day: June 4 -National Headache Awareness Week: June 4-10 -Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy -Focus on Fitness -UV Safety Month -Water Safety -Eye Injury Prevention Month -National Immunization Awareness Month -Adult Immunization Recommended Schedule -Cataract Awareness Month -Psoriasis Awareness Month -World Breastfeeding Week: August 1-7 -National Cholesterol Education Month -Prostate Cancer Awareness Month -National Pain Awareness Month -Healthy Aging Month -Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month -Fruit and Vegetable Month -World Suicide Prevention Day: September 10 -National Breast Cancer Awareness Month -Talk About Prescriptions Month -National Depression Screening Day: October 5 -National Mammography Day: October 20 -National Dental Hygiene Month -Healthy Lung Month -American Diabetes Month -Great American Smokeout: November 16 -Smoking Cessation -It's Flu Season! -TMJ Awareness Month -National Hospice Month -Prematurity Awareness Month -National Hand Washing Awareness Week: December 3-9 -Surviving the Holidays -Tis the Season NOT to Drink and Drive -World AIDS Day October November December View ALL health and wellness topics:  Adult Immunization Schedule AIDS Alcohol Awareness Alcohol Screening American Diabetes Asthma and Allergy Awareness Better Sleep Bike to Work Breast Cancer Awareness Breastfeeding Cancer Survivors Cataract Awareness Cholesterol Education Colon Cancer Screening Dental Hygiene Depression Screening Drinking and Driving Employee Health and Fitness Eye Injury Prevention Fibromyalgia Awareness Focus on Fitness Fruits and Vegetables Glaucoma Awareness Great American Smokeout Hand Washing Awareness Headache Awareness Healthy Aging Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs Healthy Lungs Heart Health Hepatitis Awareness Hospice Immunization Awareness It's Flu Season! Kick Butts Lyme Disease Mammography Day Melanoma Men's Health Mental Health Multiple Sclerosis Education High Blood Pressure Education Nutrition Ovarian Cancer Awareness Pain Awareness Prematurity Awareness Prostate Cancer Awareness Psoriasis Awareness Skin Cancer Awareness Smoking Cessation Surviving the Holidays Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy Talk About Prescriptions The American Diabetes Alert Thyroid Awareness TMJ Awareness UV Safety Vision Health Volunteer Blood Donor Water Safety Workplace Eye Health and Safety World Suicide Prevention Your Heart and You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April Alcohol Awareness Month To heighten awareness of the devastating effects of alcohol abuse, Alcohol Awareness Month features a National Alcohol Screening Day. Providing information and a free, anonymous screening for alcohol abuse, it's a step toward helping curb a destructive illness. For more information on this disease, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) provides education, information, help and hope to the public. It advocates prevention, intervention and treatment. Visit www.ncadd.org. Find additional Alcohol Facts and resources from Interactive Health Solutions. Healthy Behaviors April features the release of the report "Lowering Costs by Encouraging Healthy Behaviors" (pdf), which illuminates the negative financial impact of physical inactivity, poor diets, smoking and problem drinking. It includes information on how employees can identify and combat these physically and financially damaging workforce behaviors.  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[43]=new Array("May.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Monthly Wellness Planner - May","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Search health and wellness topics by month: January February March April May June July August September -National Glaucoma Awareness Month -National Volunteer Blood Donor Month -Thyroid Awareness Month -Heart Health Month -Your Heart and You -National Colon Cancer Screening Awareness Month -National Nutrition Month -The American Diabetes Alert -Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month -Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month -Alcohol Awareness Month -Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs -Kick Butts Day: April 5th -National Alcohol Screening Day: April 6th -Skin Cancer Awareness Month -May 1st: Melanoma Monday -National High Blood Pressure Education Month -Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month -Lyme Disease -Better Sleep Month -Mental Health Month -Hepatitis Awareness Month -Fibromyalgia Awareness Day: May 12th -National Employee Health and Fitness Day: May 17th -Bike to Work Week: May15th-19th -Men's Health Week: June 12-18 -Vision Health -National Cancer Survivors Day: June 4 -National Headache Awareness Week: June 4-10 -Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy -Focus on Fitness -UV Safety Month -Water Safety -Eye Injury Prevention Month -National Immunization Awareness Month -Adult Immunization Recommended Schedule -Cataract Awareness Month -Psoriasis Awareness Month -World Breastfeeding Week: August 1-7 -National Cholesterol Education Month -Prostate Cancer Awareness Month -National Pain Awareness Month -Healthy Aging Month -Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month -Fruit and Vegetable Month -World Suicide Prevention Day: September 10 -National Breast Cancer Awareness Month -Talk About Prescriptions Month -National Depression Screening Day: October 5 -National Mammography Day: October 20 -National Dental Hygiene Month -Healthy Lung Month -American Diabetes Month -Great American Smokeout: November 16 -Smoking Cessation -It's Flu Season! -TMJ Awareness Month -National Hospice Month -Prematurity Awareness Month -National Hand Washing Awareness Week: December 3-9 -Surviving the Holidays -Tis the Season NOT to Drink and Drive -World AIDS Day October November December View ALL health and wellness topics:  Adult Immunization Schedule AIDS Alcohol Awareness Alcohol Screening American Diabetes Asthma and Allergy Awareness Better Sleep Bike to Work Breast Cancer Awareness Breastfeeding Cancer Survivors Cataract Awareness Cholesterol Education Colon Cancer Screening Dental Hygiene Depression Screening Drinking and Driving Employee Health and Fitness Eye Injury Prevention Fibromyalgia Awareness Focus on Fitness Fruits and Vegetables Glaucoma Awareness Great American Smokeout Hand Washing Awareness Headache Awareness Healthy Aging Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs Healthy Lungs Heart Health Hepatitis Awareness Hospice Immunization Awareness It's Flu Season! Kick Butts Lyme Disease Mammography Day Melanoma Men's Health Mental Health Multiple Sclerosis Education High Blood Pressure Education Nutrition Ovarian Cancer Awareness Pain Awareness Prematurity Awareness Prostate Cancer Awareness Psoriasis Awareness Skin Cancer Awareness Smoking Cessation Surviving the Holidays Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy Talk About Prescriptions The American Diabetes Alert Thyroid Awareness TMJ Awareness UV Safety Vision Health Volunteer Blood Donor Water Safety Workplace Eye Health and Safety World Suicide Prevention Your Heart and You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month Understanding and detecting skin cancer is a key to overcoming this prevalent disease. The entire month is designed to raising understanding and lowering chances of encountering skin cancer. What is Skin Cancer? (printer friendly version) Check and Protect Your Skin (printer friendly version) National High Blood Pressure Education Month One in four Americans is affected by blood pressure. If that statistic isn't compelling enough, consider that high blood pressure is the chief risk factor for stroke and heart failure and can lead to kidney disease. The goal of this special month is to encourage people to talk to their health-care provider about how to prevent and overcome high blood pressure. Check out more great resources from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: Your Guide to Lowering High Blood Pressure Your Guide to Lowering High Blood Pressure booklet (pdf) Community Kit Take Steps-Prevent High Blood Pressure / Póngase en acción-prevenga la alta presión (pdf) And don't forget — The Alliance offers complimentary blood pressure screenings. Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month Even thought asthma affects nearly four out of five Americans, the last 10 years has seen major advancements in research and preventative treatment of the disease. It can be controlled, but without increased awareness, it can also become out of control. Resources and a simple five-question test will help people determine their current risk levels by visiting Asthma Action America® for more information. There is also a Spanish version of the site. Better Sleep Month The health consequences of losing sleep should keep us awake at night. Higher stress, increased mistakes, and difficulty concentrating can all result and affect our everyday life. This month the focus is on how to get a good night's sleep and improve our lives in the process. Check out the resources provided by The Better Sleep Council: The Better Sleep Guide (pdf) Ten Tips for Better Sleep FAQ’s about sleep Mental Health Month Health isn't limited to one's physical well-being. This month, much attention is devoted to maintaining mental health. The theme for this year is "MIND your health", a cue that developing a healthy mind/body relationship is a key to our well-being. Check out these resources offered by the National Mental Health Association: How to get started (pdf) Activity Ideas (pdf) Fast Facts (pdf) Mind your Stress – On the Job (pdf) Signs of Depression Checklist (pdf) Hepatitis Awareness Month The impact of Hepatitis A on a workforce is significant. According to the Hepatitis Foundation International, Hepatitis A can be the cause of 30 days of missed work and at least $2,600 in lost wages each year. Medical care can stretch into the thousands, which is why employee awareness is a top priority. The foundation provides you these free informational brochures: Hepatitis A (pdf) Hepatitis B (pdf) Hepatitis B Tips (pdf) ABC’s of Hepatitis Reference Grid 2006 (pdf) Fybromyalgia Awareness Day If you're not familiar with fybromyalgia, be thankful. This chronic pain illness includes widespread musculoskeletal aches, pain and stiffness, soft tissue tenderness, general fatigue and sleep disturbances. Pain can occur throughout the body and can wax and wane over time. A chilling disease that deserves greater attention. Resources may be found by logging on to the National Fibromyalgia Research Association’s web site . National Employee Health and Fitness Day The spotlight shines on the healthy benefits of eating right and staying active. Using resources such as America On The Move or the President's Council Challenge, you can make employees aware of all the good things that come with eating and exercising the right way. May 15th-19th: Bike to Work Week Give employees a taste of a healthy alternative to driving, and they might make this exercise-rich commute a part of their everyday life. Wrap this week around bike safety and two-wheel traveling tips. View the Bike to Work Commuter’s Booklet (pdf) provided by the League of American Bicyclists.  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[44]=new Array("June.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Monthly Wellness Planner - June","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Search health and wellness topics by month: January February March April May June July August September -National Glaucoma Awareness Month -National Volunteer Blood Donor Month -Thyroid Awareness Month -Heart Health Month -Your Heart and You -National Colon Cancer Screening Awareness Month -National Nutrition Month -The American Diabetes Alert -Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month -Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month -Alcohol Awareness Month -Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs -Kick Butts Day: April 5th -National Alcohol Screening Day: April 6th -Skin Cancer Awareness Month -May 1st: Melanoma Monday -National High Blood Pressure Education Month -Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month -Lyme Disease -Better Sleep Month -Mental Health Month -Hepatitis Awareness Month -Fibromyalgia Awareness Day: May 12th -National Employee Health and Fitness Day: May 17th -Bike to Work Week: May15th-19th -Men's Health Week: June 12-18 -Vision Health -National Cancer Survivors Day: June 4 -National Headache Awareness Week: June 4-10 -Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy -Focus on Fitness -UV Safety Month -Water Safety -Eye Injury Prevention Month -National Immunization Awareness Month -Adult Immunization Recommended Schedule -Cataract Awareness Month -Psoriasis Awareness Month -World Breastfeeding Week: August 1-7 -National Cholesterol Education Month -Prostate Cancer Awareness Month -National Pain Awareness Month -Healthy Aging Month -Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month -Fruit and Vegetable Month -World Suicide Prevention Day: September 10 -National Breast Cancer Awareness Month -Talk About Prescriptions Month -National Depression Screening Day: October 5 -National Mammography Day: October 20 -National Dental Hygiene Month -Healthy Lung Month -American Diabetes Month -Great American Smokeout: November 16 -Smoking Cessation -It's Flu Season! -TMJ Awareness Month -National Hospice Month -Prematurity Awareness Month -National Hand Washing Awareness Week: December 3-9 -Surviving the Holidays -Tis the Season NOT to Drink and Drive -World AIDS Day October November December View ALL health and wellness topics:  Adult Immunization Schedule AIDS Alcohol Awareness Alcohol Screening American Diabetes Asthma and Allergy Awareness Better Sleep Bike to Work Breast Cancer Awareness Breastfeeding Cancer Survivors Cataract Awareness Cholesterol Education Colon Cancer Screening Dental Hygiene Depression Screening Drinking and Driving Employee Health and Fitness Eye Injury Prevention Fibromyalgia Awareness Focus on Fitness Fruits and Vegetables Glaucoma Awareness Great American Smokeout Hand Washing Awareness Headache Awareness Healthy Aging Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs Healthy Lungs Heart Health Hepatitis Awareness Hospice Immunization Awareness It's Flu Season! Kick Butts Lyme Disease Mammography Day Melanoma Men's Health Mental Health Multiple Sclerosis Education High Blood Pressure Education Nutrition Ovarian Cancer Awareness Pain Awareness Prematurity Awareness Prostate Cancer Awareness Psoriasis Awareness Skin Cancer Awareness Smoking Cessation Surviving the Holidays Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy Talk About Prescriptions The American Diabetes Alert Thyroid Awareness TMJ Awareness UV Safety Vision Health Volunteer Blood Donor Water Safety Workplace Eye Health and Safety World Suicide Prevention Your Heart and You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . June June 11-17: Men's Health Week Celebrated the week leading up to and including Father's Day, awareness of preventable health problems among men and boys comes to the forefront. Detection and early treatment of men's diseases are detailed. Men's Health Week provides flyers for your break room bulletin boards or to distribute to your employee's on topics like Men's Health Facts & Aging in America. Vision Health It is an often overlooked but essential part of our health. Have your employees take the Great American Eye Test (pdf) to help determine if it's time for an exam. Free eye exams for infants are also featured, providing an invaluable resource for early detection of eye and vision problems. To learn more about InfantSEE, call toll-free 1-888-396-3937 or go to www.InfantSEE.com. Lyme Disease Lyme Disease is easiest to get when outdoor activity is at its peak. Fortunately, the disease does have preventative measures, including limiting exposure to ticks. Help your employees learn how to reduce their risk with a wide range of resources and useful tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If an employee thinks they've been exposed, the CDC offers valuable information about common symptoms. National Cancer Survivors Day An international event held the first Sunday in June. This symbolic event demonstrates that there is life after a cancer diagnosis. Free planning kits are available to allow your workplace to participate. National Headache Awareness Week Chronic headaches can be severe and even disabling for at least half of the estimated 45 million Americans who suffer from the affliction. Its impact on the workplace is substantial, with costs accrued due to doctor visits and lost work. Below you will find free educational resources for headache sufferers: Headache Topic Sheets Talking to Your Headache Doctor (pdf) The Complete Guide to Headaches Migraine Headaches and Treatment Pamphlet on Headaches (pdf)   ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[45]=new Array("July.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Monthly Wellness Planner - July","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Search health and wellness topics by month: January February March April May June July August September -National Glaucoma Awareness Month -National Volunteer Blood Donor Month -Thyroid Awareness Month -Heart Health Month -Your Heart and You -National Colon Cancer Screening Awareness Month -National Nutrition Month -The American Diabetes Alert -Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month -Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month -Alcohol Awareness Month -Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs -Kick Butts Day: April 5th -National Alcohol Screening Day: April 6th -Skin Cancer Awareness Month -May 1st: Melanoma Monday -National High Blood Pressure Education Month -Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month -Lyme Disease -Better Sleep Month -Mental Health Month -Hepatitis Awareness Month -Fibromyalgia Awareness Day: May 12th -National Employee Health and Fitness Day: May 17th -Bike to Work Week: May15th-19th -Men's Health Week: June 12-18 -Vision Health -National Cancer Survivors Day: June 4 -National Headache Awareness Week: June 4-10 -Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy -Focus on Fitness -UV Safety Month -Water Safety -Eye Injury Prevention Month -National Immunization Awareness Month -Adult Immunization Recommended Schedule -Cataract Awareness Month -Psoriasis Awareness Month -World Breastfeeding Week: August 1-7 -National Cholesterol Education Month -Prostate Cancer Awareness Month -National Pain Awareness Month -Healthy Aging Month -Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month -Fruit and Vegetable Month -World Suicide Prevention Day: September 10 -National Breast Cancer Awareness Month -Talk About Prescriptions Month -National Depression Screening Day: October 5 -National Mammography Day: October 20 -National Dental Hygiene Month -Healthy Lung Month -American Diabetes Month -Great American Smokeout: November 16 -Smoking Cessation -It's Flu Season! -TMJ Awareness Month -National Hospice Month -Prematurity Awareness Month -National Hand Washing Awareness Week: December 3-9 -Surviving the Holidays -Tis the Season NOT to Drink and Drive -World AIDS Day October November December View ALL health and wellness topics:  Adult Immunization Schedule AIDS Alcohol Awareness Alcohol Screening American Diabetes Asthma and Allergy Awareness Better Sleep Bike to Work Breast Cancer Awareness Breastfeeding Cancer Survivors Cataract Awareness Cholesterol Education Colon Cancer Screening Dental Hygiene Depression Screening Drinking and Driving Employee Health and Fitness Eye Injury Prevention Fibromyalgia Awareness Focus on Fitness Fruits and Vegetables Glaucoma Awareness Great American Smokeout Hand Washing Awareness Headache Awareness Healthy Aging Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs Healthy Lungs Heart Health Hepatitis Awareness Hospice Immunization Awareness It's Flu Season! Kick Butts Lyme Disease Mammography Day Melanoma Men's Health Mental Health Multiple Sclerosis Education High Blood Pressure Education Nutrition Ovarian Cancer Awareness Pain Awareness Prematurity Awareness Prostate Cancer Awareness Psoriasis Awareness Skin Cancer Awareness Smoking Cessation Surviving the Holidays Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy Talk About Prescriptions The American Diabetes Alert Thyroid Awareness TMJ Awareness UV Safety Vision Health Volunteer Blood Donor Water Safety Workplace Eye Health and Safety World Suicide Prevention Your Heart and You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July A Small Step toward a Healthier Lifestyle Overweight or obese adults have a higher risk of developing high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, and certain cancers. Because 64 percent of American adults are overweight and obese, the federal government has created the Small Steps Web site which can help people learn how to lose weight and revamp their lifestyle. Focus on Fitness Physical fitness resources are essential during the summer months, when much of the focus is on leisure and fun. There's no reason why the right exercise and diet can't be a part of the mix – check out these great tools: Your Heart, Your Life ( Su Corazón, Su Vida) - easy to use exercise program can help you learn about physical activity and heart health, and to teach others too. healthierus.gov - a Presidential initiative to help Americans take steps to improve personal health and fitness. UV Safety Month With so much emphasis on sunscreen during the summer months, the eyes shouldn't be overlooked. The American Academy of Ophthalmology looks to provide information on the damaging effects of UV rays on the eyes. View their sample brochure (pdf) regarding sunglasses online. The complete brochure may be ordered online. A patient handout (pdf) is also available. Water Safety Month The summer is all about spending time spent in the water, but the American Red Cross understands that safety can easily get lost in the shuffle. The web site includes information on general water safety tips, boating, home pools, beach safety and more.   ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[46]=new Array("August.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Monthly Wellness Planner - August","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Search health and wellness topics by month: January February March April May June July August September -National Glaucoma Awareness Month -National Volunteer Blood Donor Month -Thyroid Awareness Month -Heart Health Month -Your Heart and You -National Colon Cancer Screening Awareness Month -National Nutrition Month -The American Diabetes Alert -Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month -Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month -Alcohol Awareness Month -Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs -Kick Butts Day: April 5th -National Alcohol Screening Day: April 6th -Skin Cancer Awareness Month -May 1st: Melanoma Monday -National High Blood Pressure Education Month -Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month -Lyme Disease -Better Sleep Month -Mental Health Month -Hepatitis Awareness Month -Fibromyalgia Awareness Day: May 12th -National Employee Health and Fitness Day: May 17th -Bike to Work Week: May15th-19th -Men's Health Week: June 12-18 -Vision Health -National Cancer Survivors Day: June 4 -National Headache Awareness Week: June 4-10 -Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy -Focus on Fitness -UV Safety Month -Water Safety -Eye Injury Prevention Month -National Immunization Awareness Month -Adult Immunization Recommended Schedule -Cataract Awareness Month -Psoriasis Awareness Month -World Breastfeeding Week: August 1-7 -National Cholesterol Education Month -Prostate Cancer Awareness Month -National Pain Awareness Month -Healthy Aging Month -Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month -Fruit and Vegetable Month -World Suicide Prevention Day: September 10 -National Breast Cancer Awareness Month -Talk About Prescriptions Month -National Depression Screening Day: October 5 -National Mammography Day: October 20 -National Dental Hygiene Month -Healthy Lung Month -American Diabetes Month -Great American Smokeout: November 16 -Smoking Cessation -It's Flu Season! -TMJ Awareness Month -National Hospice Month -Prematurity Awareness Month -National Hand Washing Awareness Week: December 3-9 -Surviving the Holidays -Tis the Season NOT to Drink and Drive -World AIDS Day October November December View ALL health and wellness topics:  Adult Immunization Schedule AIDS Alcohol Awareness Alcohol Screening American Diabetes Asthma and Allergy Awareness Better Sleep Bike to Work Breast Cancer Awareness Breastfeeding Cancer Survivors Cataract Awareness Cholesterol Education Colon Cancer Screening Dental Hygiene Depression Screening Drinking and Driving Employee Health and Fitness Eye Injury Prevention Fibromyalgia Awareness Focus on Fitness Fruits and Vegetables Glaucoma Awareness Great American Smokeout Hand Washing Awareness Headache Awareness Healthy Aging Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs Healthy Lungs Heart Health Hepatitis Awareness Hospice Immunization Awareness It's Flu Season! Kick Butts Lyme Disease Mammography Day Melanoma Men's Health Mental Health Multiple Sclerosis Education High Blood Pressure Education Nutrition Ovarian Cancer Awareness Pain Awareness Prematurity Awareness Prostate Cancer Awareness Psoriasis Awareness Skin Cancer Awareness Smoking Cessation Surviving the Holidays Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy Talk About Prescriptions The American Diabetes Alert Thyroid Awareness TMJ Awareness UV Safety Vision Health Volunteer Blood Donor Water Safety Workplace Eye Health and Safety World Suicide Prevention Your Heart and You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . August Cataract Awareness Month Cataracts cloud the eye's ability to use light in the vision process, thus inhibiting sight. The American Academy of Ophthalmology uses this month to raise public awareness of the disease, as well as demonstrate how recent surgical procedures allow vision – and a normal life – to be restored. Additional resources from the National Eye Institute: Cataract: What you Should Know This booklet is for people with cataract and their families and friends. It provides information about age-related cataract, the most common form of cataract. This booklet answers questions about the causes and symptoms of the disorder and discusses diagnosis and types of treatment. (20 pages) Flyer: Don't Lose Sight of Cataracts (pdf) This two-page flyer answers eight common questions about cataracts, including what they are, how they are detected, when and how they should be treated, and how to protect your vision. Booklet: Cataratas: Información para el paciente This resource (Cataracts: Information for Patients) from the National Eye Institute provides basic information in Spanish for people that have been diagnosed with cataracts. It briefly describes the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and types of treatment. Booklet: ¿Corre riesgo de tener cataratas? This resource (Are you at risk for cataracts?) from the National Eye Institute provides information in Spanish for people at higher risk for cataracts. It includes general information about the eye condition and encourages regular eye exams through dilated pupils. National Immunization Awareness Month Much attention is paid to making sure school-age children are current on their vaccines – but what about adults? Help your employees determine if they're current on standard shots (pdf), as well as educate them to new ones now available. Psoriasis Awareness Month Psoriasis can be a costly, long-lasting disease. The affliction, which includes skin scaling and inflammation, can interfere with a person's ability to perform basic functions – especially those at work. It can also cause physical discomfort and some disability. Help employees learn about long-term affects and treatments using resources from the National Psoriasis Foundation. World Breastfeeding Month Breastfeeding has proven benefits, which a mother's return to work can inhibit. Learn how an employer can minimize the stress and make simple accommodations that allow for continued breastfeeding and healthier babies. Some great resources include: The American Academy of Pediatrics La Leche League   ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[47]=new Array("September.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Monthly Wellness Planner - September","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Search health and wellness topics by month: January February March April May June July August September -National Glaucoma Awareness Month -National Volunteer Blood Donor Month -Thyroid Awareness Month -Heart Health Month -Your Heart and You -National Colon Cancer Screening Awareness Month -National Nutrition Month -The American Diabetes Alert -Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month -Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month -Alcohol Awareness Month -Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs -Kick Butts Day: April 5th -National Alcohol Screening Day: April 6th -Skin Cancer Awareness Month -May 1st: Melanoma Monday -National High Blood Pressure Education Month -Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month -Lyme Disease -Better Sleep Month -Mental Health Month -Hepatitis Awareness Month -Fibromyalgia Awareness Day: May 12th -National Employee Health and Fitness Day: May 17th -Bike to Work Week: May15th-19th -Men's Health Week: June 12-18 -Vision Health -National Cancer Survivors Day: June 4 -National Headache Awareness Week: June 4-10 -Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy -Focus on Fitness -UV Safety Month -Water Safety -Eye Injury Prevention Month -National Immunization Awareness Month -Adult Immunization Recommended Schedule -Cataract Awareness Month -Psoriasis Awareness Month -World Breastfeeding Week: August 1-7 -National Cholesterol Education Month -Prostate Cancer Awareness Month -National Pain Awareness Month -Healthy Aging Month -Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month -Fruit and Vegetable Month -World Suicide Prevention Day: September 10 -National Breast Cancer Awareness Month -Talk About Prescriptions Month -National Depression Screening Day: October 5 -National Mammography Day: October 20 -National Dental Hygiene Month -Healthy Lung Month -American Diabetes Month -Great American Smokeout: November 16 -Smoking Cessation -It's Flu Season! -TMJ Awareness Month -National Hospice Month -Prematurity Awareness Month -National Hand Washing Awareness Week: December 3-9 -Surviving the Holidays -Tis the Season NOT to Drink and Drive -World AIDS Day October November December View ALL health and wellness topics:  Adult Immunization Schedule AIDS Alcohol Awareness Alcohol Screening American Diabetes Asthma and Allergy Awareness Better Sleep Bike to Work Breast Cancer Awareness Breastfeeding Cancer Survivors Cataract Awareness Cholesterol Education Colon Cancer Screening Dental Hygiene Depression Screening Drinking and Driving Employee Health and Fitness Eye Injury Prevention Fibromyalgia Awareness Focus on Fitness Fruits and Vegetables Glaucoma Awareness Great American Smokeout Hand Washing Awareness Headache Awareness Healthy Aging Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs Healthy Lungs Heart Health Hepatitis Awareness Hospice Immunization Awareness It's Flu Season! Kick Butts Lyme Disease Mammography Day Melanoma Men's Health Mental Health Multiple Sclerosis Education High Blood Pressure Education Nutrition Ovarian Cancer Awareness Pain Awareness Prematurity Awareness Prostate Cancer Awareness Psoriasis Awareness Skin Cancer Awareness Smoking Cessation Surviving the Holidays Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy Talk About Prescriptions The American Diabetes Alert Thyroid Awareness TMJ Awareness UV Safety Vision Health Volunteer Blood Donor Water Safety Workplace Eye Health and Safety World Suicide Prevention Your Heart and You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . September National Cholesterol Education Month The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) was created to reduce the percent of Americans with high blood cholesterol. The month is devoted to making sure people understand the risk posed by high cholesterol, and what steps can be taken to keep levels at a healthy level. Check out these available resources from the National Hearth Lung and Blood Institute: Live Healthier, Live Longer 10 Year Risk Calculator Read My Lipids: The Secret Life of Cholesterol National Cholesterol Education Month Kit Prostate Cancer Awareness Month The most commonly diagnosed nonskin cancer in the nation is quite often overlooked. This month-long campaign is designed to encourage screening and promote awareness of prostate cancer, including the risks posed to men and the need for preventative action. National Pain Awareness Month The range of painful conditions is vast – ranging from headaches to backaches to arthritis. To foster a greater understanding of the issues surrounding pain and their potential treatment, this month is devoted to illustrating how patients, families and friends are affected by chronic pain. The American Chronic Pain Association, the National Pain Foundation, and the American Pain Foundation have created A Consumer Guide to Options for Managing Chronic Pain (pdf). The guide answers key questions about recent developments and offers support for people with pain and the challenges they face. Healthy Aging Month There are plenty of ways to age gracefully – and healthfully. This month highlights an ongoing effort to generate greater awareness among adults 50 and over on how to improve their physical, mental, social and financial well-being. Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month Treatment, detection and definitions for ovarian cancer are provided by the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition. Particular attention is paid toward the treatment and detection stages of the cancer. Additional information is also available from the American Cancer Society. They offer: A free detailed guide (pdf) with information about ovarian cancer. A free brochure (pdf ) which discusses the treatment guidelines for patients. Fruit and Vegetable Month "Eat your fruits and veggies" is the rallying cry during a month spent highlighting the benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption. The 5 A Day for Better Health Program is a national initiative to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables with emphasis placed on how 5 to 9 servings a day can reduce the risk of cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. To learn more, check out these great brochures that are free for the downloading! World Suicide Prevention Day A nationwide effort to reach out to those who may be considering suicide or are suffering from depression. Its goal is to reduce the tragic statistic that almost 30,000 people commit suicide in America on an annual basis. Resources available: Suicide Risk Questionnaire (pdf) Understanding Suicidal Thinking (pdf)  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[48]=new Array("October.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Monthly Wellness Planner - October","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Search health and wellness topics by month: January February March April May June July August September -National Glaucoma Awareness Month -National Volunteer Blood Donor Month -Thyroid Awareness Month -Heart Health Month -Your Heart and You -National Colon Cancer Screening Awareness Month -National Nutrition Month -The American Diabetes Alert -Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month -Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month -Alcohol Awareness Month -Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs -Kick Butts Day: April 5th -National Alcohol Screening Day: April 6th -Skin Cancer Awareness Month -May 1st: Melanoma Monday -National High Blood Pressure Education Month -Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month -Lyme Disease -Better Sleep Month -Mental Health Month -Hepatitis Awareness Month -Fibromyalgia Awareness Day: May 12th -National Employee Health and Fitness Day: May 17th -Bike to Work Week: May15th-19th -Men's Health Week: June 12-18 -Vision Health -National Cancer Survivors Day: June 4 -National Headache Awareness Week: June 4-10 -Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy -Focus on Fitness -UV Safety Month -Water Safety -Eye Injury Prevention Month -National Immunization Awareness Month -Adult Immunization Recommended Schedule -Cataract Awareness Month -Psoriasis Awareness Month -World Breastfeeding Week: August 1-7 -National Cholesterol Education Month -Prostate Cancer Awareness Month -National Pain Awareness Month -Healthy Aging Month -Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month -Fruit and Vegetable Month -World Suicide Prevention Day: September 10 -National Breast Cancer Awareness Month -Talk About Prescriptions Month -National Depression Screening Day: October 5 -National Mammography Day: October 20 -National Dental Hygiene Month -Healthy Lung Month -American Diabetes Month -Great American Smokeout: November 16 -Smoking Cessation -It's Flu Season! -TMJ Awareness Month -National Hospice Month -Prematurity Awareness Month -National Hand Washing Awareness Week: December 3-9 -Surviving the Holidays -Tis the Season NOT to Drink and Drive -World AIDS Day October November December View ALL health and wellness topics:  Adult Immunization Schedule AIDS Alcohol Awareness Alcohol Screening American Diabetes Asthma and Allergy Awareness Better Sleep Bike to Work Breast Cancer Awareness Breastfeeding Cancer Survivors Cataract Awareness Cholesterol Education Colon Cancer Screening Dental Hygiene Depression Screening Drinking and Driving Employee Health and Fitness Eye Injury Prevention Fibromyalgia Awareness Focus on Fitness Fruits and Vegetables Glaucoma Awareness Great American Smokeout Hand Washing Awareness Headache Awareness Healthy Aging Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs Healthy Lungs Heart Health Hepatitis Awareness Hospice Immunization Awareness It's Flu Season! Kick Butts Lyme Disease Mammography Day Melanoma Men's Health Mental Health Multiple Sclerosis Education High Blood Pressure Education Nutrition Ovarian Cancer Awareness Pain Awareness Prematurity Awareness Prostate Cancer Awareness Psoriasis Awareness Skin Cancer Awareness Smoking Cessation Surviving the Holidays Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy Talk About Prescriptions The American Diabetes Alert Thyroid Awareness TMJ Awareness UV Safety Vision Health Volunteer Blood Donor Water Safety Workplace Eye Health and Safety World Suicide Prevention Your Heart and You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . October National Breast Cancer Awareness Month This month is devoted to fighting this deadly disease by raising awareness among women and men alike. The month features National Mammography Day (pdf), which includes (as does the rest of the month) discounted mammograms for patients. Here are some great tips on how to "Pass the Word" on breast cancer awareness. Talk About Prescriptions Month Communication is the key when it comes to the safe use of medicine. Throughout the month, the National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE) hopes to focus attention on the need for clarity in communication between patients, caregivers, and health care professionals. If you or your employees have questions about specific medicines, please visit the National Library of Medicine's Web site. ( Spanish version ) National Depression Screening Day - October 5, 2006 A day devoted to illnesses including depression, manic-depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and anxiety. Local providers are encouraged to provide screening opportunities and help people find links to treatment providers. Online Depression Screening test Local providers who offer screenings National Dental Hygiene Month Sponsored annually by the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA), National Dental Hygiene Month (NDHM) is a month-long observance of the importance of proper oral hygiene. Get great tips and information from the ADHA including: Oral Cancer fact sheet (pdf) Tobacco Use and Periodontal Disease (pdf) Women and Smoking (pdf) Periodontal Disease (pdf) On-the-Job Training (pdf) Bad Breath fact sheet (pdf) Diabetes fact sheet (pdf) Sjörgren's Syndrome (pdf) Healthy Lung Month The number three killer in America, lung disease is the cause of one in seven deaths. With chronic lung disease prevalent among millions of Americans, this month is dedicated to illuminating the effects of asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. The American Lung Association has numerous resources available on their web site that discuss chronic lung diseases. Eye Injury Prevention Month Eye injuries are prevalent – with over one million people suffering from them every year. If protective eyewear were equally as prevalent, many of those injuries could be prevented. Let employees see the facts clearly by highlighting the positive effect of protective eyewear.  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[49]=new Array("November.php","The Alliance ERC ::  Monthly Wellness Planner - November","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Search health and wellness topics by month: January February March April May June July August September -National Glaucoma Awareness Month -National Volunteer Blood Donor Month -Thyroid Awareness Month -Heart Health Month -Your Heart and You -National Colon Cancer Screening Awareness Month -National Nutrition Month -The American Diabetes Alert -Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month -Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month -Alcohol Awareness Month -Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs -Kick Butts Day: April 5th -National Alcohol Screening Day: April 6th -Skin Cancer Awareness Month -May 1st: Melanoma Monday -National High Blood Pressure Education Month -Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month -Lyme Disease -Better Sleep Month -Mental Health Month -Hepatitis Awareness Month -Fibromyalgia Awareness Day: May 12th -National Employee Health and Fitness Day: May 17th -Bike to Work Week: May15th-19th -Men's Health Week: June 12-18 -Vision Health -National Cancer Survivors Day: June 4 -National Headache Awareness Week: June 4-10 -Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy -Focus on Fitness -UV Safety Month -Water Safety -Eye Injury Prevention Month -National Immunization Awareness Month -Adult Immunization Recommended Schedule -Cataract Awareness Month -Psoriasis Awareness Month -World Breastfeeding Week: August 1-7 -National Cholesterol Education Month -Prostate Cancer Awareness Month -National Pain Awareness Month -Healthy Aging Month -Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month -Fruit and Vegetable Month -World Suicide Prevention Day: September 10 -National Breast Cancer Awareness Month -Talk About Prescriptions Month -National Depression Screening Day: October 5 -National Mammography Day: October 20 -National Dental Hygiene Month -Healthy Lung Month -American Diabetes Month -Great American Smokeout: November 16 -Smoking Cessation -It's Flu Season! -TMJ Awareness Month -National Hospice Month -Prematurity Awareness Month -National Hand Washing Awareness Week: December 3-9 -Surviving the Holidays -Tis the Season NOT to Drink and Drive -World AIDS Day October November December View ALL health and wellness topics:  Adult Immunization Schedule AIDS Alcohol Awareness Alcohol Screening American Diabetes Asthma and Allergy Awareness Better Sleep Bike to Work Breast Cancer Awareness Breastfeeding Cancer Survivors Cataract Awareness Cholesterol Education Colon Cancer Screening Dental Hygiene Depression Screening Drinking and Driving Employee Health and Fitness Eye Injury Prevention Fibromyalgia Awareness Focus on Fitness Fruits and Vegetables Glaucoma Awareness Great American Smokeout Hand Washing Awareness Headache Awareness Healthy Aging Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs Healthy Lungs Heart Health Hepatitis Awareness Hospice Immunization Awareness It's Flu Season! Kick Butts Lyme Disease Mammography Day Melanoma Men's Health Mental Health Multiple Sclerosis Education High Blood Pressure Education Nutrition Ovarian Cancer Awareness Pain Awareness Prematurity Awareness Prostate Cancer Awareness Psoriasis Awareness Skin Cancer Awareness Smoking Cessation Surviving the Holidays Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy Talk About Prescriptions The American Diabetes Alert Thyroid Awareness TMJ Awareness UV Safety Vision Health Volunteer Blood Donor Water Safety Workplace Eye Health and Safety World Suicide Prevention Your Heart and You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . November American Diabetes Month Employers have many opportunities to help their employees learn about diabetes thanks to several national campaigns that focus on diabetes in November: American Diabetes Month - This Web site includes tutorials on reducing the risk for heart attacks and stroke, patient information and suggestions on supporting a loved one with diabetes as well as statistics and facts about diabetes and heart disease. Diabetic Eye Disease Month: Prevent Blindness America Fact Sheets with more than 50 fact sheets on eye problems and adult vision issues, including diabetes quizzes, tips, and checklists. The Vision Learning Center designed specifically for consumers and includes a diabetes and eyesight quiz, diabetic retinopathy vision simulation, and tour of the eye's anatomy. Don't forget to check out The Alliance's Diabetes Toolbox. Great American Smokeout® Held every November by the American Cancer Society, the goal is to have smokers quit for a day in the hopes that they'll then want to quit forever. Research shows that smoking is easiest when a person receives support and encouragement from friends, family and employer. This year's date is November 16, 2006. Visit The Alliance Tobacco Cessation page to get more information and resources on tobacco use and cessation in the workplace. It's Flu Season! (see other resources) To help employees find the closest place to receive a flu shot, use this online influenza vaccine clinic locator. Made possible by the American Lung Association in partnership with Maxim Health Systems. Resources to use in the workplace: Key Facts about Influenza and Influenza Vaccine Hand washing Brochure Stopping the Spread of Germs at Work Smoking and Influenza All Children 6 months to 23 months Should Get Flu Shot Posters – you can add your company logo (see an example) TMJ Awareness Month Temporomandibular joint diseases and disorders (TMJ) include pain in the jaw and surrounding tissues. Mayo Clinic offers information on the disease, causes and treatment and coping options. The Academy of General Dentistry offers many printable documents related to TMJ. National Hospice Month The focus of hospice relies on the belief that each of us has the right to die pain-free and with dignity. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization has a variety of free publications available. Plus, check out these great resources: Artificial Nutrition and Hydration (PDF) Hospice Volunteers (PDF) Ask Tough Questions (PDF) Conversations Before the Crisis (PDF) End-of-Life Caregiving Brochure (PDF) Grief After a Loss (PDF) Question and Answers: Advance Directives (PDF) Question and Answers: Artificial Nutrition (PDF) Question and Answers: Cardiopulmonary (PDF) Question and Answers: Dying at Home (PDF) Question and Answers: Health Care Agents (PDF) Loss and Grieving: Helping Caregivers (PDF) Loss and Grieving: Helping Children (PDF) Loss and Grieving: Helping the Elderly (PDF) Loss and Grieving: Helping Friends (PDF) Loss and Grieving:  Helping Healthcare Providers (PDF) What is Palliative Care? (PDF) You Have Filled Out Your Advance Directive. Now What? (PDF) Prematurity Awareness Month With no apparent cause, 1 out of 8 babies in the US are born prematurely every day. The result is a serious, common and costly problem. The March of Dimes provides helpful information via their web site for women, including Health Messages for Pregnant Women. Check out the prematurity section of the Mark of Dimes web site to obtain more information. National Caregiver Month Help is available for adults and spouses caring for elderly family members. Paycheck stuffer (pdf) Meeting Employee Elder Care Needs (pdf) Services for caregivers and older adults that are available in Dane County (.doc) Speaker’s Bureau (.doc) - Dane County Caregiver Alliance of the Area Agency on Aging of Dane County All seminars run for one hour and are available as breakfast or luncheon presentations at your location. You may request speakers on specific topics, or presenters from several agencies can combine topics.  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[50]=new Array("MWP_otherresources.htm","The Alliance ERC ::  Monthly Wellness Planner - other resources","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Search health and wellness topics by month: January February March April May June July August September -National Glaucoma Awareness Month -National Volunteer Blood Donor Month -Thyroid Awareness Month -Heart Health Month -Your Heart and You -National Colon Cancer Screening Awareness Month -National Nutrition Month -The American Diabetes Alert -Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month -Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month -Alcohol Awareness Month -Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs -Kick Butts Day: April 5th -National Alcohol Screening Day: April 6th -Skin Cancer Awareness Month -May 1st: Melanoma Monday -National High Blood Pressure Education Month -Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month -Lyme Disease -Better Sleep Month -Mental Health Month -Hepatitis Awareness Month -Fibromyalgia Awareness Day: May 12th -National Employee Health and Fitness Day: May 17th -Bike to Work Week: May15th-19th -Men's Health Week: June 12-18 -Vision Health -National Cancer Survivors Day: June 4 -National Headache Awareness Week: June 4-10 -Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy -Focus on Fitness -UV Safety Month -Water Safety -Eye Injury Prevention Month -National Immunization Awareness Month -Adult Immunization Recommended Schedule -Cataract Awareness Month -Psoriasis Awareness Month -World Breastfeeding Week: August 1-7 -National Cholesterol Education Month -Prostate Cancer Awareness Month -National Pain Awareness Month -Healthy Aging Month -Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month -Fruit and Vegetable Month -World Suicide Prevention Day: September 10 -National Breast Cancer Awareness Month -Talk About Prescriptions Month -National Depression Screening Day: October 5 -National Mammography Day: October 20 -National Dental Hygiene Month -Healthy Lung Month -American Diabetes Month -Great American Smokeout: November 16 -Smoking Cessation -It's Flu Season! -TMJ Awareness Month -National Hospice Month -Prematurity Awareness Month -National Hand Washing Awareness Week: December 3-9 -Surviving the Holidays -Tis the Season NOT to Drink and Drive -World AIDS Day October November December View ALL health and wellness topics:  Adult Immunization Schedule AIDS Alcohol Awareness Alcohol Screening American Diabetes Asthma and Allergy Awareness Better Sleep Bike to Work Breast Cancer Awareness Breastfeeding Cancer Survivors Cataract Awareness Cholesterol Education Colon Cancer Screening Dental Hygiene Depression Screening Drinking and Driving Employee Health and Fitness Eye Injury Prevention Fibromyalgia Awareness Focus on Fitness Fruits and Vegetables Glaucoma Awareness Great American Smokeout Hand Washing Awareness Headache Awareness Healthy Aging Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs Healthy Lungs Heart Health Hepatitis Awareness Hospice Immunization Awareness It's Flu Season! Kick Butts Lyme Disease Mammography Day Melanoma Men's Health Mental Health Multiple Sclerosis Education High Blood Pressure Education Nutrition Ovarian Cancer Awareness Pain Awareness Prematurity Awareness Prostate Cancer Awareness Psoriasis Awareness Skin Cancer Awareness Smoking Cessation Surviving the Holidays Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy Talk About Prescriptions The American Diabetes Alert Thyroid Awareness TMJ Awareness UV Safety Vision Health Volunteer Blood Donor Water Safety Workplace Eye Health and Safety World Suicide Prevention Your Heart and You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PRINTABLE FLYERS Colds and Flu Seasons and Reasons(pdf) - This material is nothing to sneeze at - in-depth details about colds and flus, including tips on how to interact with physicians. There is also information on health centers for women, seniors, men and children.  Fit to be Tried - Get the skinny on physical fitness with "Fit Facts" from the American Council on Exercise. Dump the Plump (pdf) – A PDF heavy on the healthy way to lose weight. Less Stress - Three flyers take a closer look at stress management techniques: How Can I Manage Stress?(pdf) from the American Heart Association Positive Thinking: A Skill for Stress Relief (pdf)from MayoClinic.com Stress: How to Cope Better with Life's Challenges (pdf) from familydoctor.org Health Club and Fitness Center Discounts (pdf) - available for your employees and their dependents. Wisconsin Worksite Wellness Resource Kit (pdf) A step-by-step guide for assessing the worksite, identifying what types of activities to implement with employees, instructions on how to implement the activities, and guidance on how to determine their effectiveness. WEB-BASED RESOURCES Straight to the Source – An online medical encyclopedia at MerckSource.com. Mass appeal – This web site helps employees measure your body fat – called the Body Mass Index (BMI). It also has tips on how this info can lead to a healthier lifestyle.   ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[51]=new Array("October.htm","The Alliance ERC ::  Monthly Wellness Planner - October","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Search health and wellness topics by month: January February March April May June July August September -National Glaucoma Awareness Month -National Volunteer Blood Donor Month -Thyroid Awareness Month -Heart Health Month -Your Heart and You -National Colon Cancer Screening Awareness Month -National Nutrition Month -The American Diabetes Alert -Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month -Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month -Alcohol Awareness Month -Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs -Kick Butts Day: April 5th -National Alcohol Screening Day: April 6th -Skin Cancer Awareness Month -May 1st: Melanoma Monday -National High Blood Pressure Education Month -Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month -Lyme Disease -Better Sleep Month -Mental Health Month -Hepatitis Awareness Month -Fibromyalgia Awareness Day: May 12th -National Employee Health and Fitness Day: May 17th -Bike to Work Week: May15th-19th -Men's Health Week: June 12-18 -Vision Health -National Cancer Survivors Day: June 4 -National Headache Awareness Week: June 4-10 -Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy -Focus on Fitness -UV Safety Month -Water Safety -Eye Injury Prevention Month -National Immunization Awareness Month -Adult Immunization Recommended Schedule -Cataract Awareness Month -Psoriasis Awareness Month -World Breastfeeding Week: August 1-7 -National Cholesterol Education Month -Prostate Cancer Awareness Month -National Pain Awareness Month -Healthy Aging Month -Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month -Fruit and Vegetable Month -World Suicide Prevention Day: September 10 -National Breast Cancer Awareness Month -Talk About Prescriptions Month -National Depression Screening Day: October 5 -National Mammography Day: October 20 -National Dental Hygiene Month -Healthy Lung Month -American Diabetes Month -Great American Smokeout: November 16 -Smoking Cessation -It's Flu Season! -TMJ Awareness Month -National Hospice Month -Prematurity Awareness Month -National Hand Washing Awareness Week: December 3-9 -Surviving the Holidays -Tis the Season NOT to Drink and Drive -World AIDS Day October November December View ALL health and wellness topics:  Adult Immunization Schedule AIDS Alcohol Awareness Alcohol Screening American Diabetes Asthma and Allergy Awareness Better Sleep Bike to Work Breast Cancer Awareness Breastfeeding Cancer Survivors Cataract Awareness Cholesterol Education Colon Cancer Screening Dental Hygiene Depression Screening Drinking and Driving Employee Health and Fitness Eye Injury Prevention Fibromyalgia Awareness Focus on Fitness Fruits and Vegetables Glaucoma Awareness Great American Smokeout Hand Washing Awareness Headache Awareness Healthy Aging Healthy Behaviors = Lower Costs Healthy Lungs Heart Health Hepatitis Awareness Hospice Immunization Awareness It's Flu Season! Kick Butts Lyme Disease Mammography Day Melanoma Men's Health Mental Health Multiple Sclerosis Education High Blood Pressure Education Nutrition Ovarian Cancer Awareness Pain Awareness Prematurity Awareness Prostate Cancer Awareness Psoriasis Awareness Skin Cancer Awareness Smoking Cessation Surviving the Holidays Take a Small Step to Stay Healthy Talk About Prescriptions The American Diabetes Alert Thyroid Awareness TMJ Awareness UV Safety Vision Health Volunteer Blood Donor Water Safety Workplace Eye Health and Safety World Suicide Prevention Your Heart and You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . October National Breast Cancer Awareness Month This month is devoted to fighting this deadly disease by raising awareness among women and men alike. The month features National Mammography Day (pdf), which includes (as does the rest of the month) discounted mammograms for patients. Here are some great tips on how to "Pass the Word" on breast cancer awareness. Talk About Prescriptions Month Communication is the key when it comes to the safe use of medicine. Throughout the month, the National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE) hopes to focus attention on the need for clarity in communication between patients, caregivers, and health care professionals. If you or your employees have questions about specific medicines, please visit the National Library of Medicine's Web site. ( Spanish version ) National Depression Screening Day - October 5, 2006 A day devoted to illnesses including depression, manic-depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and anxiety. Local providers are encouraged to provide screening opportunities and help people find links to treatment providers. Online Depression Screening test Local providers who offer screenings National Dental Hygiene Month Sponsored annually by the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA), National Dental Hygiene Month (NDHM) is a month-long observance of the importance of proper oral hygiene. Get great tips and information from the ADHA including: Oral Cancer fact sheet (pdf) Tobacco Use and Periodontal Disease (pdf) Women and Smoking (pdf) Periodontal Disease (pdf) On-the-Job Training (pdf) Bad Breath fact sheet (pdf) Diabetes fact sheet (pdf) Sjörgren's Syndrome (pdf) Healthy Lung Month The number three killer in America, lung disease is the cause of one in seven deaths. With chronic lung disease prevalent among millions of Americans, this month is dedicated to illuminating the effects of asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. The American Lung Association has numerous resources available on their web site that discuss chronic lung diseases. Eye Injury Prevention Month Eye injuries are prevalent – with over one million people suffering from them every year. If protective eyewear were equally as prevalent, many of those injuries could be prevented. Let employees see the facts clearly by highlighting the positive effect of protective eyewear.  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[52]=new Array("downloads/PowerPoint How to be a Wise Health Care Consumer.ppt","How to be a Better Health Care Consumer","","How to be a Wise Health Care Consumer 2006 Adapted with permission from The Monroe Clinic What is The Alliance Employer-owned and directed not-for-profit health care purchasing cooperative Employers with employees located in south-central Wisconsin, northern Illinois, and northeastern Iowa Access to 39 hospitals and 4,700 care providers Your advocate for information to compare and improve health care cost and quality Today’s Goals Increase your awareness of the safety and quality of our health care system and its impact on you Provide tools to help you become a wise health care consumer Help you maximize both the financial and the clinical effectiveness of each health care encounter Discussion Outline Health benefit cost trends Health care quality and safety How to make the most of each health care visit Saving money on prescription drugs The Continuum of Care When Illness is Not Prevented $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ Self Care Prevention -Home -Work Inpatient Facility After Care -SNF -Home Provider Office Outpatient Facility Health Benefit Costs Pressures to Become a Wise Consumer Increasing Age and Changing Lifestyles Create Demand for More Services Cost of Health Care Access to Health Information - Drug Advertising - Internet Growing awareness of quality and safety problems How would you rate the quality of health care? Poor Fair Good Very Good Excellent 1 2 3 4 5 Why did you choose this rating? Which of the following had the highest death rate in 1999? A. AIDS B. Motor vehicle accidents C. Breast cancer D. Medical errors in hospitals Death by the numbers A. AIDS 16,516 B. Breast cancer 42,297 C. Motor vehicle accidents 43,458 D. Medical errors in hospitals 98,000 Source: Institute of Medicine, To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System, 2000. Three types of quality problems Misuse or medical errors Overuse Underuse …and in doctors offices and clinics Odds of proper care better than a coin flip: adults fail to receive recommended health care nearly half the time for preventive care and in the management of 30 common health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease Even people who had health insurance and access to care failed to receive good care Just being able to get in to see a doctor is no guarantee you'll receive the care you need Source: “The Quality of Health Care Delivered to Adults in the United States,” Elizabeth McGlynn, et. al, New England Journal of Medicine, June 26, 2003. What You Can Do Today Use information to choose high quality hospitals and doctors Suggestions, page 3 QualityCounts www.qualitycounts.org The Leapfrog Group www.leapfroggroup.org CheckPoint www.wicheckpoint.com Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality www.wiqualitycollaborative.org Public Reporting Improves Quality: Obstetrics Care 40% 35% 30% Performance 25% Improved 20% Performance 15% Declined 10% 5% 0% Public Private No Report Report Report Source: Hibbard, et al, Health Affairs 24, number 4 (2005): 1150–60 More Things You Can Do Today Take care of yourself and learn about health needs Preventive care Chronic illness management Ask questions of your doctors, nurses and hospitals Understand the diagnosis and your treatment options Ask about their experience with your particular concern Ask how many patients they’ve treated and the outcomes Keep a current list of your medications Medication errors are the most common medical error Take a family member or friend to your appointments Make the Most of Each Health Care Visit Consult a self-care book to assess your health problem Prepare in advance “Making The Most of Each Health Care Visit” checklist, page 5 “Talking With Your Health Care Provider” checklist, page 6 “6 Ways To Share In Your Medical Decisions” tips, page 7 Be an active consumer, not a passive patient You are the customer You need understandable information You can make informed decisions Before Your Visit “Making the Most of Each Health Care Visit” checklist, page 5 Current health plan identification card List of medications, supplements and vitamins List of allergies Family Medical History During Your Visit “Talking With Your Health Care Provider” checklist, page 6 Describe your main concerns first Be bold with your questions and ask for an explanation if you don’t understand Take notes Request resources to help you better understand Ask for a summary to know how to move forward After Your Visit “Talking With Your Health Care Provider” checklist, page 6 Review your notes and file them in a safe place Call if you can’t remember or need information Talk with your pharmacist Call for your medical results or lab test Make an appointment or follow-up visit Six Ways To Share In Your Medical Decisions Suggestions, page 7 Be an active partner in your care Do your own research Ask “Why” State your preferences Compare expectations Accept responsibility If You are Referred to a Specialist Suggestions, page 8 Know the diagnosis or suspected diagnosis Learn about your basic treatment options Ask what your primary care provider expects of the specialist Make sure test results or records are sent to the specialist Ask your primary care provider to remain involved Shared Medical Decisions About Surgery Questions to ask when you may need surgery Make sure your surgery is safe Tips to prevent medical errors, pages 9 and 10 How Can I Save Money on Prescriptions? Choose generic drugs Use drugs on benefit plan’s preferred drug list Pill-splitting Mail-order or Internet pharmacy services All of the above How Can I Save Money on Prescriptions? Choose generic drugs Use drugs on benefit plan’s preferred drug list Pill-splitting Mail-order or Internet pharmacy services All of the above Choose Generic Drugs 50% available generically By law, generic must contain same ingredients as brand Generic drugs become available after patent expires Ask your doctor or pharmacist if a generic is available appropriate Use Drugs on Your Benefit Plan’s Preferred List List of preferred drugs Generic drugs Preferred brands Exclusions Lower copay for generics Substantial copay for brands Mail-order services for maintenance drugs Ask for Samples Ask your doctor for samples of newly prescribed medications Allows you to determine if medication is effective and understand side effects before purchasing full supply Notify your pharmacist if you take samples to monitor potential drug interactions Pill Splitting Might be cheaper to split pills than buy half strength Split only “scored” pills Ask your pharmacist if your medicine can be safely split and save you money For depression disorders: Zoloft and Paxil For high blood pressure: Cardura Pill-splitting devices are available at most pharmacies Tips to Prevent Mistakes with Medicines Appearance different than expected (color, shape, markings) Smell different than expected or extremely unpleasant Amount of liquid in bottle or syringe different than expected Number of pills in bottle more or less than expected Directions differ from what your doctor told you Name of the medication on bottle not as expected Reason for taking different than condition being treating Health Information Online Madison Patient Safety Collaborative www.madisonpatientsafety.org Federal Drug Administration www.fda.gov/opacom/morecons.html Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research www.ahrq.gov/clinic Health Care Billing Process Health care billing is complex Errors do happen It is to your advantage to review statements, bills and Explanation of Benefits (EOBs) for accuracy Did you receive an itemized statement? Did you receive all services listed? Are the services in the correct duration, amount or dosage? Contact the health care provider and benefit administrator if you find errors See pages 17-26 In Summary Take care of yourself Use the information and checklists in the toolkit Share information with family members and friends Most important thing you can do: ASK QUESTIONS");sQ1[53]=new Array("pdfs/Toolkit How to be a Wise Health Care Consumer.pdf","How to be a Wise Health Care Consumer.pmd","","How to be a Wise Health Care Consumer www.the-alliance.org www.qualitycounts.org PREFACE T he Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative (The Alliance) has adapted and customized this toolkit for use with its membership. The toolkit was originally produced by The Monroe Clinic. The Alliance is an employerowned and directed not-for-profit health care purchasing cooperative. We negotiate contracts with a broad array of health care providers on behalf of our members so their employees and families have the freedom to use the providers of their choice. We also advocate for public comparisons of health care quality and cost information to help our members make more informed decisions and to stimulate improvement in health care delivery. If you have questions, comments or would like additional information, please contact The Alliance Sales and Member Services Department at 608-276-6620. Table of Contents: Topic Page Choosing the Right Health Care Provider ......................................................................... 2 Reviewing Your Medical Records ...................................................................................... 2 Using Information to Choose High Quality Hospitals and Doctors .................................... 3 Accessing Care ................................................................................................................. 4 Making the Most of Each Health Care Visit ........................................................................ 5 Talking with Your Health Care Provider .............................................................................. 6 6 Ways to Share in Your Medical Decisions ...................................................................... 7 If You Are Referred to a Specialist ..................................................................................... 8 Making Shared Medical Decisions About Surgery ............................................................. 8 20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors ............................................................................. 9 How to Save Money on Prescriptions .............................................................................. 11 Generic Drugs: Things You Should Know ....................................................................... 12 A Guide for Parents: Antibiotics May Not be the Answer Runny Nose ............................................................................................................... 13 Ear Infections ............................................................................................................ 14 Health Information Online ................................................................................................ 15 Tip Offs That May Signal a Medical Rip Off ..................................................................... 16 Give Your Health Care Bills a Thorough Review ............................................................. 17 When to Contact The Alliance or the Benefit Plan Administrator ..................................... 18 Claims Worksheet Instructions ................................................................................. 19 Claims Worksheet..................................................................................................... 20 Sample Provider Statement ...................................................................................... 21 Sample Explanation of Benefits (EOB) ..................................................................... 22 Sample Provider Statement with Payment Information ............................................. 23 Key Terms to Know ......................................................................................................... 24 For Additional Assistance ................................................................................................ 26 You may reprint or cite any portion of this work with the following attribution: "Reprinted by permission from How to be a Wise Health Care Consumer: A Communications Toolkit. Adapted by The Alliance; originally produced by The Monroe Clinic. All rights reserved." These materials may not be reproduced for resale. 1 How to be a Wise Health Care Consumer A Communications Toolkit Choosing The Right Health Care Provider Choosing the Right Health Care Provider Finding the right provider can make a big difference in your health care experience. It can be a bit like fitting together pieces of a jigsaw puzzle as you look to match your specific needs with the health care providers's particular talents and bedside manner. Here are some questions to help guide you through this important process. · Is this health care provider well trained and experienced? - What is her/his education and board certification? - Does she/he have advanced training or interests? - What is her/his experience with your particular health concerns? - How many patients has she/he treated with a similar concern? - What was the outcome? · Is this provider available when needed? - What are the office hours? - If you called right now for a routine visit, how soon could you be seen? - What services are available by telephone or e-mail? · Will this provider work in partnership with you? - Will she/he answer your questions? - Will she/he encourage you to be an active partner in your health care? - Will she/he support your interest in making shared medical decisions? · What are the guidelines in your health benefit plan? - Is this provider considered an in-network or out-of-network provider? - Is a referral needed to see this provider? E s t a b l i s h a relationship with a primary care provider before you get sick. S c h e d u l e periodic preventive care exams and maintenance visits. You Have The Right To Review Your Medical Records It's important to become a partner with your medical team to ensure you receive the best possible care-- and it is a matter of good sense to keep a set of your own medical records. Just call the Medical Records Department for your clinic or health care facility to request a copy of your medical records. You will need to complete a release form and there might be a nominal fee or small charge to cover the cost of the photocopies. 2 How to be a Wise Health Care Consumer A Communications Toolkit Using Information to Choose High Quality Using Information to Choose High Quality Hospitals and Doctors In addition to asking good questions to help choose the right health care provider (see page 2), you can also use information that is available on Web sites to compare your health care choices. · QualityCounts www.qualitycounts.org The QualityCounts Web site allows you to compare hospitals in south-central Wisconsin. The 2006 report has data on 29 hospitals that participate with The Alliance and compares their performance in three areas of care: overall care, cardiac care, and birthing care. The report can help you have conversations with your family, friends and doctor about important differences. · The Leapfrog Group www.leapfroggroup.org The Leapfrog Group is a national effort to improve patient safety and save lives. As a member of Leapfrog, The Alliance works with other companies to encourage hospitals to implement certain proven standards or "leaps" that prevent medical errors and report their progress in meeting the leaps. Leapfrog's site has the results for more than 120 hospitals in Wisconsin. · CheckPoint www.wicheckpoint.com CheckPoint is sponsored by the Wisconsin Hospital Association. Its member hospitals report how they care for patients with pneumonia. heart attack, congestive heart failure, preventing medical errors, and preventing surgical infections. · Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality www.wiqualitycollaborative.org The Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality has data on hospitals and medical groups in Wisconsin--and is the only site with clinic and medical group information. It includes data on 45 measures from 19 hospitals, 14 multi-specialty physician groups, and seven health plans. · DoctorFinder http://webapps.ama-assn.org/doctorfinder/html/patient.html DoctorFinder is hosted by the American Medical Association. It provides information on 690,000 doctors of medicine (MD) and doctors of osteopathy or osteopathic medicine (DO). · DocInfo www.docinfo.org The Federation of State Medical Boards has made U.S.-licensed physician disciplinary reports available. The nationally-consolidated database provides instant access to disciplinary data and allows consumers to make informed decisions about the physicians they choose. · License and Disciplinary Action Lookup http://drl.wi.gov/drl/drllookup/LicenseLookupServlet?page=lookup_health The Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing provides information on nearly 50 health professionals--including physicians, nurses, surgeons, pharmacists, dentists, chiropractors, and acupuncturists--with disciplinary actions noted on the individual health professional's record. 3 How to be a Wise Health Care Consumer A Communications Toolkit Accessing Care 1 2 Call your primary care provider or specialist. Call the clinic nurse. 3 Primary Care Provider: Visit the clinic, urgent care center or emergency room. Specialist: A medical practitioner who specializes in specific areas of the body or a certain disease. A specialist's practice is limited to a particular class of patients or diseases (such as heart diseases) or techniques (such as surgery). A specialist is a medical practitioner who is qualified by advanced training and certification by a specialty examining board. Accessing Care A general medical practitioner who cares for adults of all ages or a pediatrician who cares for children through adolescence. A primary care provider may be a doctor, physician assistant or nurse-practitioner, cares for common and uncomplicated medical problems, and refers patients to a specialist when necessary. A primary care provider allows you to establish a trusting relationship with one medical professional over time, maintain continuity in care, and move from crisis-oriented or acute care toward preventative care, health promotion, and maintenance activities. Sources: MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia and Merriam Webster Medical Dictionary 4 How to be a Wise Health Care Consumer A Communications Toolkit Making The Most Of Each Health Care Visit You should always take the following information to your medical appointment. Being prepared will make things go more smoothly and allow you and your doctor to make the most of your visit. If an interpreter is needed, please make this request when scheduling the appointment. Current health plan identification card Employer's name, address and telephone number Previous x-rays, laboratory results and medical tests requested or required for this appointment Emergency contact person's name, address and telephone number or appointed legal guardian's name, address and telephone number Create a list of the prescribed medications, over-the-counter medications, supplements, and vitamins that you take. Include the milligram strength and how often do you take it. MEDICATION/SUPPLEMENT/VITAMIN _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ MILLIGRAM STRENGTH ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ HOW OFTEN __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ Making The Most Of Each Visit Do you have any allergies? Yes No If yes, please list __________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ Create a medical history for the past two generations in your family, include the following members: Parents _________________________________________________________________ Uncles _________________________________________________________________ Aunts __________________________________________________________________ Grandparents (maternal and paternal) __________________________________________ Siblings _________________________________________________________________ Children ________________________________________________________________ 5 How to be a Wise Health Care Consumer A Communications Toolkit Talking With Your Health Care Provider Talking With Your Health Care Provider Before Your Visit: Consult a self-care guide book to assess your health problem Complete the "Making The Most Of Each Health Care Visit" checklist on page 4. Write down what you want from the visit, your symptoms and your questions. Practice your questions so that you feel more confident and it is easier to ask them. Review your health benefit plan so that you know what services are and are not covered. During Your Visit: Tell your provider that you have a list of items to discuss. Describe your main concerns first. Describe your symptoms and any past experiences with the same or similar concerns. Be bold with your questions and ask for an explanation if you don't understand the answer. Take notes to remember what your provider says to you. Request resources to help you better understand your condition, diagnosis and treatment options. Ask your provider to summarize the visit so you know how to move forward with your care. After Your Visit: Review your notes from the appointment and file them in a safe place. Call your provider if you can't remember details or need additional information. Talk with your pharmacist if you have been prescribed a medication. Call for your medical results or laboratory test if you do not hear from your provider. Make an appointment if your provider suggested a specialist or follow-up visit. 6 How to be a Wise Health Care Consumer A Communications Toolkit 6 Ways To Share In Your Medical Decisions 1. Be an active partner in your care Let your health care provider know that you want to be an active partner in your care and make medical decisions together. 2. Do your own research You might want to research your symptoms, diagnosis or treatment options to better understand what your provider has said, why a certain treatment plan was chosen, and why a certain medication was prescribed. 6 Ways To Share In Your Medical Decisions 3. Ask "Why" Always ask "why" before agreeing to any medical test, medication or treatment plan. You could also ask the following questions about medical tests, medications and treatments: · What is its name and how is it spelled? · Why is it needed? · What are the risks? · What are the costs? · Are there other alternatives or options that might also meet my needs? · What if I don't do anything? Will my symptoms go away or get worse? · How do I take this medication? · How do I prepare for the medical or laboratory test? Can I eat or drink before the test? 4. State your preferences Tell your provider if you prefer one medication or treatment option over another based on your personal desires, interests and values. 5. Compare expectations Ask what your provider expects from the medical treatment. Tell your provider what you expect from the medical treatment and ask if that is realistic. Discuss side effects, pain, recovery time and long-term limitations. 6. Accept responsibility When you make shared decisions with your provider, both of you must accept the responsibility for the outcomes. 7 How to be a Wise Health Care Consumer A Communications Toolkit If You Are Referred To A Specialist · Know and understand the diagnosis or suspected diagnosis. · Learn about your basic treatment options. Specialist Surgery · Ask your primary care provider about her/his expectations of the specialist. · Make sure any test results or records about your case are sent to the specialist by your primary care provider. · Ask your primary care provider to remain involved in your treatment plan. After you consult with the specialist, be sure any findings or test results are shared with your primary care provider. Making Shared Medical Decisions About Surgery Questions to ask your provider when you are told you may need surgery 1. Why do I need surgery and what operation are you recommending? 2. Are there alternatives to surgery? 3. How much will the surgery cost? 4. What are the benefits and risks of having the surgery? 5. What if I don't have this surgery? 6. Where can I get a second opinion? Questions to ask your surgeon to make sure your surgery is safe 1. How much experience do you have doing this surgery? 2. What is your success rate? 3. At which hospital will the operation be done? 4. What kind of anesthesia will be used? Local, general, regional, or spinal? 5. How will I feel afterward? How long will it be until I'm fully recovered? 6. How can I best prepare for the surgery and the recovery period? 8 How to be a Wise Health Care Consumer A Communications Toolkit 20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors 20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors Medical errors are one of the nation's leading causes of death and injury. A report by the Institute of Medicine estimates as many as 98,000 people die in U.S. hospitals each year as the result of medical errors...that means more people die from medical errors each year than from motor vehicle accidents or breast cancer! Medical errors happen when something that was planned as a part of medical care doesn't work out or when the wrong plan was used in the first place. Medical errors can occur anywhere in the health care system, including hospitals, clinics, outpatient surgery centers, doctor offices, pharmacies, and even in your home. Government agencies, health care purchasers, health care providers, and other groups are working together to make the health care system safer. This tip sheet explains how you can help prevent medical errors and describes what works best when it comes to preventing medical errors with medicines, hospital stays, surgery, and other health care settings. 1. The single most important way you can help prevent errors is to be an active member of your care team. That means taking part in every decision about your care. Research shows that patients who are more involved with their care tend to get better results. Medicines 2. Make sure your doctors know about everything that you're taking--this should include prescription and over-the-counter medicines, and dietary supplements such as vitamins and herbs. At least once a year, take along all of your medicines and supplements to your doctor visit. This will help you and your doctor talk about the items and find out if there are any problems. It can also help your doctor keep your records up to date, which can help you get better care. You should also keep your own medication list; for more information, see the Madison Patient Safety Collaborative's Medication Safety and Wallet card at www.madisonpatientsafety.org. 3. Make sure your doctor knows about allergies and adverse reactions you have had to any medicines. Sharing important information about your experience with previous medications can help you avoid medicines that can harm you. 4. When your doctor writes you a prescription, make sure that you can read it. If you can't read your doctor's handwriting, your pharmacist might not be able to either and you could be given the wrong medication or the wrong dosage. 5. Ask questions about your medicines--both when they are prescribed and when you receive them. · What is the medicine for? · How am I supposed to take it and for how long? · What side effects are likely? What do I do if they occur? · Is this medicine safe to take with other medicines or dietary supplements that I'm already taking? · What food, drink or activities should I avoid while taking this medicine? 6. When you pick up your medicine from the pharmacy, ask: "Is this the medicine and dosage that my doctor prescribed?" A study by Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences found that 88 percent of medicine errors involved receiving the wrong drug or the wrong dose. 7. If you have questions about the directions on your medicine labels or don't know how use it, ask. Medicine labels can be hard to understand. For example, does "four doses daily" mean taking a dose every 6 hours around the clock or just during waking hours? If you're not sure, just ask. 9 How to be a Wise Health Care Consumer A Communications Toolkit 8. Ask your pharmacist for the best device to measure your liquid medicine. Research shows many people do not know the correct way to measure liquid medicines and use a household teaspoon, which often does not hold a true teaspoon of liquid. Special devices, such as marked syringes, can help you measure the right dose. 9. Ask for written information about possible side effects that your medicine could cause. If you know what might happen before it happens, you'll be better prepared if it does happen. You'll also be able to report the problem right away and get help before it gets worse. Hospital Stays 10. If you have a choice, select a hospital at which many patients had the surgery or procedure you need. Research shows that patients tend to have better results when they are treated at hospitals that have more of experience with their specific condition. 11. Ask health care workers who have direct contact with you if they have washed their hands. Handwashing is an important way to prevent the spread of infections; however, it is not done regularly. A recent study found when patients asked if health care workers washed their hands, the workers washed their hands more often and used more soap. 12. When you are being discharged from the hospital, ask your doctor to explain your home treatment plan. At discharge time, doctors think their patients understand more than they really do about what they should and should not do when they go home from the hospital. The plan should include learning about your medicines and when you can get back to your regular activities. Surgery 13. Make sure you, your doctor, and your surgeon agree on exactly what will be done. Doing surgery on the wrong site, such as operating on the left knee instead of the right knee, is not common; however it happens. Wrong site surgery is a 100% preventable medical error. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons urges surgeons to sign their initials directly on the site to be operated on before the surgery. Other Steps You Can Take 14. Speak up if you have any questions or concerns. You have the right to ask questions to anyone who is involved with your care. 15. Make sure someone, such as your primary care physician, is in charge of your care. Having one person in charge of your care is especially important if you have multiple health problems or are in the hospital. 16. Make sure all health workers involved in your care have important health information about you. Don't assume that everyone knows everything they need to know about your condition, diagnosis or treatment. It is okay to check, double check and check again. 17. Ask a family member or friend to be with you during care visits or hospitals stays. It's surprising how much information you can miss and always helpful to have a second set of ears and eyes. It can also be helpful to have someone serve as your advocate and speak up if you can't. 18. Know that "more" is not always better. It is a good idea to ask why a specific test or treatment is needed and how it will help you. You might be better off without it; make sure it is medically necessary. 19. If you have a medical or laboratory test, be sure to ask for the results. Do not assume that no news is good news. Contact your doctor to request a copy of the test results. 20. Learn about your condition and treatments by talking with your doctor and using other sources. Health care is complex, but is important to make sure that you understand your care and to learn more about the recommended treatments. Specific treatment recommendations are available from the National Guidelines Clearinghouse at www.guideline.gov. Additional resources are included on the "Health Information Online" information sheet on page 14. Source: "20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors: Patient Fact Sheet." Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, February 2000. 10 How to be a Wise Health Care Consumer A Communications Toolkit How To Save Money On Prescriptions You can save money on prescription drugs by becoming a smart shopper and knowing what to discuss with your doctor and pharmacist. Having discussions on whether a less expensive drug will work, comparing prices among pharmacies, and finding out about assistance programs can help you save money. Use generic drugs. If your doctor writes a prescription for a brand-name product, ask if it can be replaced by a generic drug. Generics can save up to 70% of the cost of brand-name prescriptions. Request first tier products. Ask your doctor to prescribe a drug on the "first tier" of your benefit plan formulary or preferred drug list. A first tier drug is likely to be a generic product provided at a low cost. Drugs on the second and third tiers are more expensive and may require a substantial co-payment, especially for third tier products. How To Save Money On Prescriptions Shop around. While your benefit plan may pay for most of the cost, ask your doctor or pharmacist about the total cost for each prescription. There may be a more costeffective alternative that will be just as effective in treating your condition. You might want to shop around because pharmacies can charge different prices for the same medication. Another cost-saving approach is to use a mail-order or Internet pharmacy. Ask for samples. Ask your doctor for free samples to allow you to evaluate the side effects and drug's effectiveness before you actually buy it. If you receive samples, let your pharmacist know so that she/he can stay on top of potential drug interactions. Ask about pill-splitting. It may be cheaper to split 100-milligram tablets into two doses instead of buying 50-milligram tablets. Ask your pharmacist whether it is safe to split a specific medication and about inexpensive pill-splitting devices. Finish your prescription. Take the recommended medication dosage and intervals even when the symptoms of your illness have disappeared. Some bacteria may survive and reproduce if you don't complete the entire course of treatment. State assistance programs. Many states have programs to provide pharmaceutical coverage or assistance, primarily for low-income elderly or individuals with disabilities. Details are available on the Internet at: www.ncsl.org/programs/health/drugaid.htm Indigent-patient programs. Pharmaceutical companies often provide products free of charge to patients in need. Some companies make nearly all their products available, but others are more restrictive. Details are available on the Internet at: www.pparx.org 11 How to be a Wise Health Care Consumer A Communications Toolkit Generic Drugs: Things You Should Know Prescription drugs can be a costly medical expense. However, each state has a law that allows pharmacists to substitute less expensive generic drugs for brand-name products. Depending on your prescription needs, your savings could be significant. Before you talk with your health care provider or pharmacist about switching to a generic drug, there are things you need to know about generic drugs and the law. What is the difference between a generic and brand-name drug? Not much, except for the name and the price. A generic drug is called by its chemical name while a brand name is assigned by a specific drug manufacturer. Generic and brand-name drugs have the same ingredients. Standard practice and most state laws require that a generic drug be "generically equivalent" to its brand-name counterpart, which means it must have the same active ingredients, strength and dosage form (pill, liquid or injection). A generic must also be "therapeutically equivalent", which means it must be the same chemically and have the same medical effect. Do all drugs have generic equivalents? No. Some drugs are protected by patents and are available from only one manufacturer. However once the patient expires, other drug manufacturers can produce a generic equivalent. Currently, about half the drugs on the market are available in a generic form. How can I get generic drugs? Talk with your provider or pharmacist. Explain that you want the most effective drug at the best price. Whenever possible, ask your provider to write prescriptions for generic drugs. Are there exceptions to the law? Yes. If your provider writes on the prescription that a specific brand-name drug is required, your pharmacist must fill the prescription as written and cannot substitute a generic drug. However, your pharmacist can speak with your provider about the prescription. Your provider may not know an acceptable generic drug exists. Your pharmacist can compare and evaluate the generic drug and the brand-name drug, and consult with your provider about the best medication at the best possible price. Will my provider automatically prescribe generic drugs? It depends on the provider. You can ask your provider to write a prescription that allows for a generic drug when appropriate. You can also ask your provider if a generic drug will be as effective and less costly. Where can I get more information? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a toll-free hotline to answer your questions; just call 1-888-463-6332. Information is also available on the Internet at: www.fda.gov Generic Drugs 12 How to be a Wise Health Care Consumer A Communications Toolkit A Guide For Parents: Antibiotics may not be the answer Runny Nose What are the signs of a cold? A stuffy or runny nose (drainage from nose can be clear, yellow or green), sore throat, fever, cough (usually at night and in the morning), watery eyes, feeling tired or being fussy, and headache. What causes a runny nose? When germs that cause colds first infect the nose and sinuses, the nose makes clear mucus to help wash the germs from the nose and sinuses. After two or three days, the body's immune cells fight back and the mucus changes to a white or yellow color. Bacteria that live in the nose grow back, which changes the mucus to a greenish color. This is normal and does not mean your child needs an antibiotic. What should I do? · The best treatment is to wait and watch your child. Nasal discharge, cough, fever, headache and muscle aches may be bothersome, but antibiotics will not make them go away any faster. · Allow extra sleep and nap time, provide lots of fluids, give acetaminophen or ibuprofen as needed for pain or fever, and keep your home smoke-free. · Some people find that using a cool mist vaporizer, warm steam in a bathroom and using saltwater or saline nose drops helps their child feel better. Are antibiotics ever needed for a runny nose? Antibiotics are needed only if your child is diagnosed as having sinusitis. A Guide For Parents Why not try antibiotics now? Taking antibiotics when they are not needed can be harmful to your child. Each time someone takes antibiotics, they are more likely to carry resistant germs in their noses and throats. These resistant germs cannot be killed by common antibiotics. Your child may need more costly antibiotics, antibiotics by a needle or may even need to be in the hospital to receive more advanced antibiotics. Since a runny nose almost always gets better on its own, it is better to wait and take antibiotics only when they are needed. 13 How to be a Wise Health Care Consumer A Communications Toolkit A Guide For Parents: Antibiotics may not be the answer Ear Infections What are the signs of an ear infection? What Diagnosising an ear infection is not always an easy thing to do. A doctor has to look in a child's ear and even if the child has ear pain, it's not always due to an infection. Signs of an ear infection can include ear pain, child is playing less, acting fussy and increased crying, decreased appetite, and fever. What causes an ear infection? Ear infections develop when the channel between the middle ear and the back of the throat (eustachian tube) gets clogged. Fluid and bacteria get trapped in the middle ear, causing an infection. The eardrum then becomes irritated and swollen. That's why it hurts so much. What should I do? · The best treatment is to wait and watch your child. Allow extra sleep and nap time, provide lots of fluids, and give acetaminophen or ibuprofen as needed for pain or fever. · Call your doctor if your child has ear pain or any of these signs: fluid draining from the ear, swelling or redness around the ear, dizziness, or trouble hearing. · On your next routine visit, your doctor will be able to tell if the fluid has gone away. · You could also schedule a separate doctor visit in a few months to see if the fluid is gone. Are antibiotics ever needed for a runny nose? Antibiotics are needed only if your child is diagnosed as having a middle ear infection. Why not try antibiotics now? Taking antibiotics when they are not needed can be harmful to your child. Each time someone takes antibiotics, they are more likely to carry resistant germs in their noses and throats. These resistant germs cannot be killed by common antibiotics. Your child may need more costly antibiotics, antibiotics by a needle or may even need to be in the hospital to receive more advanced antibiotics. Since most ear infections almost always gets better on its own, it is better to wait and take antibiotics only when they are needed. 14 How to be a Wise Health Care Consumer A Communications Toolkit Health Information Online How do I find the best information online? Start your search in the right place: use the following health-related search engines. · Hardin Meta Directory www.lib.uiowa.edu/hardin/md/index.html ­ a directory created by the University of Iowa to find accurate Internet health sources. · Healthfinder www.healthfinder.gov ­ a site developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that features links to health information from reputable sources. · HealthWeb www.healthweb.org ­ a site designed for educational purposes by the health science librarians of the Committee for Institutional Cooperation. · MEDLINEplus www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus ­ a site created by the National Library of Medicine to search authoritative Web sites for health information. How can I find recent information? Medical information and technology changes rapidly. New treatment options might be available or drug complications may have just been discovered. Be sure to use sites with recent information. · ReutersHealth www.reutershealth.com ­ breaking medical news. · Food and Drug Administration www.fda.gov/opacom/morecons.html ­ prescription drug news. Health Information Online · Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality www.ahrq.gov/clinic/ ­ clinical treatment news. Look out for cons, frauds, and quack information Consumers spend millions of dollars every year on unproven health products and services. To fight health fraud on the Internet, the Federal government provides Web sites for law enforcement and consumer education. · Operation Cure All www.ftc.gov/healthclaims ­ recognizing health fraud. · Food and Drug Administration www.fda.gov/oc/buyonline/default.htm ­ buying medicines. Will any information I share be passed on to another company or sold? Some sites might ask that you to answer a series of questions before allowing you to access their information. Provide minimal information about yourself and know what you're committing to by reading the fine print before you accept the Web site's terms. Get a second opinion Talk with your health care provider before making a medical decision based on what you read on the Internet. You can also ask your provider to suggest educational Web sites that might be helpful to learn more about your symptoms, condition or diagnosis. Additional online resources from the Madison Patient Safety Collaborative and National Guidelines Clearinghouse appear on the "20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors" information sheet on pages 9-10. 15 How to be a Wise Health Care Consumer A Communications Toolkit Tip Offs That May Signal A Medical Rip Off Somewhere along the line, someone will try to take you to the cleaners. How do you stop them? Protect yourself--and your wallet--by heeding the following tips America's top consumer guardians. · If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is! Tip Offs That May Signal A Medical Rip Off · Avoid claims that a product is a scientific breakthrough, a miraculous cure, a secret ingredient or an ancient remedy. · Steer away from claims that a product is an effective cure for a wide range of ailments. No product can cure multiple conditions or diseases. · Be cautious of claims that suggest a product can cure diseases such as impotency or cancer. · Watch out for impressive-sounding medical terms that often cover up a lack of good science. · Stay away from undocumented case histories of individuals who have had amazing results...it is just too easy to make them up. And even if true, results typically cannot be applied to the entire population. Anecdotes are not a substitute for good science. Remember: if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. · Keep clear of products that are only available from one source and that require payment in advance, such as "Hurry! This offer will not last. Send us a check now to reserve your supply." · Be careful with claims that offer a no-risk, money-back guarantee. · Watch out for claims that medical professionals or research scientists are working to suppress the advertised product so that they can keep their market share. · Stay away from Web sites that do not include the company's name, physical address, phone number or other contact information. Sources: "Miracle Health Claims: Add a Dose of Skepticism." Federal Trade Commission, September 2001. "Virtual Treatments Can be Real-World Deceptions" Federal Trade Commission Consumer Alert, June 2001. 16 How to be a Wise Health Care Consumer A Communications Toolkit Give Your Health Care Bills a Thorough Review Make no mistake about it: reviewing your health care bill to make sure that all the charges are justified is a significant undertaking. It can be easier if you know what to look for--and help protect both you and your employer from unnecessary charges and hold down health care costs. Here are some things that you should look for when you receive a statement from your health care provider and Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statement from your health plan administrator. · Did you receive an itemized statement? If not, request it. Give Your Health Care Bills A Thorough Review · Did you receive every service, treatment or medication listed on the itemized statement? Be alert for double billing and unordered tests. · Are the services in the correct duration, amount or dosage? If the statement is hard to understand, call the Billing Department and ask them to explain it or give you additional information. If you find errors, contact your health care provider and your health plan administrator. Be polite but assertive as you ask them to eliminate any improper charges from your bill. For some health care services you might receive statements from providers whom you never see face-toface such as a radiologist who provides expert interpretation of X-rays and medical images. You may receive a separate statement for these services. Be sure to review these statement as well and if you have any questions, contact the provider by calling the number on the statement. 17 When to contact The Alliance Call The Alliance customer service line at 608-276-6630 or 800-223-4139 or send an e-mail message to csr@the-alliance.org if you have questions on: Whether a health care provider participates in The Alliance How to troubleshoot a specific claim problem or work with the health care system You can also visit The Alliance Web sites to: Use the Provider Directory to see the most current information for health care providers that participate with The Alliance View toolkits that can help you learn more about health care consumerism, patient safety, and diabetes See reports that contain important cost and quality information of significant interest to health care consumers The Alliance is an employer-owned and directed not-for-profit health care purchasing cooperative. We negotiate contracts with a broad array of health care providers on behalf of our member companies so their employees have the freedom to choose providers that best meet their needs. When to contact the administrator or payer Call the administrator or payer (their contact information is listed on your health plan ID card) if you have questions on: What is and is not covered by your benefit plan Whether you need to get approval or be precertified before you have treatment or surgery How your out-of-pocket costs might be affected if you see a provider outside The Alliance How much your plan will pay or has paid How to interpret an explanation of benefits (EOB) statement Other important contacts Your human resource representative Name: Phone: Your doctor or other health professional Name: Phone: Your urgent care or after hours medical center Name: Phone: Your nearest emergency room or hospital Name: Phone: For specific questions about your benefit plan, please see your employee health benefit booklet. Contact your human resources department, benefit plan administrator or payer if you need additional information; the contact information for the administrator or payer is listed on your health plan ID card. Remember to show your ID card It is always important to show your health plan ID card when you receive health care services. "The Alliance" appears on your ID card to identify you as an Alliance participant, which can help you and your employer save money. www.the-alliance.org www.qualitycounts.org 18 Claims Worksheet Instructions 1. You determine that you or a family member needs medical services and schedule a health care appointment. 2. If you have questions about what is and is not covered by your benefit plan or need to know whether to get approval or be precertified before you receive the medical services, call your benefit plan administrator. The benefit plan administrator contact information is listed on your health plan ID card. 3. If you have questions about whether a health care provider participates in The Alliance, call The Alliance at 608-276-6630 or 800-223-4139 or send an e-mail message to csr@the-alliance.org. 4. You or a family member receives the medical services. 5. After visiting the health care provider, complete columns A, B, and C. 6. The health care provider sends a claim to The Alliance for repricing. 7. The Alliance sends the claim and the reprice sheet to your benefit plan administrator. 8. The health care provider may send you a statement that isn't a bill but a notification that they submitted the claim to your benefit plan administrator. Verify the information completed in columns A, B, and C, and enter the billed amount in column D; keep the statement in a secure place so you can refer to it again if needed. 9. You receive an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statement from your benefit plan administrator that tells you how they processed the claim. · If the EOB appears to be correct and does not require any additional information, complete columns E-I. · If you have questions on how your benefit plan administrator processed your claim or additional information is required, contact your benefit plan administrator. Record your notes from your phone call in column K. 10. The health care provider may send you a final statement for the amount that you owe, which should match the amount in column J. If it does not, call your benefit plan administrator for additional information. 11. Make payment to the health care provider for the amount you owe. 19 Claims Worksheet Plan Year: ________ Single Deductible Amount: ________ Family Deductible Amount: ________ Coinsurance Amount: _________ Out-of-Pocket Amount: ________ Office Visit Co-Pay: ___________ A Family Member Bob B Provider Name C Date of Service D E F Allowed Amount $40 G H I Plan Paid $0 J Amount Owed $40 K Notes Billed Alliance Amount Discount $10 Deductible Not Amount Covered $40 $40 Dr. Doctor 11/1/2005 $50 20 Sample Provider Statement ABC Health Care Provider Statement of Account Bill to: Bob Jones 1234 Pleasant Valley Rd Madison, WI Date: 12/1/2005 Account: 123456789 C Date A Patient Description B Provider Amount 11/1/2005 Bob # Office Visit Dr. Doctor $50.00 D Statement Balance $50.00 # An insurance claim has been prepared for these services. 21 Sample Explanation of Benefits (EOB) Benefit Plan Administrator This claim was processed according to the terms of the benefit plan of Employer XYZ, Inc. Date: 12/15/2005 Group #: 12345 Participant: Bob Patient: Bob Participant #: 123 Provider: Dr. Doctor Claim #: 1234 Customer Representative: Jan C Service Date Service Code D E H F Benefit Copay F G Eligible for Coinsurance I Amount Paid Charged N e t w o r k Ineligible Eligible Amount S a v i n g s Amount Amount Deductible 11/1/2005 99213 $50 $10 $10 $40 $0 TO TA L $50 $10 $10 $40 $0 Explanation of Service Code: 99213 Office Visit Deductible Remaining: Coinsurance Remaining: Provider Network: $160 The Alliance Total Amount Charged Total Adjustments Paid by Other Coverages Total Paid ByBenefit Plan Patient Responsibility $50 $10 $0 $0 $40 J This is not a request for payment. Questions about the processing of this claim should be referred to Benefit Plan Administrator. 22 Sample Provider Statement with Payment Information ABC Health Care Provider Statement of Account Bill to: Bob Jones 1234 Pleasant Valley Rd Madison, WI Date: 12/1/2005 Account: 123456789 C Date A Patient Description B Provider Amount 11/1/2005 11/30/2005 11/30/2005 Bob Bob Bob # Office Visit Alliance Discount or Adjustment Ins. Deductible $40 F G Dr. Doctor $50.00 $10.00 D E Statement Balance $40.00 J # An insurance claim has been prepared for these services. PAY THIS AMOUNT: $40.00 PAYMENT DUE DATE: 12/15/2005 23 How to be a Wise Health Care Consumer A Communications Toolkit Key Terms to Know The following terms and definitions are often used in the health care and insurance industries. Please see your employer's summary plan description document for specific terms and definitions related to your benefit plan. Allowed Amount The amount the benefit plan considers in determining benefits, based on benefits described in the Summary Plan Description (SPD) document and the amount charged for the same service by other doctors in the same geographic area. If the health care provider's fee is reduced because of a discount, the considered amount is the difference between the provider's fee and the discount. Also called "repriced amount" if a discount is applied to the provider's fee. Benefit Plan Administrator The party contracted with by your employer to process claims for health benefit plan participants. If you have questions about your coverage, please contact the Benefit Plan Administrator. Billed Charge The provider's fee for the service performed before any discount or co-insurance is applied. Claims Administrator See Benefit Plan Administrator. Co-Insurance The amount of the health care claim for which you are responsible, which is often expressed as a percentage such as 20 percent. Co-insurance is calculated based on the benefits outlined in the Summary Plan Description (SPD) document. Key Terms to Know C o n s i d e r e d Amount See Allowed Amount Coordination of Benefits The system for determining how health care claims are paid for patients covered under more than one health benefit plan. Refer to your Summary Plan Description (SPD) document for more information on how your benefit plan coordinates benefits with other plans. Co-Pay A flat fee that you pay for a certain service or benefit, such as a $20 co-pay for an office visit. C o v e r e d Charge A service or benefit eligible for payment; however, certain requirements or limits may apply. Date of Service The date on which a health care claim was incurred, which provides essential information for accurately calculating when applicable deductibles, benefit limits and out-of-pocket maximums are reached. Deductible The amount the patient must pay before the plan pays benefits. Check your Summary Plan Description (SPD) document to see if your plan's family deductible is an aggregate of all family members' charges or if each family member's deductible is tracked separately. Plan participants usually must satisfy a new deductible each calendar year. 24 How to be a Wise Health Care Consumer A Communications Toolkit Discount The difference between the amount the health care provider charges and the amount she or he agreed to accept as payment in full. Duplicate Claim A claim that has been submitted more than once for consideration and payment by the plan. The claims administrator should reject or deny duplicate claims to avoid duplicate payments. E x c l u d e d Amount The amount of a claim that is denied typically because a service or benefit is not covered under the plan or because the service or benefit has been provided in excess of plan maximums. Charges not covered under the plan do not count toward deductibles or out-of-pocket limits. Explanation of Benefits (EOB) The statement produced by the benefit plan administrator that shows how a claim was processed. Lifetime Maximum The most the plan will pay for a benefit plan participant during the time period in which the participant is covered under the plan (usually not the participant's entire lifetime). Out-of-Pocket Maximum The most you may be required to pay for Covered Charges during a specific time period, often one year. May or may not include the deductible. Family maximums may be an aggregate of all family member's co-insurance and/or deductibles or calculated separately. Check your plan's Summary Plan Description (SPD) document for details. Preauthorization Advanced approval to obtain care or approval for an inpatient admission as required by some plans. Failure to obtain preauthorization may affect your benefit payment. Check your health plan ID card or contact your human resources or employee benefits department to determine if preauthorization is applicable. Precertification See Preauthorization Reasonable and Customary (R and C) Amount See Allowed Amount Repriced Amount The amount of a claim that has been "priced again" and for which a discount has been applied to the original charge. Also see Allowed Amount. Submitted Charge See Billed Charge Usual & Customary (U&C) Amount See Allowed Amount 25 How to be a Wise Health Care Consumer A Communications Toolkit For Additional Assistance You can contact the following organizations if you're overwhelmed by the complexities of the health care claims process and need additional assistance with a particular concern. Call the administrator or payer listed on your health plan ID card for: · Information on what is and is not covered under the benefit plan · Status of a specific claim and if it has been processed or paid · Help in understanding your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statement · Assistance in updating information requested for claims processing, such as proof of a dependent's full-time student status Call The Alliance at 608-276-6630 or 800-223-4139 to: · Find out if a specific care provider or health care facility participates with The Alliance · Learn how to troubleshoot a specific health care claim · Receive information on the most current consumer information and toolkits For Additional Assistance Call your employer's Benefits Department for: · Assistance with updates to eligibility information for you or your covered family members, such as adding a new child to your coverage or terminating coverage for your spouse in the event of divorce · Additional information on a specific claim, after calling the Benefit Plan Administrator You can also access basic information about health insurance and health care system from the Web sites below. Frequently Asked Questions about Health Insurance Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance http://oci.wi.gov/faq/health.htm Consumer Guide to Health Care Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services www.dhfs.state.wi.us/guide/index.htm Guide to Health Insurance America's Health Insurance Plans www.ahip.org/content/default.aspx?bc=41|329|351 26 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201 PO Box 44365 Madison, WI 53744-0465 Fax 608-276-6626 Phone 608-276-6620 www.the-alliance.org www.quailtycounts.org");sQ1[54]=new Array("consumer_newsletters_archives.htm","The Alliance ERC ::  Consumer Newsletter Archives","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Employer Tools Alliance Newsletter Case Studies Education Forum Summaries Employer Networking Groups Health Provider Network Lending Library Preferred Pricing QualityCounts Toolkit Summary Plan Description Workers' Comp Network Consumer Newsletter (archives) return to current consumer newsletters 2006 ISSUE ARCHIVES June May April March February .......................... 2005 ISSUE ARCHIVES December/January November October September August July June May April March February .......................... 2004 ISSUE ARCHIVES December/January November October September August July June May April March January/February . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . You will need Acrobat Reader to view The Alliance News newsletter. This is a free download from Adobe.  Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day   ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[55]=new Array("pdfs/Self Care Guides and HOPE Health Flyer 0604.pdf","Self-Care Guides, Preferred Pricing on Hope Health Products","","Self-Care Guides, Preferred Pricing on Hope Health Products With Programs for Your Health, The Alliance brings you products and services that help make workplace wellness promotion easier and more affordable. We continue to offer preferred pricing on some tried-and-true products. Take Care of Yourself The self-care manual Take Care of Yourself (TCY) has been a very successful part of our Programs for Your Health since the early days of The Alliance. To assist our membership in placing self-care books in as many homes as possible, we also offer a Spanish version of TCY. As with TCY, we have negotiated prices much lower than retail for these books. Taking Care Taking Care covers 100 common health problems and has a separate section with 20 chronic ailments such as alcoholism, diabetes, and much more. It also has information on prevention of disease, health care consumerism, and stocking a medicine cabinet. Taking Care, unlike TCY, does not have a section on responding to emergencies. Cuídate Spanish-language Take Care of Yourself. Preferred Pricing for Self Care Guides 1 to 50 51 to 500 501 to 1,000 1,001 to 3,000 3,000 to 10,000 Taking Care of Yourself $8.75 $8.65 $8.45 $8.35 $8.30 Taking Care $6.25 $6.10 $5.90 $5.80 $5.75 Cuidaté $10.90 $10.75 $10.55 $10.45 $10.40 All three publications may be ordered through The Alliance. Contact your Alliance account executive at 608-276-6620, or e-mail mms@the-alliance.org to place an order. June 2004 Preferred Rates on Hope Health Products Alliance members can also purchase HOPE Publications products at preferred rates: · The HOPE Health Letter is a two-color newsletter, written in a personal style. · The HOPE Health Letter is also available quarterly in Spanish. Contact HOPE Health for more details. · The Take Heart newsletter is a businesslike newsletter that gets straight to the point. · HOPE Health can also provide an electronic version of their letters. Contact them for more information. Preferred Pricing on HOPE Publications Retail Prices HOPE Health Letter 25 to 100 101 to 500 501 to 2,500 Take Heart 25 to 100 101 to 500 501 to 2,500 Booklets and Brochures: 10% off retail prices $ 0.50 $ 0.42 $ 0.37 Alliance Rates $ 0.19 $ 0.19 $ 0.19 $ 0.58 $ 0.49 $ 0.42 $ 0.23 $ 0.23 $ 0.23 If you aren't familiar with HOPE Publications products, we encourage you to take a look. They're truly among the best in the field. You can obtain a catalog and free samples of all their newsletters and several brochures by calling 800-334-4094. When calling HOPE Publications to order any of these products, use this same phone number, ask for extension 773, and identify your company as an Alliance member in order to get the special rates. You can also visit HOPE Publications on the Web at www.hopehealth.com. Continually adding value to your Alliance membership is our goal--we hope you can take advantage of these special rates, benefiting your employees. June 2004");sQ1[56]=new Array("newsletters.htm","The Alliance ERC ::  The Alliance Newsletter","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Employer Tools Alliance Newsletter Case Studies Education Forum Summaries Employer Networking Groups Health Provider Network Lending Library Preferred Pricing QualityCounts Toolkit Summary Plan Description Workers' Comp Network The Alliance Newsletter Where health care is always in the headlines. To keep yourself updated on the latest ways The Alliance can help you, check out The Alliance Newsletter. It's loaded with the latest health care developments here at The Alliance, including tips on how to make new programs work to your advantage. It also serves as an invaluable reference source as you develop new strategies, especially previous "In the News" articles. The newsletter is a must-read for all the key players who drive your health care strategies. 2006 ISSUES .......................... November October September .......................... view ARCHIVES  Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day   ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[57]=new Array("AllianceNews2006/JulyAugust2006.htm","Alliance News July/August 2006","","The Alliance News July/August 2006 The Alliance to Serve on National Committees Education Sessions Teach the Ins and Outs of Health Care Self-Care Guide Books Can Help Reduce Medical Costs Planning a Health Fair? Creating a Wellness Program? QualityCounts for Employees Alliance Provider Update News You Can Use About Alliance News The Alliance to Serve on National Committees John Bott, Value Based Purchasing Manager with The Alliance, was selected to serve on the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Quality Indicators Composite Measures Workgroup. The workgroup will identify a composite methodology for the Inpatient Quality Indicators and the Patient Safety Indicators that would meet the needs of various stakeholders for public reporting. Members of the workgroup include 17 national experts and an additional 13 experts that will serve as liaison members and technical advisors. Cheryl DeMars, CEO of The Alliance, was elected to serve on the Board of Governors for the National Business Coalition on Health (NBCH). Officers are elected based on proven leadership as well as their efforts to advance and strengthen the tenets of value based purchasing. NBCH is committed to finding innovative ways to improve the quality and affordability of health care, raise the bar for health care performance, and move the market to deliver greater value for the purchaser's health care dollar. Back to Top Education Sessions Teach the Ins and Outs of Health Care We’ve been busy this summer delivering two employee education sessions to our member companies. One session focuses on the new QualityCounts report while the other session explores how to be a wise health care consumer. The education sessions are designed to help your employees learn more about the health care system and gain confidence to receive the best care possible. The QualityCounts presentation teaches employees about important health care quality and safety issues, delves into the new report on hospital care, and encourages employees to be active and informed health care consumers. If you’d like to review the QualityCounts presentation or schedule an education session for your employees, please contact Cindy Schlough, 608.210.6622. The wise health care consumer presentation describes health benefit cost trends, explores health care quality and safety, teaches employees make the most of each health care visit, and offers tips on saving money on prescription drugs. If you’d like to review the wise health care presentation or schedule an education session for your employees, please contact Sunshine Mikulak, 608.210.6634. Back to Top Self-Care Guide Books Can Help Reduce Medical Costs The average medical cost for a family of four is projected to increase by 9.6 percent from $12,214 in 2005 to $13,382 in 2006, according to a recent report from Milliman. One way to help your employees lower their medical expenses is to help them recognize when medical care is needed and when they’ll be fine without it. Medical self-care guide books provide your employees with quick, accurate answers to everyday health questions. The easy-to-follow decision charts tell employees exactly when to see a doctor and have been found to save money. We offer two popular guide books for you to purchase for your employees at a discounted rate. Take Care of Yourself: Covers over 175 health care problems and symptoms with additional information on the keys of good health and the power of prevention, creating an effective home medicine chest, and working with the health care system to receive the best care. Take Care of Yourself is available for $8.75 per copy; a Spanish edition, Cuídate, is available at $10.90. Taking Care: Includes more than 100 common symptoms with a special section on 22 long-term conditions that can lead to significant medical costs as well as sections on leading a healthy lifestyle, working with doctors, workplace health, and forms to record important health information. Taking Care is available for $6.25 per copy. To request a review copy of the guide books or to place an order, please contact Sunshine Mikulak, 608.210.6634. Back to Top Planning a Health Fair? Creating a Wellness Program? The Lending Library has resources that can help you! Our Lending Library has terrific resources and planning guides on important health and wellness topics. The resources include a step-by-step manual for planning and conducting an employee health and wellness fair, a guide with practical advice on creating a workplace wellness program, a CD-ROM for evaluating the return on investment from worksite wellness programs, and more. The Lending Library has over a dozen resources that you can borrow at no cost. To request an item or discuss a specific topic or resource that you’d like us to consider adding to the Lending Library, please contact Sunshine Mikulak, 608.210.6634. Back to Top QualityCounts for Employees The Alliance encourages employers to distribute the QualityCounts for Employees information piece to their employees. • Choosing the Right Health Care Provider Back to Top Alliance Provider Update The Alliance encourages employers to distribute the Provider Update listing to their employees. Back to Top News You Can Use The Alliance highlights health care and benefit management news for employers in News You Can Use with a link to take you to the original story or report. • Simple Approaches Curb Medical Insurance Costs • Changes Needed in Chronic Care • Adults Frequently Do Not Receive Recommended Care • Employees Need More Effective Benefit Communications • Creating a Culture of Health Back to Top About Alliance News Each month, Alliance News delivers the latest news about Alliance services, programs, and events as well as information on health benefit trends, issues, and ideas. Subscriptions are available on a complimentary basis for Alliance employer members. To subscribe, please send an e-mail message with your name, title, and organization to the Sales and Member Services Department. Reader comments, suggestions, and topics are always welcome. Cindy Schlough, Editor Melanie Cannon, Designer Mary Borland, Director of Sales and Member Services");sQ1[58]=new Array("provider_network.htm","The Alliance ERC ::  Health Provider Network","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Employer Tools Alliance Newsletter Case Studies Education Forum Summaries Employer Networking Groups Health Provider Network Lending Library Preferred Pricing QualityCounts Toolkit Summary Plan Description Workers' Comp Network Health Provider Network The Alliance's service area is south-central Wisconsin, northern Illinois and Iowa. Our network includes hospitals, clinics, home health, durable medical equipment, mental health and chiropractic providers. View The Alliance Employer and Provider Network Composition See a map of our service area (pdf ) Check out the Online Provider Directory Nominate a Provider - At The Alliance, we continually work to expand our provider network. If you know of a provider you would like to be part of The Alliance network, please complete and submit a nomination form. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . Recent additions to The Alliance provider network include: Hess Memorial Hospital, Mauston, WI Marshfield Clinics, Marshfield, WI Miles Bluff, Mauston, WI Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital, Oconomowoc, WI Tri-State Independent Physicians Association, Dubuque, IA Waukesha Elmbrook Health Care SC, Waukesha, WI Waukesha Memorial Hospital, Waukesha, WI  Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[59]=new Array("bloodpressure_screening.htm","The Alliance ERC ::  Blood Pressure Screening","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Resources for your Employees Babylove Toolkit Blood Pressure Screening Brown Bag Lunch Sessions Consumer Newsletters Diabetes Toolbox Health and Wellness Brochures Health Club and Fitness Center Discounts Health Risk Assessments Monthly Wellness Planner Open Enrollment and Benefit Fairs Patient Safety Toolkit QualityCounts Report Self-care Guide Books Tobacco Cessation  Blood Pressure Screening On-site visits keep your employees on top of their condition. Part of keeping your employees aware of their health care is making sure they know their own personal health conditions. Our complimentary on-site blood pressure screening is a simple, quick way for employees to keep track of one of the body's most important indicators. By coming on-site, you can make this simple, painless test a part of an employee's regular workday. It's a great way to detect potential problems before they occur. And by establishing it as part of an employee's regular routine, it can make preventive health care less intimidating. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To schedule a blood pressure screening at your work place, please contact: Member Services phone: 608.276.6620 direct: 608.210.6634 toll free: 800.223.4139  Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[60]=new Array("diabetes_toolkit.htm","The Alliance ERC ::  Diabetes Toolbox","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Resources for your Employees Babylove Toolkit Blood Pressure Screening Brown Bag Lunch Sessions Consumer Newsletters Diabetes Toolbox Health and Wellness Brochures Health Club and Fitness Center Discounts Health Risk Assessments Monthly Wellness Planner Open Enrollment and Benefit Fairs Patient Safety Toolkit QualityCounts Report Self-care Guide Books Tobacco Cessation  Diabetes Toolbox Communication is the first line of defense against diabetes. The impact of diabetes on our population cannot be overstated. The disease strikes two out of every 25 people. It can result in heart and kidney disease, blindness, amputations and death. And it drains $2.8 billion in health care costs every year. Your most effective tool in the battle against diabetes is communication. This Diabetes Toolbox is filled with information that can heighten employee awareness about a disease that can be prevented. The kit includes: A diabetes overview, which details the cause and burden of the disease. How your employees can be proactive with prevention and detection of diabetes. Educate your employees so they can determine if they are at risk. How to create wellness activities for employees with diabetes. Tools to help employees stay healthy and avoid the disease. View all of the Diabetes Toolbox Resources.  Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[61]=new Array("smoking_cessation.htm","The Alliance ERC ::  Smoking Cessation","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Resources for your Employees Babylove Toolkit Blood Pressure Screening Brown Bag Lunch Sessions Consumer Newsletters Diabetes Toolbox Health and Wellness Brochures Health Club and Fitness Center Discounts Health Risk Assessments Monthly Wellness Planner Open Enrollment and Benefit Fairs Patient Safety Toolkit QualityCounts Report Self-care Guide Books Tobacco Cessation  Tobacco Cessation Help your employees breathe easier with cessation resources. The destructive effects of tobacco can be devastating to an organization. In the workplace, it causes employee absenteeism, reduces productivity, and spikes your healthcare costs. For both employers and employees, making a concerted effort to reduce tobacco usage can have a tremendous positive impact.  Check out the tobacco cessation resources from these organizations: The Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention. One of the strongest sources of local cessation support, the Center provides numerous aids for people trying to kick the habit, including: The Wisconsin Quit Line. Because people who rely on a telephone counseling service are 3 to 4 times more likely to stop smoking, this free telephone counseling service generates impressive results. It's a place to turn when the craving becomes overwhelming. The program has two components: The Fax to Quit program: Includes a workplace-based tobacco discussion and the subsequent phone line counseling service. Quit Line printed materials: These include brochures, bookmarks and business cards available in multi-lingual formats, including English, Spanish and Hmong. To order, use the Quit Line Material Order Form (pdf). World Health Organization. Known for its sponsorship of the annual " World No Tobacco Day", this organization is eager to share materials you can use to help smokers young and old participate in a potentially life-saving day. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC is recognized as one of the top resources for educational printed materials on smoking cessation. Printed in English and Spanish, notable guides include: Making Your Workplace Smoke-free: A Decision Maker's Guide. Have you set your sights on a smoke-free workplace? This guide is loaded with practical, proven strategies for clearing the air in your workplace. Coverage for Tobacco Use Cessation Treatments. A business perspective of the positive impacts of tobacco cessation, this resource highlights the health coverages available to employees – including over-the-counter medications and other programs.  Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");sQ1[62]=new Array("Caregiver tip brochure.doc","Caregiver tip brochure.doc","","");sQ1[63]=new Array("Speaker's Bureau topics.doc","Speaker's Bureau topics.doc","","");sQ1[64]=new Array("consumer_newsletters.htm","The Alliance ERC ::  Consumer Newsletters","","contact us | site map | home  When an apple a day isn't enough... Search this site: ....................... Resources for your Employees Babylove Toolkit Blood Pressure Screening Brown Bag Lunch Sessions Consumer Newsletters Diabetes Toolbox Health and Wellness Brochures Health Club and Fitness Center Discounts Health Risk Assessments Monthly Wellness Planner Open Enrollment and Benefit Fairs Patient Safety Toolkit QualityCounts Report Self-care Guide Books Tobacco Cessation  Consumer Newsletters Let them 'read all about it' with QualityCounts for Employees Your communications department may not  have the time or the resources to create in-depth information on health care. Let The Alliance do it for you. Our employee newsletter, QualityCounts for Employees, provides you with timely articles including details on our latest programs, great health tips, and new developments in the industry. Make it a must-read for your staff. 2006 ISSUES .......................... October September July/August .......................... view ARCHIVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . You will need Acrobat Reader to view the QualityCounts for Employees newsletter. This is a free download from Adobe.  Health Club Discounts Workers Comp Network Diabetes Toolkit Alliance Newsletter Monthly Wellness Planner  December National Hand Washing Awareness Week Surviving The Holidays 'Tis the Season Not to Drive Drunk World AIDS Day  ©2006 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative. All rights reserved. PO Box, 44365 Madison, WI 53744-4365 37 Kessel Court, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53711 Phone: 608.276.6620 or 1.800.223.4139 Fax: 608.276.6626 | Customer Service Fax: 608.210.6677");var sQb=0;var sQc=1;var sQd=2;var sQe=3;var sQf=4;var sQg=5;var sQh=6;var sQi=7;var sQj=8;var sQk;var sQdl;var sQm;var sQn; var sQ98 ; var sQB=true;var sQC=1;var sQE=2;var sQD=3;var sQF=4;var sQP=false;var sQQ=true;var sQ46=true;var sQ83=true;var sQ73=true;var sQ14=true;var sQ17=false;var sQ90=-1;var sQ45=0;var sQT;function SMPSetFocus() { document.formSearch.txtSearch.focus(); }
function sQp(sQq) {if ((sQq>="a" && sQq<="z") ||(sQq>="A" && sQq<="Z") || (sQq>="0" && sQq <="9")) { return true; } else { return false; } }function sQr( sQt, sQu, sQv ) {var sQy;var sQz, sQ7, sQ2; var sQ3=0; var sQ42; var sQ43=true; var sQ44;sQ1[sQt][sQg]=0;for( sQ42=0; sQ42<sQ41.length; sQ42++ ){ if (sQ41[sQ42].length>0) { sQy=sQ1[sQt][sQu];if ( !sQ17 ){ sQy=sQy.toUpperCase(); } sQz=sQy.indexOf( sQ41[sQ42] );sQ44=sQ1[sQt][sQg];while (sQz >= 0){ sQ3 = sQ3 + sQz + 1;if(( sQm== -2 ) || ( sQm== -5 )) { sQ7 = false; } else { if (sQz == 0) { sQ7=false; } else { sQ7=sQp(sQy.charAt(sQz-1)); }  } if(( sQm == -3 ) || ( sQm == -5 )) { sQ2 = false; } else { if ( sQy.length - sQz == sQ41[sQ42].length) { sQ2 = false; } else { sQ2 = sQp(sQy.charAt(sQz + sQ41[sQ42].length)); }  } if (!sQ7 && !sQ2) { sQ1[sQt][sQj+sQ1[sQt][sQg]] = sQ3 - 1;sQ1[sQt][sQg] ++; } sQy = sQy.substring(sQz+1,sQy.length);while( sQp(sQy.charAt(0)) && sQy.length > 0 ) { sQy = sQy.substring( 1, sQy.length ) ;sQ3 ++; } sQz = sQy.indexOf(sQ41[sQ42]); } if( sQ1[sQt][sQg] == sQ44) { sQ43=false; } } } if( (sQ45==2) && (sQ43==false) ) { sQ1[sQt][sQg]=0; } } function sQ4(sQt, sQv) { var sQu=-1, sQ5; var ak=30479659403888; sQ1[sQt][sQf]=-1;while( ++sQu <= sQe && sQ1[sQt][sQf]==-1 ) { sQ5 = sQu==0 ? sQc : (sQu==1 ? sQd : (sQu==2 ? sQb : sQe));if( ((sQ5 == sQc ) && ( sQ46 )) || ((sQ5 == sQd ) && ( sQ83 )) || ((sQ5 == sQb ) && ( sQ73 )) || ((sQ5 == sQe ) && ( sQ14 )) ) { sQr( sQt, sQ5, sQv ); } else { sQ1[sQt][sQg]=0 } if ( sQ1[sQt][sQg] > 0 ) { sQ1[sQt][sQf] = sQ5; } } s="searchmaker";t=eval(s.charAt(2)+s.charAt(8)); } function sQ6() { var sQt, sQu, sQ79, sQ8;for( sQt=1; sQt<sQ1.length; sQt++ ) { sQ1[sQt][sQi] = sQt; } if( sQB ) {for( sQt=1; sQt<sQ1.length; sQt++ ) { if( sQ1[sQt][sQf] == sQc ) { sQ1[sQt][sQh] = (4-sQC) * 15000; } else if( sQ1[sQt][sQf] == sQd ) { sQ1[sQt][sQh] = (4-sQE) * 15000; } else if( sQ1[sQt][sQf] == sQb ) { sQ1[sQt][sQh] = (4-sQD) * 15000; } else { sQ1[sQt][sQh] = (4-sQF) * 15000 + sQ1[sQt][sQg]; } } for( sQt=2; sQt<sQ1.length; sQt++ ) { sQ79 = sQ1[sQt][sQh]; sQ8 = sQ1[sQt][sQi];for( sQu=sQt; sQu>1 && sQ79 > sQ1[sQu-1][sQh]; sQu--) { sQ1[sQu][sQh] = sQ1[sQu-1][sQh];sQ1[sQu][sQi] = sQ1[sQu-1][sQi]; }sQ1[sQu][sQh] = sQ79;sQ1[sQu][sQi] = sQ8; } } } function sQ9(sQt) { var sQA = sQ1[sQt][sQg]==1 ? "match" : "matches";sQk += ""; sQk += "<font face=\"Arial\" size=\"2\" color=gray>"; if( sQ1[sQt][sQf]==sQc ) { sQk += " - matched title"; } else { if( sQ1[sQt][sQf]==sQd ) {sQk += " - matched description"; } else { if( sQ1[sQt][sQf]==sQb ) { sQk += " - matched URL"; } else { sQk += " - " + sQ1[sQt][sQg] + " " + sQA + "";  } } } sQk += "</font>"; sQk += ""; } function sQG(sQt, sQH) { var sQI;var sQJ;var sQK = false; var sQdL=sQ1[sQt][sQj + sQH - 1]; sQI = sQdL<35 ? sQI=0 : sQI=sQdL-35;sQJ = (sQdL+35 > sQ1[sQt][sQe].length) ? sQJ=sQ1[sQt][sQe].length : sQJ=sQdL+35;while ((sQI>=0) && !sQK) { if(sQp(sQ1[sQt][sQe].charAt(sQI))) { sQI--; } else { sQK=true; } } sQI++;sQK=false;while ((sQJ > sQdL) && !sQK) { if(sQp(sQ1[sQt][sQe].charAt(sQJ))) { sQJ--; } else { sQK=true; } } sQk += "<BR><font face=\"Arial\" size=\"2\" color=#000000>\".. "+sQ1[sQt][sQe].substring(sQI,sQdL); sQk += "<B>" + sQ1[sQt][sQe].substring(sQdL , sQdL + sQdl.length ) +"</B>";sQk += sQ1[sQt][sQe].substring(sQdL + sQdl.length ,sQJ) + " ..\"</font>"; } function sQN( sQt ) { if( sQP==false ) { var sQu=1; while ( (sQu < 4) && (sQu<=sQ1[sQt][sQg])) { sQG( sQt, sQu ); sQu++; } } } function sQR( sQy, sQdL ) { sQk += sQy.substring( 0, sQdL );sQk += "<B>" + sQy.substring( sQdL , sQdL + sQdl.length ) +"</B>";sQk += sQy.substring( sQdL + sQdl.length ,sQy.length ); } function sQU( sQt, sQT ) { sQk += "<p><font face=\"Arial\" size=\"2\" color=#000000>" + sQT +".</font> ";sQk += "<a target=OriginalWindow href=\""+sQ1[sQt][sQb]+"\"><font face=\"Arial\" size=\"3\" color=#0000FF>"+sQ1[sQt][sQc]+"</font></a>";if (( sQ1[sQt][sQf]==sQe ) && (sQ45==0)) { sQN(sQt); } else { sQk+=""; } if( (sQ1[sQt][sQf]==sQd ) && (sQ45==0)) { sQk += "<br><font face=\"Arial\" size=\"2\" color=gray>Description:</font><font face=\"Arial\" size=\"2\" color=#000000> "; sQk += "";sQR( sQ1[sQt][sQd], sQ1[sQt][sQj] ); sQk += "</font>"; } else { if( sQ1[sQt][sQd].length > 0 ) { sQk += "<br><font face=\"Arial\" size=\"2\" color=gray>Description:</font></font><font face=\"Arial\" size=\"2\" color=#000000> "; sQk += "" + sQ1[sQt][sQd]; } else {  } } sQk += "</font>"; sQk+= "<br>";sQk += "<font face=\"Arial\" size=\"2\" color=#005500>"; if(( sQ1[sQt][sQf]==sQb ) && (sQ45==0)) { sQR( sQ1[sQt][sQb], sQ1[sQt][sQj] ); } else { sQk += sQ1[sQt][sQb]; } sQk += "</font>"; if( sQQ ) { sQ9( sQt ); } sQk += "<br>"; }; function sQV() { sQT = 0;if (! (sQn )) { for( var sQt=1; sQt<sQ1.length; sQt++ ) { if(( sQ1[sQ1[sQt][sQi]][sQg] > 0 ) && (( sQT < sQ90 ) || ( sQ90 == -1 ))) { sQU(sQ1[sQt][sQi], ++sQT); } }  } else { if( sQm == -4 ) { sQk += "<BR><font face=\"Arial\" size=\"2\" color=#000000>ERROR: The wildcard character (*) must be at the beginning or end of the text.</font>"; } }  } function sQW() { sQk += "<html><head><title>Search results for \"" + sQ98 + "\"</title></head><body"; sQk += ">" ;sQk += "<font face=\"Arial\" size=\"2\" color=#000000>";sQk += "<p>You searched for <b>" + sQ98 +".</b>"; sQk += "</font>" }; function sQY() { if(sQT==0) { sQk += "<p><font face=\"Arial\" size=\"2\" color=#000000>No pages matched your search.&nbsp;&nbsp;</font>"; } else { var sQA = sQT==1 ? "page shown." : "pages shown."; sQk += "<p><font face=\"Arial\" size=\"2\" color=#000000>" + sQT + " " + sQA + "&nbsp;</font>"; } sQk += "<a href=\"javascript:self.close();\"><font face=\"Arial\" size=\"2\">Close Window</font></a></p>"; sQk += "</p></body></html>"; } function sQ11() { var sQ23 = sQk;sQ34 = open("","Object", "resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,toolbar=yes,menubar=yes,location=yes,directories=yes,status=yes,width=590,height=500");if ((navigator.appName.indexOf("Microsoft")!=-1) && (navigator.appVersion.indexOf("3.0")!=-1)) { alert("Click to see results"); } sQ34.document.open();sQ34.document.write( sQ23 );sQ34.document.close(); } function sQ03( sQy ) { var sQqh="";for( var sQt=0; sQt<sQy.length; sQt++) { if( sQy.charAt(sQt)=="<" ) { sQqh += "&lt;"; } else if( sQy.charAt(sQt)==">" ) { sQqh += "&gt;"; } else if( sQy.charAt(sQt)=="\"" ) { sQqh += "&quot;"; } else { sQqh += sQy.charAt(sQt); } } return( sQqh ); } function sQ93() { sQm = sQdl.indexOf("*"); if( sQm == 0 ) { sQm = -2; sQn = false; } else if (sQm == sQdl.length -1) { sQm = -3; sQn = false; } else if (sQm > 0 ) { sQm = -4;sQn = true; } else { sQn = false; } if ( sQdl.indexOf("*") != sQdl.lastIndexOf("*") ) { if( sQm == -2 ) { if( sQdl.lastIndexOf("*") == sQdl.length - 1 ) { sQm = -5; } else { sQm = -4; sQn = true; } } }if( ( sQm == -2 ) || (sQm == -5 )) { sQdl = sQdl.substring( 1, sQdl.length ); } if( ( sQm == -3 ) || (sQm == -5 )) { sQdl = sQdl.substring( 0, sQdl.length - 1 ); } } function SMPStartSearch() { var sQv;sQdl=document.formSearch.txtSearch.value;if (( sQdl.length > 0 )&&( sQdl != "*" )) { sQk = "";sQ98 = sQdl; sQdl = sQ03(sQdl);sQ93();if( sQ17 ) { sQv = sQdl; } else { sQv = sQdl.toUpperCase(); }if (sQ45 != 0) { sQ41=sQv.split(' '); } else { sQ41=sQv.split(); }if ( !(sQn ) ) { for( var sQt=1; sQt<sQ1.length; sQt++ ) { sQ4( sQt, sQv ); } sQ6(); } sQW();sQV();sQY();sQ11(); } }