Make a Commitment to
Yourself, and Your Employees

by Janet Braley

It was a moment of awakening for me, a middle-aged woman. And it happened while I was surrounded by 900 women at the Sprint Center last month. Reality swept in.

I listened intently to Dr. Christiane Northrup, renowned authority on women’s health, while volunteering for an event at The University of Kansas Hospital.

Along with The University of Kansas Hospital, I share a passion for excellence in health care. I visualized the health and wellness programs known as Be Well!, and work to identify businesses’ occupational health and wellness needs. I care about my family, my friends, my work and my community.

But now, in one brief millisecond, and while listening to Dr. Northrup, I understand the reach of my mission better than ever before. MY health is also important. I just turned 40 a couple of years ago, and I too need to take steps to protect my health.

I exercise occasionally, eat healthy foods and don’t smoke or drink alcohol. Since my teen years, I have had a yearly pelvic exam. Now that I am in my 40s, I am committed to having a mammogram each year, and I know I need to request a “colorectal cancer” screening beginning at age 50.

Women seem to be particularly knowledgeable about all forms of cancer—and that’s a good thing. Fact is, we all need to get a baseline screening to assess our risk for heart disease. I already know my weight and dress size. I need to learn a whole new set of numbers that pertain to heart disease: cholesterol and blood glucose levels, blood pressure, body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio.

Just as we must make our own health a priority, those who own small businesses are equally responsible to themselves, as well as their employees. And this is where we can help. The University of Kansas Hospital partners with business owners to provide the resources they need to prioritize their employee’s wellness. If you’re a business owner, you can support employees by making health a priority in the workplace.

The University of Kansas Hospital offers a heart disease risk assessment designed especially for women—by women from our heart team. It takes a couple of hours of your time, allows you to get results immediately and costs only $60. That’s a small price to pay to know if your heart is healthy or at risk.

If your results indicate you are at risk or already have heart disease, our women’s heart specialists will provide you with the region’s most advanced cardiac care. They understand the subtle, often deceptive differences in women’s heart health. That’s a distinct advantage in diagnosing, treating and preventing heart disease in women.

All of us owe it to ourselves to take care of our bodies. We are the ones responsible for it. Please join me in making a comprehensive checklist for taking care of your own health or the health of your employees:
• Weight
• Cholesterol (HDL, good; LDL, bad)
• Blood pressure
• Mammogram
• Yearly exams for women
• Colorectal cancer
• Diabetes
• Bone density for women

Begin now to tap into our screening services and to identify a company-wide health and wellness plan. By making a commitment to better health for ourselves and our employees, Kansas City businesses are charting a successful course for years to come. 

Janet Braley is Business Development Manager for Corporate Health, The University of Kansas Hospital.  
P     |     913.945.5238
E     |     jbraley@kumc.edu