What is Target Health?
Target Health is a wellness program aimed at promoting the health and well being of associates at St. Elizabeth Medical Center. Target Health will provide free and comprehensive health screenings, confidential Personal Health Analyses (PHA), health coaching, fitness challenges, health education, and onsite behavior change programs to St. Elizabeth Medical Center associates.

Who is eligible to participate in Target Health?
All St. Elizabeth associates are eligible to participate in the Target Health programs offered.

I participated in Target Health in 2006, should I participate again this year?
Yes! Target Health is an annual program. You are welcome and encouraged to participate in all components of the program each year. This includes the health screening, Personal Health Analysis, health coaching, and all onsite Target Health programs.

How do I sign up for Target Health?
Call the Target Health office at 859-301-9004 or simply begin by participating in a Target Health sponsored event. It’s that simple!

What is the cost for participating in Target Health?
Participation in Target Health is voluntary and there is no charge for signing up. Your participation in the health screening, Personal Health Analysis, Health Coaching and some onsite Target Health programs is completely free. Some additional programs and services offered through Target Health may be available on a fee for service basis or as part of your insurance benefits plan.

Why did St. Elizabeth Medical Center develop Target Health?
Over the last few years, St. Elizabeth Medical Center health care costs have increased by 12 to 15% per year.  These increased costs impact the bottom line of both St. Elizabeth Medical Center and our associates in the form of higher co-pays, deductibles, health insurance premiums, and lower gainsharing checks.  In 2003, St. Elizabeth Medical Center enlisted the help of Gordian Health Solutions to review the health care payments made to the MedicalCenterby Humana and our associates.  We discovered that 48 % of those payments paid to the MedicalCenterwere a result of lifestyle, self-care and chronic disease. Our goal is to help control the increases in health care costs by helping our associates get healthy and stay healthy.

St. Elizabeth recognizes that as an employer, we have a responsibility to help keep our associates healthy and well. We also recognize that as a business, the healthier our associates are, the more productive we can be as an organization.  Having a more productive workforce will help us to maintain a competitive advantage over other healthcare providers in the area. With the help WELCOA, a national organization focused on worksite health promotion, we discovered that significant cost savings could be realized through increased productivity brought about by implementing a moderately successful wellness program.

St. Elizabeth Medical Center is the leader in health care in Northern Kentucky.  In order for St. Elizabeth to continue to be recognized as the health care provider of choice in Northern Kentucky, we need to serve as a role model not only for excellence in health care, but also for excellence in promoting the health and well being of our community and our associates.  With this in mind, the vision of Target Health is for St. Elizabeth Medical Center to become the “Healthiest Workforce in Northern Kentucky.” 

Did you get input from associates in the design of Target Health?
Yes. A leadership team from Administration, Business Health/Wellness, Nursing, Medical Staff, Employee Health, Human Resource, Compensation/Benefits, and Finance was commissioned in late 2003 to develop a strategic health initiative plan.  Associates then provided feedback about this plan through participation in a written survey and focus groups in May-June 2004. Over 86 % of associates surveyed agreed that SEMC should take an active role in improving the health of associates. This type of feedback from associates was integral in designing the Target Health program.

Who administers the Target Health program?  
Target Health staff of St. Elizabeth will administer the program. The Target Health staff will work closely with Gordian Health Solutions to administer the Personal Health Analysis, Health Coaching, and data management portions of Target Health.  Gordian is located in Nashville, TN, and is an independent company specializing in health management programs. 

Gordian is a nationally recognized provider of health management programs and works with companies such as Toyota, PepsiCo, and the State of Pennsylvania to administer similar health management programs aimed at improving the health and productivity of workforces.

Is the information I provide as part of the Target Health program kept confidential?
The information you provide through the Target Healthprogram will be kept confidential. St. Elizabeth will not be given the results of your individual personal health analysis or health coaching. Laboratory data that is collected at the health screening will be mailed directly to you once it is processed. This data will be treated in compliance with all HIPAA standards, just as the personal health information of any patient of the MedicalCenterwould be treated.

Gordian will compile all data from the personal health analysis and health coaching into a group health risk report, which does not allow identification of any individual information. Aggregate group summaries will be provided to St. Elizabeth so that the entire employee population risks can be identified. With this aggregate data, St. Elizabeth can determine what programs might be beneficial to the group. For example, these summaries could contain information such as the number of employees who might benefit from a smoking cessation program or the number of employees who could be assisted through stress reduction training.

Why does the personal health analysis ask such personal questions?
The personal health and behavioral information Gordian collects on the PHAis based on scientific research into the causes of death and disability. This research was conducted in hope of finding a way to avoid or delay illness. Findings revealed certain health and lifestyle behaviors can be statistically related to a cause of illness. Therefore, your responses to our questions on the PHAare an important component in identifying your health risk factors and detecting areas for improvement. 

 How do you use my personal information?
Your personal information is analyzed by a computer program and compiled into a Personal Wellness Report (your results). The goal of this report is to clearly identify your potential health risks. Your Personal Wellness Report will be accessible only by you and will provide you with information about your major health risks, your healthy practices and any unhealthy habits you might want to change to improve your health. 

If, based on your personal health analysis, you are eligible to participate in one of Gordian's health management programs, Gordian’s health coaches will have access to your personal health information. Gordian Health Solutions and its employees are bound by all Federal privacy laws and handle all data in full compliance with these laws to assure your personal information remains strictly confidential.

Does Gordian share my personal information with anyone?
No. Gordian will compile all data into a group health risk report, which does not allow identification of any individual information. Aggregate group summaries will be provided to your employer so that the entire employee population risks can be identified and a determination can be made as to what assistance programs might be beneficial to the group. For example, these summaries could contain information such as the number of employees who might benefit from a smoking cessation program or the number of employees who could be assisted through stress reduction training.

Gordian does not sell names or addresses (mailing lists) to anyone for any reason. Your name and address will never be sold or provided to any other company without your written consent.

How do you assure the confidentiality of my personal information?
It is Gordian's policy to treat individually identifiable health information in full compliance with all applicable laws. We have in place a system of physical and electronic procedural safeguards to protect the confidentiality of your information.

To receive Gordian Health Solutions, Inc.'s complete data management and confidentiality policy, write to Data Management, Gordian Health Solutions, Inc., 113 Seaboard Lane, Suite 200-C, Franklin, TN37067.