August is Preventive Health Month, a time to emphasize the importance of maintaining healthy lifestyles, getting regular checkups, screenings and vaccinations.
"The health and well-being of our Sailors, Marines and their families are critically important," said Capt. Cynthia Gantt, chief of staff, Navy Medicine East (NME). "Prevention, health promotion and force health protection are key strategies as we work to ensure that that the individuals that we have the privilege of caring for are as healthy as possible."
NME’s global public health activity – Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC) – supports fleet and Marine Corps readiness and enhances public health outcomes through products and services in areas of health surveillance, epidemiology and analysis, disease and injury prevention and public health consultations to improve the lives of Sailors and Marines around the world.
In addition to the force health protection efforts by NMCPHC, across NME’s almost 100 medical centers, hospitals and branch clinics that span the eastern hemisphere, patients have access to programs and services to help them play an active role with their own health.
Naval Hospital Pensacola recently implemented a wellness and lifestyle program that’s centered on avoidable illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and tobacco related diseases. This program offers patients the opportunity to focus on their individual goals with a team of experts, including dietitians, health educators and fitness and life coaches.
Naval Health Clinic New England has weight management and diabetes support groups for patients. It also has a command garden to provide staff with fresh produce and offers chair exercise classes and weekly lunchtime run/walks.
Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (LFHCC) holds an annual indoor relay and health fair to raise awareness of the benefits of adding activity to the work day. LFHCC also provides resources to veterans and military patients who aren’t eligible for Department of Defense programs so they can get help in the local community.
To educate staff and patients about healthy eating, weight management and heart health, Naval Health Clinic Charleston’s Health Promotions team provides group classes during lunch-time. This makes it convenient for participants to get information and tips about how to lead healthier lifestyles while they eat their lunch.
And Naval Hospital Jacksonville’s Value-Based Care Integrated Practice Units offer behavioral health consultant services to support long-term positive changes for their patients.
One program available at every military treatment facility (MTF) is ShipShape. As Navy Medicine’s official weight management program, ShipShape incorporates fitness, nutrition and stress management. The goal is to give participants the skills and resources necessary to jumpstart a healthier lifestyle. In fact, 94 percent of responding participants indicated the program provided them the knowledge, skills, and abilities to manage their weight long-term.
Other classes available throughout NME MTFs include areas such as tobacco cessation, weight management, health fitness, diabetes prevention, prenatal nutrition, and heart healthy living. Patients can stop by their Wellness Centers or Health Promotion Offices to learn more.
For access to monthly health and wellness information kits on a variety of topics see the Health Promotion Tool Box at: http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmcphc/health-promotion/Pages/health-promotion-toolbox.aspx.
NME oversees the delivery of medical, dental and other health care services to approximately one million patients across the eastern hemisphere—including the Tidewater Military Health System. Plus, its public health activities extend globally. For more information, visit www.med.navy.mil/sites/nme.