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District reports rising use of employee clinic, wellness programs and new supports for staff
Summary
District wellness coordinator and employee services director told the board the employee clinic and wellness programming expanded this year, showing high participation rates, cost-avoidance examples and new services (virtual sessions, job coaching pilot, health coaching). Staff said the clinic’s fill rate is about 81% and screening programs have.
The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District reported April 20 that employee wellness programming and an on-site clinic continue to expand, drawing strong participation and showing measurable cost-avoidance in health services.
Kalise Horst, district wellness coordinator, and Barb Buffington, director of employee services, told the board the district offered six virtual wellness learning sessions this spring (financial wellness, stress management, mindfulness, meal planning) with 157 participants; the district’s spring color run drew roughly 300 participants and the “Amazing Race” employee event had more than 100 sign-ups.
District staff said the health clinic’s services include primary care-style visits, health coaching through a “By Your Side” program and preventative specialty screenings brought to campus. Horst cited examples contractors provided to the board: employees and spouses who participated in the coaching program lost more than 100 pounds combined; skin-cancer screening events produced an estimated cost avoidance of roughly $94,000 compared with external dermatology visits; and clinic provider utilization stabilized around an 81% fill rate after adding a provider. Horst said the clinic schedule and specialist days often run full and that SSM (local provider partner) has been responsive when the district requests additional services.
Wellness staff are piloting targeted supports for specific employee groups (a bus-barn fitness area for transportation staff, self-defense sessions for early-morning nutrition and custodial staff) and a job-coaching pilot in two buildings to help employees with workplace skill development. The district also recently replaced its employee assistance program vendor and plans additional grief- and mental-health-support groups in response to staff survey feedback.
Horst said the whole-district wellness team (representatives from each building) will convene a retreat to align wellness work with the district’s strategic plan and the Cardinals Journey initiative.
Ending: The board heard metrics and examples showing increased use of on-site health services and broad staff interest in wellness programming; staff asked for continued board support as they scale programs and finalize next-year planning.
