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DeKalb wellness manager highlights employee health center, Pivot tobacco program and partnerships; commissioners urge more staffing and communications support
Summary
DeKalb County's wellness program manager described a one-person operation that coordinates an employee health center, tobacco-cessation program (Pivot), reimbursement incentives, fitness challenges and partnerships with Kaiser and Anthem. Commissioners recommended additional staffing, communications help and technology tools to increase reach.
The county’s wellness program manager briefed commissioners on employee wellness offerings, partnerships and utilization, saying the program operates with one staff member who coordinates a range of activities for about 6,000 employees and eligible retirees.
Highlights presented - Recognition and partnerships: The program submitted an entry to the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s healthiest employers competition. The program partners with Anthem and Kaiser for benefits and outreach; Kaiser provides a $250 participation incentive for eligible members. - Employee health center: The county-run employee health center has been open about 18 months and is available to Anthem active employees and eligible 65+ retirees and their insured family members. The manager said the center’s nurse practitioner has a high satisfaction rating among patients. - Pivot tobacco cessation: The program offers a private, gamified tobacco-cessation tool (Pivot) that includes a breath detector, app-based coaching and nicotine replacement. The manager said a flat annual contract model is used to avoid repeated replacement costs for the device; the presentation stated the vendor-per-user cost would be about $470 but the flat fee model is preferred. The manager reported roughly 226 users engaged since the program began. - Incentives and events: Wellness reimbursement is available (up to $300) for verified gym/fitness costs; the program runs an annual “healthy-wage” step challenge (typically 80–90 participants), mobile mammogram events, blood drives (six per year at West Exchange), multiple 5Ks, yoga in the park with Parks and other activities.
Commissioner feedback and requests Commissioners praised the program’s accomplishments given limited staff. They urged the county to explore investments in additional wellness staff, technology to streamline communications and a communications-template or microsite strategy to improve outreach. One commissioner suggested a points-based “kudos” or incentive system to increase cross-departmental participation and morale.
What the manager will do next The wellness manager noted a microsite (yourdekalbbenefits dot com) and said she will work with central communications and COO staff on better templates and technology where capacity allows. Commissioners asked central staff to explore supports that would let the wellness program expand outreach and polish communications.
Ending: Commissioners commended the manager’s work and agreed to explore options—staffing, technology and communications—to broaden program reach and sustain its offerings.
