Step by Step Boeing’s health program can change lives— and maybe save some By Carrie Howard and Tiffany Graves Drake L found himself on a gurney being wheeled into a hospital employees take action on screenings and health assessmentBoeing offers a variety of Well Being programs to helpStep 3: Take actioness than 48 hours after telling a Boeing nurse he was feelingshort of breath when he climbed stairs at work, Dave Acker room for an emergency heart procedure. results. Health coaching is one option. Acker, a 57-year-old quality inspector for the 787 program in In May, Acker got a call from a Boeing health coach asking Everett, Wash., joined Boeing last year, just six months before if she could do anything to help with his concerns about diet his heart procedure. His story shows how Boeing’s Step by Step and exercise. She also asked if he would be interested in having program can improve a person’s health and change his or her life. a registered nurse talk to him about specific medical questions And in Acker’s case, the program may have saved his. he might have, and Acker agreed. Step 1: know your numbers When the nurse called, Acker explained he was getting Screenings, which are available on-site at many U.S. Boeing short of breath when he climbed stairs at work to access aircraft. locations through Dec. 3, allow employees to learn their individual The nurse suggested Acker get a physical immediately. Acker health numbers (such as cholesterol, body mass index and blood saw his physician the next day and he recommended Acker pressure) to detect health problems early, when the chances for see a cardiologist. successful treatment are greatest. The cardiologist’s office asked him to come in the next morning. Acker saw his physician for his annual screening in August After a brief examination, the cardiologist took Acker across 2011. Because he visited his physician regularly, he knew he was the street to the hospital and checked him in. Within 15 minutes, doing some good things for his health—he hadn’t smoked in Acker was in a surgical gown being wheeled into the procedure 14 years and hadn’t consumed alcohol in almost five years. He room. He had three clogged arteries. The procedure to clear the also knew there were things he could do better. He was about blockages took about an hour. Acker spent that night in the 25 to 30 pounds (11 to 14 kilograms) overweight and had a family hospital and was home by noon the next day. history of cardiovascular disease. Acker still can’t believe the rapid turn of events. As a result of the screening, he began taking medication for “I knew that I had been getting winded, but I had no indication high blood pressure and cholesterol. that I had that much of a problem.” Today he feels great. He has lost 15 pounds (7 kilograms) and Step 2: understand your numbers lowered his cholesterol level with a change of diet. He and his The health assessment is a guided questionnaire that asks wife have started walking trails around their neighborhood. questions about current health conditions, behaviors, risks and “I owe my new start on life to a lot of things,’’ Acker said, readiness to make health changes. After completing the health “but it was the Well Being program that actually opened my eyes assessment, each person is provided with a health score based enough to get me started in the right direction.” n on his or her responses. The health score summarizes health tiffany.l.drake@boeing.com risk areas and prioritizes next steps toward management and improvement. The health assessment is available between To learn more about the Step by Step program, employees can Oct. 1 and Dec. 21, 2012. visit Boeing TotalAccess and click “My Well Being.” During November, Acker’s first month at Boeing, he completed the health assessment, using information from his screening. “There were some questions about what you would like to PhOTO: After participating in the Step by Step program, do better, and I wrote that I wanted to lose weight and get some Dave Acker no longer is out of breath climbing stairs to exercise,” he said. inspect aircraft on the job. Ed TuRNER/BOEING BOEING FRONTIERS / SEPTEMBER 2012 43
Frontiers September 2012 Issue
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