November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. With diabetes, your body doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use it as well as it should.  When this happens, too much blood sugar stays in your bloodstream.  Over time, this can cause serious health problems, including heart and kidney disease, vision loss, and stroke. Diabetes is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States (and may be underreported).

In the last 20 years, the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled.  That might include you, and you may not even know it.  More than 37 million people in the United States have diabetes, and 1 in 5 don’t know they have it.  Another 96 million U.S. adults have prediabetes, which increases your risk for diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, yet more than 8 in 10 don’t know it.  So how do you know if you have diabetes?

First, are you at risk?  There are three main types of diabetes; type 1, type 2, and gestational, but over 90% of those diagnosed with diabetes have type 2.  To check your risk of type 2 diabetes, take this 60-second quiz from the CDC.  Second, check for any possible symptoms (thirsty, tired, losing weight, blurred vision, etc.).  Even if you pass the risk and symptom test, the only way to truly know for sure if you have diabetes is to have your blood sugar checked by your primary care physician.  It is a simple blood test.

If you are diagnosed with diabetes, your health care team will guide you.  If you are at a high risk for diabetes, you can lower your risk for type 2 diabetes today by staying at (or getting to) a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet, and being active.

For those on Drake’s health plan, inpatient and outpatient training, and education for the self-management of all types of diabetes is covered. All covered training or education must be prescribed by a licensed physician and outpatient training, or education must be provided by a state certified program.  You can go to Wellmark.com, click “Find a facility”, “Places by type”, and then type in “diabetic education” to find a list of in-network facilities that offer this education.

The steps you take today can make all the difference tomorrow.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Thank you to everyone who attended the Benefits & Wellness Fair on Friday, Nov. 3. We had approximately 70 people come through to meet vendors, play games, grab coffee, and enjoy snacks.

This Friday, Nov. 10, there are two informational sessions (they will cover the same material, so no need to attend both). If you have time and interest, please join us!

• In-Person Event: 10:30-11:30 a.m. in the Study Room in Cowles Library
• Virtual Event:  1:30-2:30 p.m. Click here to join the virtual session (or email drakehr@drake.edu to be added to the meeting invite).

During these sessions, we’ll share highlights of the plan changes taking effect on January 1. 2024.  Drake HR and some of our key consultants and vendors will be on-hand to answer your questions. We will record the virtual session for people who are unable to attend either session, and share that link in the Nov. 21 issue of OnCampus.

Remember that Open Enrollment runs throughout the month of November with a hard stop at 11:59 PM on November 30. During Open Enrollment, you may make changes to your current health, dental, vision and voluntary life insurance effective January 1, 2024. In addition, if you wish to participate in the health or dependent care flexible spending account plans (FSAs) during 2024, you must enroll, or re-enroll, if you are currently participating in Drake’s FSA plans.

If you are looking for additional open enrollment information, check out our temporary Open Enrollment webpage. If you have not yet explored it, our new internal website also has a Benefits page and a page dedicated to Perks.

— Marlene Heuertz and Maureen De Armond, Human Resources

Employees on Drake’s health plan who wish to receive a wellness health insurance premium discount in 2024, must complete a physical with their Primary Care Physician (PCP) between Dec. 1, 2022, and Nov. 30, 2023. The monthly savings in premiums for 2024 will be approximately $34.00.

Besides receiving a premium discount, an annual physical is an important way to receive health information through age and gender specific examinations, schedule recommended preventative screenings, and create a doctor-patient relationship.

If you have not yet scheduled your annual physical with your PCP, you are encouraged to do so as soon as possible.

If you are already looking to 2025, physicals completed between December 1, 2023, and November 30, 2024, will cover that plan year.

You can read more about the discount program and download the form for 2024 (or 2025) on this new webpage: Wellness Premium Discount.

Please send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu with questions.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

This year’s Benefits and Wellness Fair will be held Friday, Nov. 3, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Levitt Hall, Old Main.  Please mark your calendars.

We will have benefits and wellness partners and vendors on hand to answer questions. There will be snacks, freebies, and the chance to win prizes. We hear Griff may make an appearance, too.  Most importantly, this is an opportunity for you to be sure you understand and take advantage of the benefits and perks offered to you as an employee of Drake University.

The Fair is an important annual event to help prepare you to make benefit elections during the month of November, which will take effect on January 1, 2024.

To entice attendees to meet with our guests, we’ll hand out bingo cards that will be stamped by the visitors you meet. If you secure a blackout (stamping all of the vendor spots), we’ll enter your name in a drawing for prizes.

The entire month of November is open enrollment month.  Throughout the month you can enroll in benefits for 2024.  In next week’s OnCampus, you’ll learn more about information sessions that will be held on November 10 (one live and one virtual).  Please check OnCampus all month and review HR communications for additional benefits-related information and events throughout the month of November.

— Maureen De Armond and Marlene Heuertz, Human Resources

The wellbeing of Drake employees is very important to us. So in addition to the existing programming, we are rolling out a new DU Well Newsletter.  Each edition will highlight upcoming wellness events, discuss relevant wellbeing topics and health observances, test your trivia knowledge (for prizes), and hopefully challenge you to try something new.

Please take a few minutes to check out the first edition of this new resource, and feel free to contact us at drakehr@drake.edu, using the subject line, DU Well Newsletter, with ideas for future editions.

You can explore other ways Drake supports employee wellness on our new DU Well webpage. We have some great employee perks that will also make it easier for you to focus on your wellness.

If you haven’t yet explored the new Drake HR internal website, you should. It is your go-to site for the latest information about your employment and the support services we provide. In addition to the pages linked above, you can also access information about employee benefits, check out upcoming BUILD learning & development classes, and much more. Spend a few minutes exploring and let us know what you think. If you have suggestions for additional enhancements, we’d love to hear them.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Are you at risk for a stroke? Common risk factors include age, obesity, high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, inactivity, poor diet, and family history.

Health Gauge will be offering vascular screenings tomorrow–Wednesday, Oct. 18 from 9 a.m. to noon in the Olmsted Center Parents Hall North. This includes stroke/carotid artery, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and peripheral artery disease screenings. You may also add an optional osteoporosis screening and EKG. These painless and non-invasive screenings are open to all Drake employees, spouses/partners, and retirees. The cost is $125 for the three vascular screenings payable at the time of your appointment. The optional add-ons are $35 each. You may pay with cash, check, credit or debit card, or FSA dollars. Call Health Gauge at 515-244-3080 to schedule an appointment. 

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Every 40 seconds someone in the U.S. has a stroke, and every 3.5 minutes, someone dies of a stroke. Common risk factors include age, obesity, high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, inactivity, poor diet, and family history.

Health Gauge will be offering vascular screenings on Wednesday, Oct. 18 from 9 a.m. through noon in the Olmsted Center Parents Hall North. This includes stroke/carotid artery, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and peripheral artery disease screenings. You may also add an optional osteoporosis screening and EKG. These painless and non-invasive screenings are open to all Drake employees, spouses/partners, and retirees. The cost is $125 for the three vascular screenings payable at the time of your appointment. The optional add-ons are $35 each. You may pay with cash, check, credit or debit card, or FSA dollars. Appointments are necessary. Call Health Gauge at 515-244-3080 to get scheduled.

Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Important Reminder: Employees on Drake’s health plan who wish to receive a wellness health insurance premium discount in 2024, need to complete a physical with their Primary Care Physician (PCP) between Dec. 1, 2022, and Nov. 30, 2023, and submit a Premium Discount-Annual Physical Form by Nov. 30, 2023.  This is an annual requirement and the only option to receive the discount in 2024.

Besides receiving a premium discount, an annual physical is a great way to receive important health information through age and gender specific examinations, schedule recommended preventative screenings, and create a doctor-patient relationship.

If you have not scheduled your annual physical yet with your PCP, you are encouraged to do so as soon as possible.  You do not need to wait a year and a day between physicals.  Our Wellmark plan allows for one physical per calendar year.

Please send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu with questions.

Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Human Resources is excited to officially roll out the new intuitive, easy-to-use and track Employee Status Form (ESF) e-form supported by ProcessMaker.

During the past several months, Human Resources has worked with Tyler Spoon, assistant director, enterprise applications in ITS, to convert this commonly used Word doc form into a digital process that automatically routes information to the appropriate approver.  We also appreciate the time, patience, and insights of staff within Drake University Head Start and the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences as they agreed to be our testing population in the soft launch of this form.  ESFs are a form that is primarily used by Budget Office Managers and other authorized employees to change an employee’s status. (Learn more about ESFs on our ESF webpage)

Are you interested?  We would love to provide the campus community an opportunity to learn more about the new e-form—and begin using it.  We have scheduled two opportunities (a virtual and an in-person) for you to see—and begin using—this form, both occurring during the afternoon of Thursday, Sept. 28.  If Thursday doesn’t work for you, no problem. We can also schedule ad hoc times on the registration form below.  We know that once you see it, you will love it.

Thank you in advance for your interest in this enhanced form.  Please let us know which session you would like to attend by completing the registration.

— Debra Wiley and Teresa Downs, Human Resources

Every 40 seconds someone in the U.S. has a stroke, and every 3.5 minutes, someone dies of a stroke. Common risk factors include age, obesity, high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, inactivity, poor diet, and family history.

Health Gauge will be offering vascular screenings on Wednesday, Oct. 18, from 9 a.m. through 2 p.m. in the Olmsted Center, Parents Hall North. This includes stroke/carotid artery, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and peripheral artery disease screenings. You may also add an optional osteoporosis screening and EKG. These painless and non-invasive screenings are open to all Drake employees, spouses/partners, and retirees. The cost is $125 for the three vascular screenings payable at the time of your appointment. The optional add-ons are $35 each. You may pay with cash, check, credit or debit card, or FSA dollars.

Appointments are necessary. Call Health Gauge at 515-244-3080 to get scheduled.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources