naturopathydigest.com -- Inside the Profession

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Inside the Profession

Bringing Naturopathic Care to the Mainstream

Bernie Noe, ND, president of Green Mountain Wellness Solutions, is working with the Vermont Automobile Dealers Association (VADA) to help its members achieve a healthier lifestyle. VADA currently represents 171 business members and sponsors health care insurance covering approximately 2,300 employees.

Just two years ago, Vermont spent an estimated $3 billion on health care. At the time, Dr. Noe and VADA were on opposite sides of a state health care bill. When lawmakers adjourned their session, VADA hired Dr. Noe to develop and implement an employee wellness program, to test his assertion that a wellness program would not raise costs.
Between January and April of last year, Dr. Noe and his staff conducted biometric screenings (height, weight, blood pressure, etc.) on 1,182 employees at 77 VADA member locations throughout the state. Each participant received a brochure explaining the results. Participants also were asked to complete a health risk appraisal (HRA). The responses on this form allowed Dr. Noe and his colleagues to assess each person's diet, exercise and lifestyle behaviors, as well as the risk and/or presence of chronic diseases. They also measured each participant's level of productivity at work.
After the data was gathered, participants who provided a mailing address were sent an Individual Health Report (IHR) summarizing the findings from both the biometric screening and the HRA. Those identified at greatest risk were given very detailed recommendations about their condition(s), as well as recommendations for low-tech strategies such as diet, lifestyle and exercise to manage or improve the condition. Dr. Noe also created a monthly wellness newsletter that all employees received at their offices. The newsletter included tips for managing stress and reducing the risk of heart attack, among other advice.
In addition, Dr. Noe created a pedometer challenge to help employees increase their physical activity and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Employees at more than 35 dealerships received free pedometers, and prizes and incentives were built into the program. At the conclusion of the challenge, participants had clocked more than 732 million steps over a 12-week period.
This year, Dr. Noe conducted another health screening for VADA that included 848 employees and was held at 60 locations throughout the state. In analyzing the data between 2005 and 2006, Dr. Noe found that the incidence of high blood pressure decreased by 36 percent, multiple risks for cardiovascular disease decreased by 35 percent, high-risk stress decreased by 24 percent, physical inactivity decreased by 21 percent, high cholesterol decreased by 17 percent and obesity decreased by 15 percent.
Because of these positive results, VADA approved a second phase to this study in July 2006. In analyzing Dr. Noe's results, VADA concluded that high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease were its most costly employee health conditions. Dr. Noe proposed that individuals suffering from these conditions be allowed to receive care from a naturopathic physician. A pilot program was implemented with a network of 15 participating naturopathic physicians statewide.

Friends of NCNM

Joseph Pizzorno, ND (NCNM class of 1975), Doctor of Laws Honorus Causa, and co-founder and president emeritus of Bastyr University, is chairing the "1,000 Friends of NCNM" campaign. The campaign first began in 2004-2005 and was considered a great success by the college, with 150 members contributing almost $50,000.
The funds raised during the 2004-2005 campaign will go toward the purchase of a student information system, a model communications system for faculty, alumni and students. NCNM also announced that 60 percent of those who pledged to be one of the 1,000 friends are alumni. According to the college, it's the goal of the 2005-2006 campaign to raise $50,000 in commemoration of the college's 50^th anniversary. Funds raised during this campaign will be utilized to establish a permanent NCNM student scholarship endowment.
According to the college, the purpose of 1,000 Friends of NCNM is to energize the students, faculty and alumni by increasing visibility and fostering fundraising efforts. The role of the participants is to serve as ambassadors of goodwill, create alliances with businesses and supportive individuals, and identify and cultivate charitable gifts for the college. The funding goal is to support excellence in the education of students as they work toward becoming naturopathic physicians.
There are three levels of annual membership in the campaign. Interested friends and alumni can sign up to be a member of the Green Level for $250 or make 12 monthly contributions of $21. Members can be a Bronze Level participant for $500 or $42 per month, and Gold Level membership is available for $1,000 or $84 per month. Each member is asked to find three other "friends" to join in support of the college.
For more information on how to become one of the 1,000 Friends of NCNM, contact Susan Kay Hunter, director of advancement and public relations, at (503) 552-1512 or via e-mail at shunter@ncnm.edu; or Joey Kerns, project coordinator, at (503) 552-1511 or jkerns@ncnm.edu.