4.  Why do we want to know our numbers?
A clinical Health Risk Assessment, which is an integral component to a comprehensive wellness program has economic benefits for both Grand Valley and it's faculty and staff.  Identifying health risks at an early stage allows GVSU faculty and staff members to go to their health care providers and do the necessary follow up to eliminate or minimize health problems.  The faculty or staff member wins because they find out their health status, and identify any health risks at no costs to themselves.  All results are confidential and are for the faculty and staff member only.  It is up to you to follow up with your physician if you have any identified risks.  Often time faculty and staff think they are healthy, only to find out they do in fact have some health problems.

5.  Who is Interactive Health Solutions?
Interactive Health Solutions (IHS) is a leading national provider of health management services and a NCQA accredited Wellness and Health Promotion Program.  UMR, the third party administrator for the Grand Valley State University health plans, has retained IHS to provide on-site health screenings for its clients.

6.  Are the health screenings mandatory?
The health screenings are not mandatory. However, annual health screenings are highly recommended, since they can often identify health risks that can be addressed before they become major problems.

7.  What does the screening test?
Complete list of tests
Your health screening will include a questionnaire and a blood draw used for 34 diagnostic tests to assess a wide range of health areas including:

8.  How long does the health evaluation take and what is involved?
The evaluation takes 10 minutes and is done at GVSU or an offsite Labcorp facility. IHS will assist you in scheduling an appointment. The evaluation consists of a brief medical history, blood pressure and a fasting blood draw.

9.  Who is performing the health evaluations?
Health care professionals complete the evaluations. All on-site health care professionals have at least 5 years experience, and are evaluated and rewarded based on client satisfaction feedback. Thus you can be assured that the evaluation will be completed in a timely and professional manner.

10. Who can participate in the health screenings?
All benefit eligible faculty, staff, spouses and household members (approved under the GVSU Household Member Program) can participate in the health screenings.

11. How comprehensive is the health evaluation?
The health evaluation is extremely comprehensive. 34 different tests are run examining every major organ in your body and will help to identify a wide range of health risks including cardiovascular disease risk factors (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes), liver and kidney disease, anemia, and certain types of cancer. In addition a PSA looking for prostate cancer in men 40 and older and a thyroid test in women 40 and older will be completed. The health evaluation will also analyze a number of risk factors related to cardiac risk and provide each employee with an individual cardiac risk analysis, that examines your risk for coronary heart disease, compared to someone your same sex and age. Another combination of tests will be examined to determine individuals with metabolic syndrome (pre-diabetic). This has huge implications for identified individuals as well as employers. Stopping someone from becoming diabetic saves money and also provides the at risk employee the ability to address a condition that if left untreated could result in a altered quality of life, decreased longevity, increased medical complications, and a lifetime of costly treatments.

12. I am a healthy individual, why would I take the time for an evaluation?
 Often times plan participants believe they are risk free, only to find out differently. From the appointment, each participant receives a detailed and comprehensive health report which they can share with their own health care provider. The health report establishes an overall health score for each individual to refer to and help track progress and set health goals. As  faculty and staff participate each year they will be able to compare each score side by side to measure maintenance or improvement.

13. I see my physician on a regular basis, thus why should I have a health evaluation?
Over 34 different tests are run through the CHRA. You can email your results to your physician for your permanent record or take your printed results with you to your next routine appointment. Additionally, after completing the health evaluation with IHS, you will have available to you a wide variety of educational tools and information, along with access to health coaching. This assessment is provided to supplement, not replace, the relationship with your health care provider.

"Know Your Numbers GVSU" Event Information

Registration will be available by phone or online on October 27th 2009.
To register by phone:  Call IHS at 1-800-840-6100.

To register online: 
UMR (Base & Enhanced plan members) go to myumr.com and login
PH, GVHP and opt out members to go to interactivehs.com

Please have your insurance card ready for eligibility and security reasons.

4.  How early can I come?
The appointment from start to finish should take 10 minutes. You can arrive at your scheduled time.

5.  Do I have to fast?
 For accurate readings for the lipid panel the recommended fast time is 12 hours. Do not eat. However, you may drink water or black coffee (no cream or sweeteners of any kind). If you know you are diabetic or hypoglycemic, please follow your doctor's instructions regarding fasting. If you do not fast or forgot, don't worry! You can still complete the assessment, however some of the readings may not be as accurate.

6.  How long will this test take?
The questionnaire and blood draw should take 10 minutes.

7.  Will there be food available after the test?
Light refreshments, coffee, water and juice will be available.

8.  I forgot to make an appointment. Can I still come?
Yes. Walk in appointments are an option. However, we encourage employees to make an appointment to avoid a possible wait time. You will need to provide your insurance card for eligibility and security reasons.

9.  My physician draws blood on a regular basis for a medical condition. Can I use my screening results as a replacement for one of those blood draws?
Yes. Many employees save money by providing the Interactive Health Solution results to their physicians.

10.  What if I feel faint before, during or after the blood draw?
If you have experienced faintness from blood draws in the past, please tell the nurse you would like to lie down for the blood draw. There will an exam table available in a separate area. 

11. Can retirees under 65 and on the Grand Valley State University health plan participate?
Yes. However, they would not be eligible for the incentive.

12. When do I receive my incentive?
A random drawing by IHS will take place 30 days after the initial health evaluation. This is to allow additional time to those who choose the option to take the evaluation at their own convenience at a test on demand center in Grand Rapids. It is not required that you participate in “Know Your Numbers GVSU” on Grand Valley's campus to be eligible for the drawings.  

13.  What happens if urgent risks are identified in my results?
You will be called immediately by Interactive Health Solutions staff members if there is a serious issue found in your results.

Privacy

1.  Will Grand Valley State University receive the results of my screening?
No. Your health information will be handled according to national privacy laws (HIPAA) and will not be shared with Grand Valley State University.  The University will receive de-individualized, aggregate data compiled by Interactive Health Solutions on the population from the screenings.

2.  Who will see my results?
Your results are processed and sent directly to you. At this point only you and Interactive Health Solutions have your results. Who sees your results from here is totally up to you. All patient privacy laws are followed and your individual results will not be shared with your employer or other unauthorized parties. At the time you test, you will receive a written overview of UMR’s compliance with privacy laws.

3.  Can I send my results to my physician?
Absolutely. You are encouraged to send your physician the results and ask that they be added to your medical file. All participants of the “Know Your Numbers GVSU!” program will have the ability to fax their results to their doctor online.

4.  Can my insurance do anything to raise/lower premiums based on our current or future results?
No.

  5.  Why do I need to provide my insurance number and last four digits of my social security number when I sign up for “Know Your Numbers GVSU!?
This information is collected by Interactive Health Solutions at the time of sign up to verify that you are enrolled in a medical benefits plan at GVSU or are an eligible member. This program is only open to benefit eligible participants and spouses. The information is to accurately identify you with your results. These numbers are also necessary to evaluate de-identified aggregate data of those that participated with those who chose not to participate.  These numbers will not be shared with anyone and comply under HIPAA rules and regulations.

  7.  Will the university receive any of my information?
NO. It is against HIPAA policy for the university to receive any of your personal information. The university will receive de-identified aggregate information of the participants in the program for vendor evaluation and program planning purposes only.

   8.  What about the prize drawings - how will those be determined?     
GVSU will receive a list of participant names only from Interactive Health Solutions in order to complete the random prize drawings.    

9.  Is this program compliant with the new GINA regulations?
Yes.  The Clinical Health Risk Assessment provided by IHS is 100% compliant to the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA).  IHS Security statement regarding GINA.

2008 Know Your Numbers GVSU Results

547 faculty and staff members participated in the first  "Know Your Numbers GVSU!" Clinical Health Risk Assessments!  Click here to access the 2008  summary document.

Need help accessing your 2008 results?