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Community Wellness Programs

Everyday at Network Health, we’re building healthy and strong Wisconsin communities. This centers on boosting the collective health and wellness of the neighborhoods, towns and cities we call home. Our communities in northeast and southeast Wisconsin are home to some remarkable wellness programs.

We're Aligned with Community Organizations

At Network Health, we’re working with health and wellness organizations in our service area to innovate and collaborate and offer our members access to the programs they need to make positive changes and live their healthiest lives.

Preventing Diabetes - Prevent T2 Diabetes Prevention Program

Prevent T2 is a National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP), which was created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2010. This program offers evidence-based, cost-effective interventions that help prevent type 2 diabetes in communities across the United States. This lifestyle change program focuses on healthy eating and physical activity, which showed that people with prediabetes who participate can cut their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58 percent (71 percent for people over 60 years old).

What does the program include?

  • CDC-approved curriculum with lessons, handouts and other resources to help participants make healthy change

  • A lifestyle coach, specially trained to lead the program, to teach new skills, encourage participants to set and meet goals and keep everyone motivated

  • A support group of people with similar goals and challenges – together, the group shares ideas, celebrates successes and works to overcome obstacles

  • A yearlong program, because making lifestyle changes is an ongoing process – this supports people as they develop new habits

  • There is no charge for Network Health members to participate

 Who is eligible?

  • Age 18 or older

  • Body mass index above 24

  • Have not been diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes

  • Cannot be pregnant

  • Must either have a recent blood test in the prediabetic range or receive a result of high risk for type 2 diabetes on the Prediabetes Risk Test

If you would like to learn more about the Prevent T2 Diabetes Prevention Program, please send an email to our secure Prevent T2 inbox at NHpreventT2@networkhealth.com.

Balance Builder Workshop

Don't fear falling. Take control of your life by improving your balance. Join Network Health and SilverSneakers for an interactive Balance Builder class. These classes teach you how to build balance, improve strength and increase flexibility. This class is offered at no cost to Network Health members who have a SilverSneakers membership as part of their plan benefits.

With coronavirus restrictions, Network Health is currently not offering this program. Please check back to see when this program will be relaunched.

 

Community Health and Wellness Workshops

Workshops are available through the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging to teach members how to best manage common symptoms of chronic conditions.

Living Well with Chronic Conditions

This six-week workshop teaches people with the following chronic conditions to manage their health.

  • Arthritis

  • Asthma

  • Chronic pain

  • Heart conditions

  • High blood pressure

  • Obesity

What will you learn?

  • Practical ways to deal with pain and fatigue

  • How to plan to achieve your wellness goals

  • Better nutrition and eating habits

  • How to effectively communicate with your doctor and family about your health

To find dates and times for this workshop, click here or call the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging at 608-243-5690.

Healthy Living with Diabetes

This six-week workshop helps people with type 2 diabetes manage their condition. The workshop is led by two trained leaders, one or both of whom have diabetes themselves. 

What will you learn?

  • Techniques for dealing with symptoms, fatigue, pain, hyper/hypoglycemia, stress and emotional problems such as depression, anger, fear and frustration

  • Appropriate exercises to help improve or maintain your strength and endurance

  • Healthy eating choices and habits

  • Appropriate use of medication

  • How to work more effectively with health care providers

To find dates and times for this workshop, visit the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging's website or call them at 608-243-5690.

Stepping On

This seven-week workshop is for anyone who is at risk or who has had a problem with balance and falling. Stepping On can empower you to carry out healthy behaviors to reduce your risk of falling and increase your quality of life.

What will you learn?

  • Simple and fun ways to improve balance and strength

  • The role vision plays in maintaining balance

  • How medications can contribute to falls

  • Ways to stay safe when out and about in your community

  • What to look for in footwear

  • How to check your home for safety

To find dates and times for this workshop, click here or call the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging at 608-243-5690.

Additional Support Groups

Breathe at Ease

Breathe at Ease is Network Heath’s proactive condition management program designed to help members and participants avoid flare-ups, control symptoms and potentially improve their lung conditions. It’s intended to supplement a physician’s care of chronic bronchitis, emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Breathe at Ease

How does the program work?

  1. Enroll by contacting one of the Breathe at Ease respiratory therapists to schedule an appointment or ask your doctor for a referral to Breathe at Ease.

  2. Schedule and attend a one-on-one appointment with a Breathe at Ease respiratory therapist. You’ll receive an assessment, discuss your health history and develop an action plan. Bring the completed questionnaire and your medications to this appointment.

  3. Schedule monthly follow-up calls with your respiratory therapist. These phone calls help address any concerns as they arise.

Breathe at Ease Locations and Contacts

Robyn West, RRT

  • Ascension St. Elizabeth Hospital*
  • 1506 S. Oneida St., Appleton, WI 54915
  • Phone 920-831-1498
  • Email Robyn.West@ascension.org
  • Ascension NE Wisconsin St. Elizabeth*
  • 500 S. Oakwood Rd, Oshkosh, WI 54904
  • Phone 920-831-1498
  • Email Robyn.West@ascension.org
  • Ascension Medical Group at New London*
  • 1420 Algoma St., New London, WI 54961
  • Phone 920-831-1498
  • Email Robyn.West@ascension.org

Sandy Bauman, CRT

  • Holy Family Memorial
    2300 Western Ave., Manitowoc, WI 54220

    Phone 920-320-4247(4AIR)
    Email sbauman@hfmhealth.org
*Virtual options are available for members who do not live near this location.

Better Breathers

A community-wide support group for people with COPD and other chronic lung diseases. For more information in the Fox Valley call 920-831-1498 or 920-738-2558. Find Better Breathers Groups in Other Areas

Community Resources

The resources and organizations listed on this document are available to members who may need assistance with common socio-economic factors, like Medicaid eligibility, affording basic needs and/or social isolation.

Pregnancy Resources

If you’re pregnant or have a baby under 1 year, Network Health recommends Text4baby, a free service that helps you feel more prepared for motherhood. Text4baby will send you doctor appointment reminders and personalized information on prenatal care, baby’s development, signs of labor, breastfeeding, nutrition and more, directly to your cell phone. It’s easy to sign up and the text messages are FREE, regardless of how many text messages you have in your cellphone plan or even if you don’t have texting in your cellphone plan. To sign up, text BABY (or BEBE for Spanish) to 511411. You can cancel the service at any time by texting STOP (ALTO for Spanish) to 511411. There is also an app, available for download in the Google Play and iTunes stores, which provides additional information about baby’s development, pregnancy, childcare tips and more. You can also sign up and find more information at www.text4baby.org or on Text4baby’s Facebook page.