Baptist Health employees enjoy the benefits of Wellness Advantage -- a nationally recognized employee wellness program. Wellness Advantage has received the highest honors several years in a row from the National Business Group on Health's Institute on the Costs and Health Effects of Obesity.

The Platinum award is given to select companies for commitment and dedication to promoting a healthy workplace and encouraging a healthy lifestyle for its employees and families.

Wellness is key to every success Baptist Health enjoys -- whether it's the ability to care for our patients, to balance our personal and professional lives, or to focus on our mission. Practicing wellness also means that we can keep our personal and business-related healthcare costs down.

Wellness Advantage offers you a comprehensive program of benefits that can help you learn about and take responsibility for your health.  Most are free, and some are offered at employee discounts.  Wellness Advantage services are offered in addition to those offered through your medical plan.

Employee Health Office

An Employee Health Office is located at each hospital campus and provides a free pre-employment physical examination, annual TB tests and flu shots. 

Employee Care Hours

If you become ill or injured at work and can’t get an appointment to see your doctor quickly, your hospital’s health office provides free basic medical services during Employee Care Hours.

Employee Pharmacy

This program offers employees who participate in a Baptist Health medical plan a selection of highly used, high-cost prescription drugs at greatly reduced co-pays.

Health Check

This program offers you the opportunity to complete a health risk assessment (called a Personal Wellness Profile) and helps you develop a private, customized action plan to help reduce your health risks.  You qualify for a $10,000 survivors’ benefit if you keep your profile updated every year.

Employee Fitness Centers

Free employee fitness rooms are available at Baptist, South Miami, Homestead, Mariners and Doctors Hospitals, the Corporate Office and the Business Support Center at West Kendall. 

Discounts on Gym Memberships

If you prefer to exercise away from work, you can take advantage of discounted membership fees (negotiated by Wellness Advantage) at a number of community gyms.

Exercise Classes / Video Library

In addition to the employee fitness centers, Behavior & Collaborative Medicine offers exercise classes at various Baptist Health locations for a very low cost.  Wellness Advantage’s free library offers exercise videos and DVDs for employees who like to work out at home.

Wellness Coaches

Wellness Advantage’s team of wellness coaches cheer you on as you get fit and healthy.

Exercise Physiologists

Personal trainers are available at highly affordable rates.

Fitness Orientations & Assessments

The Wellness Advantage staff will orient you to your employee fitness center for free, showing you how to use the equipment properly and efficiently for the most productive workout.  The Wellness Advantage fitness assessment measures your current fitness level through a medical health history and tests, including your resting heart rate, blood pressure, body composition, cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and flexibility.  You’ll receive a baseline report that will help you follow your progress toward fitness.  The assessment is conducted by appointment at your employee fitness center and costs $5.

Blood Pressure Checks

Monthly blood pressure checks are offered onsite throughout Baptist Health.

Healthy Meals & Snacks

The Wellness Advantage meal, for sale in all Baptist Health cafeterias, has fewer than 600 calories, with only 30 percent of those calories coming from fat, and fewer than 1,000 milligrams of sodium.  It includes a bottle of Baptist Health spring water and only costs $3.  Buy 10 meals and receive the next one free.  Healthy snacks also are available in all Baptist Health vending machines.  Nutritional labeling helps guide you to Peppy’s Picks and to the healthy choice.

Nutritional Counseling

Registered dietitians offer one-on-one counseling at a discount.

Stop-smoking Programs

Services that are offered free or at a discount include TRIUMPH, a medically supervised program that helps you develop your own customized plan to get and stay tobacco-free; The Elusive Addiction, a six-week program at South Miami and Homestead Hospitals; the 24-hour Mayo Clinic Tobacco Quitline; and individual or small-group counseling led by wellness coaches, who are certified stop-smoking counselors.

Weight-loss Programs

Baptist Health offers a variety of opportunities for employees to get help losing weight, including onsite programs and reimbursement for Weight Watchers meeting fees.

Free Health Information

Visit any of Baptist Health’s health resource centers for information and resources on a broad range of health topics.

Health Education and Special Programs

Health education programs are offered every year to both employees and the community, including Men’s, Women’s and Children’s Health Days.  Employees also have the opportunity to participate in special annual programs such as the Corporate Run, walking programs and fitness challenges.

Employee Wellness Fairs / Family Wellness Fairs

Get free screenings for blood pressure, osteoporosis and other conditions at any of Wellness Advantage’s employee wellness fairs, held regularly throughout the organization.  Wellness Advantage also holds regular Family Wellness Fairs, offering free screenings for employees and family members over age 18.

Ergonomic Assistance

Employees can receive free one-on-one consultation from an ergonomics specialist and also can benefit from minimal lift equipment in Baptist Health’s patient care areas.

Lactation Education & Assistance

Support and consultation for breast-feeding mothers is available from lactation specialists, and private areas for breast-feeding or pumping are located in various sites. 

Childbirth Education

Classes are offered at Baptist and South Miami Hospitals.  Preparing for Baby, offered by Wellness Advantage, is a special packet of information that helps employees plan with their managers their breast-feeding needs when they return to work.