WellnessWorks

Putting wellness to work for Johnston Health employees

Frances Aulisio starts many of her workdays at other workplaces.

She is a health educator and the corporate consultant for WellnessWorks, a new service of Johnston Health. The program helps businesses and industries with their health care needs, especially those associated with workers' compensation. It also helps employees understand their medical benefits and helps them navigate the health care system.

So how can you use the service?

Aulisio says the nicest benefit is the help line. By calling 1-888-977-3319, a toll free number, employees can get answers about their benefits and get assistance with scheduling appointments. "The help line is open 24/7, which means you can call at 3 a.m. and the coordinator will make the appointment for you to see the provider as soon as possible," she says.

Aulisio says her company has reserved patient slots with providers in advance so that they can see WellnessWorks participants the same day, next day or two days out. "We also assist with getting you a referral, scheduling a follow-up appointment, direct you to screenings, and we can answer questions about your medical bills," she says.

"When you call, the help line coordinator will ask what services you're looking for, the name of your company and the plan in which you're enrolled. They'll also ask your name and date of birth," she says.

WellnessWorks has 80 participating providers. There's also a wellness and education feature to WellnessWorks.

Aulisio is available to do blood pressure screenings and to give health and wellness talks in departments anywhere within the Johnston Health organization. She also has fliers available on an array of health topics, including nutrition, exercise and healthful cooking tips. Those fliers are included below in links separated by months.

Aulisio plans to use the memo portion of electronic pay stubs to let employees know about upcoming health news and recipes. If you would like to know more about WellnessWorks or how to schedule a lunch-and-learn, you may call her at 938-7178. Her office is in the marketing and community relations department, which inside the medical mall on the campus of Johnston Medical Center-Smithfield.

"I look forward to assisting employees with their health care needs," she says. "Our mission is to improve the health of the people in our communities, and that includes our family here at Johnston Health."

About Frances Aulisio

Aulisio grew up in southern Maryland with two younger sisters and their dad, a single parent. She graduated from East Carolina University in 2010 with a degree in health education. Her major was work-site health education.

Aulisio did a health internship in human resources at Duke University before accepting the job with WellnessWorks. "I like engaging people on a personal level," she says. "I enjoy teaching health topics."

Aulisio originally planned to major in nutrition. But her focus changed after taking a class in peer health education and becoming a certified peer health educator at the university.

"All students go through the same issues, just different scenarios. We all need help once in a while," she says. "I got satisfaction out of helping others, pointing them in the right direction."

2013 Monthly Calendar Wellness Information

Johnston Health is the county’s health care system. It includes Johnston Medical Center-Smithfield, a 179-bed acute care hospital, and Johnston Medical Center-Clayton, an outpatient campus that includes a freestanding emergency department, same-day surgery and diagnostic imaging departments. Johnston Health also has a primary care practice in Clayton and an urgent care in Smithfield.