HEALTH VAN TO MAKE ITS INAUGURAL VISIT TO TOURNAMENT HERE

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri is taking a message of healthy lifestyles on the road.

The insurance carrier has established a mobile health program that will visit companies, schools, shopping centers and community events to help people better manage their health.

Housed in a van, the program makes its first stop Saturday at the Cape Athletic Youth Soccer Association Fall Classic at Shawnee Park.

Michael Goldberg, director of managed care development and education for Blue Cross and Blue Shield, said, the "Healthy AdVANtage" services are available to anyone.

"The whole idea is to promote health and to help people become wise health care consumers," Goldberg said.

"We read everywhere 25 percent of all health care delivered is probably unnecessary and also 50 percent of health care is needed to treat conditions that are preventable."

Eliminating unnecessary health care and preventive medicine are key in managing health care costs, he said.

"We wanted to go particularly to the work site," Goldberg said.

Research shows that wellness messages delivered at work are more effective because employees know wellness is important to their employers.

"Plus, employers are feeling the pinch of health care costs," he said.

The van offers health appraisals. Individuals fill out a survey and receive an analysis of their health risks.

The appraisal checks diet, exercise, stress, driving habits and other behaviors like smoking and drinking.

Screenings like blood pressure, body fat levels, height and weight will also be conducted. Future screenings may include cholesterol, blood sugar and flexibility. A small fee will be charged for some of these tests.

In the future, officials hope the van will provide immunizations to children in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Health, diabetic screenings in cooperation with the Diabetic Association and healthy baby programs.

Most activities will be staffed by two to five professionals, including a registered nurse and a health education professional.

Those individuals will be available to answer questions.

Goldberg emphasized that the van does not provide treatment but instead promotes good health.

The van will travel throughout the state to work sites of Blue Cross and Blue Shield clients and also to community events like this weekend's soccer tournament.

"We can teach them things about their own health," Goldberg said. "In the case of a work site visit, the employer can offer a summary report. They can say, `Look at all the stress my employees are reporting' or `Nobody in the company is exercising.' Then the employer can focus a program on the needs of the people who work there."

Health interest surveys will be conducted to help companies determine what health programs employees are interested in.

The van will also offer discounted educational materials such as books, newsletters and corporate wellness manuals.