HAWC services changing this fall Published Aug. 19, 2014 By 2nd Lt. Carly A. Costello 55th Wing Public Affairs OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Team Offutt will see changes in the base's health promotion program starting now until Oct. 1. Operation Live Well is a Department of Defense initiative that will supplement the base's health promotion programs provided by the Health and Wellness Center staff. The new program provides an online resource to promote good health and well-being of military members, dependents, retirees and DOD civilians starting fiscal year 2015. "Operation Live Well is an outstanding resource for military members and their families to research healthy living information and access online tools to help motivate them to get in great shape," said U.S. Air Force Col. Stephen Mounts, 55th Medical Group commander. "The goal is to have people take a proactive and preventative approach to maintaining their health. This program is designed specifically for the unique circumstances of military life but should appeal to anyone who is interested in improving their overall health." The goal of the new program is to provide commanders and unit fitness leaders with an online resource to support a healthy lifestyle, as well as market local health promotion services, according to Marcy Jameson, HAWC exercise physiologist. Information on the new initiative can be found at www.health.mil/livewell, which has tools and resources to promote and improve health and readiness. The site includes information on integrative wellness, physical activity, sleeping habits, nutrition, tobacco-free living and mental wellness. "Operation Live Well will help Team Offutt in a manner that everyone has access to this site and may utilize this one-stop shop for health and wellness," Jameson said. "Operation Live Well provides Team Offutt with multiple options for fitness programming. One of the tools that would work well for our population is the Navy Operational Fitness and Fueling System Series, from which you can download the fitness app to your phone and have individualized routines at your fingertips." Due to the Air Force level policy changes, Offutt's HAWC will be downsizing to two staff members, but the team and base leadership ensure that many of the popular services once available at the HAWC will still be available on base. These two former HAWC staff members will fall under the Health Promotion Flight in the 55th Medical Group and will include Caroline Olson, Health Promotion coordinator, and Robert DeLair, Health Promotion dietitian. "During this time of fiscal restraint, many cuts have been made throughout the Air Force and the HAWCs are now feeling that change," Jameson said. "Our customers and patients have shown concern about what services are going to be offered. We do our best to provide them with alternative options for fitness programming and educate them about the services we continue to offer. We have worked closely with the Offutt Field House and fitness assessment cell (FAC) staff to ensure continuity of care and programming." Although some of the services once provided by the HAWC will be moved to the clinic or to the field house, other requirements performed by the HAWC will no longer be required by Air Force Instructions. For example, Air Force Form 422 for an exercise prescription will no longer be mandated for Airmen with a medical profile. Airmen who need assistance with a medical exemption should contact their Unit Fitness Program Manager for details, and potentially make an appointment to see their Primary Care Manager (PCM). Also, all physical training leader certifications will be performed by the FAC staff in the field house. Anyone needing fitness remediation classes will be able to attend any of the 16 currently approved fitness classes offered at the Offutt Field House. Gait analysis will also be discontinued in the HAWC but will be available in the physical therapy department beginning in the fall of 2014. Other programs such as the Healthy Base Initiative and Army's Performance Triad are branded under Operation Live Well and have already been implemented at 14 DOD selected locations. So far the feedback on these programs has been positive, according to Jameson, but for those still looking for in-person assistance, the Health Promotion Flight will still be available to assist with medical nutrition therapy and clinical services in addition to community outreach programs. "Change is always difficult and we have taken steps to ensure as smooth of a transition as possible," Jameson said. "Operation Live Well is a large part of the transition across DOD. Historically, Offutt has shown great support of Health Promotion Programs, and we will work hard to tailor programming to specific unit needs." Anyone or any unit needing assistance with health promotion should contact 402-294-5977 or email OffuttHAWC@us.af.mil. For more information on Operation Live Well, visit health.mil/livewell.