CEO Message
Howard Lee
President & CEO
Aloha!
As we start the year, I am reminded of how grateful I am and of how important it is to express that gratitude regularly. (In fact, many credible studies show that practicing gratitude improves our health and well-being!)
With that, I thank each of you, our employers and members, for choosing UHA and allowing us to serve you. We strive to deliver an experience of simplicity and genuine caring, so it’s my goal that this is the experience we consistently provide to you as our valued customer.
This year, we are focused and strongly committed to delivering simple solutions and worry-free experiences. That said, we have a variety of articles and resources to share as we invite you on this journey with us to live…
Smarter:
Simpler:
And with More Gratitude and Caring: UHA in the community
At UHA, we’re fully committed to your safety and well-being as we all navigate this ever-changing time together.
Mahalo,
Howard
P.S. With COVID-19 and its variants sticking around, it’s important for everyone to please continue to follow proper COVID-19 safety guidelines. Some wellness tips to also consider include staying up to date with regular vaccinations and maintaining your overall well-being through proper nutrition, exercise, sleep habits, stress management, and keeping up with your doctor visits.
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Dr. Kathleen Kozak
Medical Director
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To Test or Not to Test, That is the Question!
A lot of people are wondering if they should be testing for COVID-19 whenever they hear of someone they know testing positive. In general, if you have symptoms of a coronavirus infection: fevers, chills, body aches, cough, etc, then it might be a good idea to talk to your doctor and see if you need to be tested. There are locations around the state that will do testing ordered by your doctor.
The Hawaii Department of Health has created a list at hawaiicovid19.com of locations where testing is available.
For those who have been in close contact with someone who tested positive, it takes a few days before any testing would be accurate. Testing too soon might not show the infection. In the meantime, it’s always good to wear a mask and keep social distance from others. Three to five days after exposure is the time to test for COVID-19 if you have no symptoms.
The most accurate test is the PCR test, that’s the one ordered by doctors. However, now there are at-home COVID-19 tests that look for the virus antigen that are available at local pharmacies, and online. The government has a website to order at-home COVID-19 tests for free at covidtests.gov.
At-home COVID-19 tests are a covered benefit. Information on how to get at-home COVID-19 tests and reimbursement can be found here.
If you get a positive test result from an at-home COVID-19 test, there is no need to confirm with a PCR test. But if you have a negative test result, along with all the symptoms of COVID-19, talk with your doctor to see if further testing is needed.
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Erin Chow
Clinical Care Manager
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Start the New Year Off with Prevention for Better Health
First it’s the little tickle in your throat, with the occasional cough here and there. Within a few hours, the body aches hit along with the headaches. Immediately you want to go back to bed, sink under the covers, and get warm, even though you have a fever.
These are the beginning symptoms of the flu, or influenza. It’s the time of year when people are more likely to come in contact with the flu virus. With COVID-19 still around, it’s hard to know which one might be the culprit once you start to feel bad.
One way to help prevent influenza is by getting your flu shot. Each year the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), review the strains of the flu virus that have been circulating and try to predict which strains will be the most problematic for the next season. The goal is to have the flu shot available in late August to early September, giving ample time for prevention.
The flu is a respiratory virus that can spread when you sneeze, cough, or come in close contact with someone who is already sick. Luckily wearing masks can help, along with washing hands, and staying home when sick. Some of the same prevention tips that work to stop the spread of COVID-19 have helped stop the spread of the flu, too.
It’s never too late to get a flu shot. Especially now when many people are getting infected with COVID-19 as well. Flu shots are available at your doctors’ office, many local pharmacies and even grocery stores. The flu shot is covered at $0 co-pay for UHA members. For more information on the flu shot or to find a participating pharmacy, go to: uhahealth.com/flushot.
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UHA is working diligently to fulfill the Over-the-Counter (OTC) COVID-19 Testing requirements recently announced by the federal government. Starting Jan. 15, 2022, UHA will cover costs for FDA-authorized OTC COVID-19 diagnostic test kits to ensure our members have the access and results they need to remain confident they are healthy and safe.
Updates will be posted here regularly as they become available.
Currently, supplies of at-home COVID-19 tests may be limited, so here are links to free community testing sites statewide:
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Community Giving
$1M Donation to John A. Burns School of Medicine to Support Med Students
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UHA Health Insurance celebrated the 25th anniversary of its founding with a $1 million donation to the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) to support student learning.
“This was a way for us, after 25 years, to give something back for the future of the medical school and to the future of the students.” – Howard Lee, UHA President & CEO
The donation establishes the UHA Health Insurance and Dr. Max G. Botticelli Medical Innovation Endowment, which will support JABSOM’s efforts to develop and implement innovative curriculum initiatives, including learning communities and problem-based learning.
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa put together this wonderful video that honors Dr. Max G. Botticelli’s legacy and highlights the importance of supporting the future of UH and its medical students.
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Live Well - Be Well
Benefits and Programs
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UHA’s Mark Mendoza’s Well-being Journey
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Mark is joining the 40+ UHA associates that have participated in the Weight Watchers® program. Mark is a UHA Client Services Liaison and is a prime example of health, combining aspects of spiritual, physical, and nutritional wellness. One of the reasons why Mark started this well-being journey is to create a better customer experience and to help those we work with daily. Mark reinforces, “How can we make our customers feel better, if we ourselves are not at 100 percent prime.” To get a better picture of his well-being journey and his plans to progress with the Weight Watchers® program, we started a conversation.
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What was the catalyst that started your well-being journey and what is your driving force?
I would like to start off by saying I am very honored to be part of the UHA ohana and embrace the motto of “Better Health, Better Life.” I am coming up on my one-year anniversary, working at UHA as a Client Services Liaison, and it has been positive from the start. I shared a passion for helping others and had said to myself, if I am hired by a company who values their employees’ health and well-being, I am going to give back 110 percent, if not more. Working in a positive environment and a company that values health and well-being is a driving force to taking better care of myself and living a healthier lifestyle.
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Currently, I am also raising my nephew, Jeremiah, who I am a co-guardian of along with my mother. His mother (my cousin) and my aunt (my mother’s oldest sister) passed away in 2020 due to health issues not related to COVID-19. He has become that catalyst who has driven me to take a deeper look within myself. My cousin has given me her miracle of life and that is my godson. I am so blessed to be a part of his life. I need to be around for as long as I can to love him, provide the care, and to nurture his growth.
What specific changes have you made that are working for you and how do you keep focused?
I’ve been a heavy kid the majority of my life. The heaviest I’ve weighed was almost 250 lbs. I am currently averaging 215-222 lbs., but have been down to 192 lbs. in 2016. With life changes, such as parenthood, I’ve come to the conclusion that loving myself and taking time out when needed, provides me balance.
I am using my wellness bucks (an employee benefit provided by UHA that helps pay for healthy lifestyles choices) towards membership at Unyqe Fitness, a gym located here in Topa Financial Center. If parenting does not interfere with my daily routine, I am at Unyqe Fitness getting a workout in by 4:30PM. Workouts range from cardio, weightlifting, and calisthenics in the pool. I am currently learning stretches from Doc Rapadas, who I see for my monthly massage and acupuncture treatments.
Another factor that has made an impact on my eating habits was being part of the 30-Day Salad Challenge shared by UHA’s President and CEO, Howard Lee. This challenge kicked off in December 2021 and scaffolded my change in lunch alternatives by eating a “salad-a-day.” This is what my lunch has consisted of since January 2022.
In expanding your well-being journey, you intend to join the Weight Watchers® program. What changes would you like to see going into this program?
With the use of UHA’s wellness bucks to hold me accountable for keeping me “moving and motivated” daily, I would like to start making alternative choices for eating. I don’t like the word “diet” nor do I refrain myself of eating what I want to eat (I’m a local boy from Hawaii— I love food and my second passion is cooking).
I will be enrolling in Weight Watchers® for accountability on my food choices and to help track my intake. I have to say, eating raw vegetables is becoming easier. Also, it’s kind of fun to build different types of salads. It makes lunchtime something to look forward to, while changing the mindset of “oh, I’m just eating a salad…again.”
What advice would you give someone who is just starting out their well-being journey?
The advice I would give to someone who would like to start their well-being journey is to take baby steps. If it entails just a walk around the block that’s more than a step. The little progress you make each day adds up to bigger results. Make small changes in eating portions or even start a “salad-a-day” challenge with family and friends. Lastly, celebrate the small wins. This little change of mindset will help build confidence in feeling better about yourself.
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UHA Connecting the Dots Podcasts
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The UHA Connecting the Dots platform gives you instant access to webinars, podcasts and other health and wellness resources that can educate and inspire you. Learn from local healthcare experts with our podcast interviews.
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Episode 14: Well-being for the "Whole" You features UHA Senior Workplace Advisor, Mike Story, and Well-being Lead at Gallup, Ryan Wolf. Their discussion revolves around the five elements of well-being: career, social, financial, physical and community.
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Episode 13: The Healthy Hawaii Strategic Plan features Administrator of the Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Division of the Hawaii State Department of Health, Lola Irvin, and President of Urban Pacific Consulting, Mark Garrity. They discuss the Healthy Hawaii Strategic Plan, a roadmap for improving the health of Hawaii residents by preventing and reducing chronic disease.
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Episode 15: Top 10 Signs of Alzheimer's features Interim Executive Director at Lunalilo Home, Dr. Poki‘i Balaz. This episode is a discussion on how to help someone with Alzheimer’s disease and what resources are available.
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Episode 16: Self-care During the Holidays features therapist, Heather Pierucki. This episode addresses the importance of prioritizing our mental health during the holidays and why self-care is important.
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National Health Observances in March
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At UHA we care about your health; that is why we have put together these health resources to bring awareness to these national health observances in the month of March.
National Kidney Month
Chronic Kidney disease is a type of kidney disease in which there is a gradual loss of kidney function over a period of time. Kidneys play a key role in bone and heart health, as well as in the balance of acid and alkaline in your body.
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UHA Connecting the Dots podcast episode 5: Chronic Kidney Disease features Justine Tallon-Satink, Registered Nurse certified in managed care nursing with UHA Health Insurance. As a Registered Nurse (RN) Care Specialist, she works with members to facilitate their complex healthcare needs. In this podcast episode Justine discusses Chronic Kidney Disease, and why we should be talking more about it.
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National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Colorectal cancer is the third deadliest form of cancer and the third most common cancer affecting both men or women. Although one of the deadliest forms of cancer, early detection and lifestyle are keys in lowering your risk.
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March 6th to 12th is National Sleep Awareness Week
“Sleep is super essential, it’s necessary just as much as breathing, exercise and nutrition.” Podcast 12: The Science of Sleeping Well Features Dr. Val Cacho, board-certified internal medicine and sleep medicine physician. This episode is a discussion on what happens to your body as you sleep, how to improve your quality of sleep and the impact sleep has on our mental health and more.
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UHA was proud to be a sponsor at the 2022 Sony Open in Hawaii – the largest golf charity event in Hawaii. The tournament charity proceeds benefits more than 100 not-for-profit organizations each year and has raised nearly $22 million for over 350 local not-for-profits.
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On January 22nd, the Hawaii community came together to participate in the virtual 9th Annual St. Marianne Cope Walk. In support of St. Francis Healthcare Systems of Hawaii and their commitment to creating healthy communities, UHA sponsored the Wellness Fair and Keiki Zone – A collection of resources from various organizations to promote healthier living.
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