We are kicking off wellness initiatives for the spring— it’s time to get healthier and this is the time of year to do it! The 2019 Annual Wellness Events will take place April 22–May 3, and there are some changes on the horizon.

This year, the annual Wellness Events will take place in the UF Health Shands Hospital Atrium, or you can pop over to the UF Health Shands Cancer Hospital Auxiliary Conference Room for two days or visit various Quest Diagnostics sites. Because of our growth and the number of UF Health locations across the state, we wanted to offer the events at Quest Diagnostics labs to give everyone an opportunity to participate, which better serves all of our employees, regardless of their location.

Participants who get their screenings at one of the UF Health facilities will receive a $5 Subway or Opus gift card. To get your screenings done at the Quest location of your choice, please make an appointment in advance. Visit appointment.questdiagnostics.com to schedule online or view locations near you.

By participating in the Wellness Event, all benefits-eligible UF Health Shands employees can start earning points through the Better You Strides Wellness Program, which can earn you a $100 online shopping experience. To be eligible for the shopping experience, wellness participants must accumulate 300 points by Sept. 30. The deadline for shopping is Nov. 30.

You can earn additional points by participating in UF/UF Health Wellness and GatorCare activities, getting an annual wellness exam or participating in a community-sponsored walk or run, to name a few.

There are four actions, totaling 200 points, which are required to earn the shopping experience:

• A biometric screening (offered at a Wellness Event or at a Quest Diagnostics location) — 50 points
• An online personal health assessment (taken after completing the biometric screening) — 50 points
• Being tobacco-free or completing a tobacco-cessation course — 50 points
• Proof of flu vaccination in the past 14 months — 50 points

Visit GatorCare.org/wellness/betteryoustrides to learn more about the Better You Strides wellness incentive program.