The Health Status of Veteran Employees Compared to Civilian Employees in Veterans Health Administration.

Introduction: Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is undergoing changes in the practice of health care focusing on approaches that prioritize veteran well-being. Given transformation efforts, opportunities exist to enhance the health and well-being of patients and employees alike - a significant proportion of whom are veterans. To date, differences in health status between veteran and civilian employees within VHA have not been examined.

Decreasing Physical Inactivity in the Veterans Health Administration Employee Population.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe a comprehensive approach to decrease physical inactivity in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) employee population.

Methods: The approach included (1) initiatives to decrease physical inactivity in the workplace; (2) two operational surveys to assess system-wide service provision; and (3) two national employee surveys.

Results: From 2010 to 2012, 86 employee fitness centers were completed in VA medical centers.

From Policy to Practice: Tobacco Use Cessation for Employees in the Veterans Health Administration.

Objective: To describe a comprehensive approach to increase tobacco use cessation in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) employee population.

Methods: The approach included: 1) national policy; 2) a pilot tobacco use cessation program; and 3) two operational surveys to assess system-wide tobacco use cessation service provision.

Results: The proportion of VHA facilities offering a comprehensive tobacco use cessation program increased from 51% in 2010 to 72% in 2014, with 83% of facilities providing nicotine replacement therapy to employees.

Management support, worksite culture, and local resources for healthier employees: the Veterans Affairs experience.

Objective: To determine whether a "worksite culture of health" exists within the Veterans Health Administration and implications on integrating employee health promotion programs.

Methods: Three national surveys were used-an organizational health survey, a health behaviors survey, and a worksite environment survey. Cross-sectional associations between measures of organizational health and employee health behaviors and between measures of organizational health and worksite environment were assessed.

Sitting on stability balls: biomechanics evaluation in a workplace setting.

Use of a stability ball alone and stability ball chair were evaluated in the Veterans Health Administration as possible alternatives to incorporate with regular office chair use. The evaluation of stability ball use was conducted under the auspices of a work site health promotion program as a cross-over trial with participants rotating through use of the stability ball, stability ball chair, and regular office chair on a monthly basis for a total duration of 3 months. Rotations on regular office chairs served as the control.