1997 Annual Report

Board of Trustees Report to the Constituencies 1997

Center for Health Promotion

CHP

Loretta Kopitzke, RN (right), director of student health services, takes the blood pressure of Heather Thoreson.

Mission
The Center for Health Promotion (CHP) concept of wellness reflects a Christian perspective and purpose. Staff are dedicated to promoting a lifestyle that encourages a balance of physical,
spiritual, emotional, and social well-being.

Diversification of services has broadened patient-care options and stabilized finances. CHP works within the managed care model, using direct billing and contracting with employers directly. At the same time, some services are paid for by the patient or client. New areas of service, such as pharmacologically assisted smoking cessation, combine the best of behavior modification and advances in understanding compulsive addictions. In addition, CHP is beginning to utilize the clinical population for valuable research studies.

Programs
Student health: LLU has become the fifth college or university in the Inland Empire to invite the preventive medicine group to provide services. This age group are often risk seekers and are
at a stage where guidance and awareness of health matters may affect their entire lives. The program offers special services of sports medicine and women’s health.

Weight loss: There is no health risk more prevalent and more difficult to change than obesity. Recent Center studies confirm genetic differences between individuals who are consistently obese compared to those who have never been obese. The differences create neurochemical changes that can be helped with medication.

Blue Cross “Prudent Buyer” Clinic: The Center has contracted with Blue Cross to offer a yearly examination and health testing for one of their insurance plans. Staffed by a nurse practitioner and support staff, this service has a distinct preventive-medicine focus.

Clinical research: obesity study; truncal obesity study; case-control obesity study; smoking-medication study

The executive health program continues to be a favorite with Inland Empire companies. The Federal Bureau of Investigation contract has been continued on an annual basis.