by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
In fiscal year 2004-05, members of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department filed 628 health insurance claims worth $28 million.
Four years later, those numbers jumped to 1,140 and $53 million, respectively.
Now, in an effort to reduce the number of claims and lower its health insurance costs within JSO and JFRD, the City’s Risk Management has issued a request for proposal seeking a fitness program administrator. Spokesperson Kristen Beach said the RFP isn’t seeking someone as much as it’s seeking a program that will serve multiple purposes.
“Over time, we have seen a significant rise in the number of claims and we are looking to alleviate that by making lifestyle changes,” said Beach, one of the City’s media relations officers.
According to Beach, as of Monday afternoon the City had yet to receive a proposal and the deadline is April 10. However, if a program is selected, it will be voluntary for both police officers and firefighters. She said the program is aimed specifically at those two groups because of the physical nature of the jobs of police officers and firefighters.
“The claims are expensive and we see this as an investment up front that will pay dividends in the long-term,” said Beach.
The program will involve much more of a medical aspect than a physical aspect. The idea is to get the City employees to visit a contracted physician for a battery of tests to help determine if their health problems are genetic or related to their lifestyle. Beach said meeting with a dietitian is the next step followed by physical training three days a week for two months in small group sessions.
A staff member of JSO or JFRD will also go through the training.
“It will be train the trainer. That individual will continue to work with the group,” said Beach. “The goal is to start to level off the claims and then turn the other direction.”
John Bracey, public information officer for JFRD, said the fire department has measures in place to assure its firefighters are in the best shape possible. While nothing is required once employed, firefighters are encouraged to exercise regularly and each 24-hour shift contains a built-in hour for exercise either in the station or in the vicinity of the station. Also, new recruits are tested for tobacco, which includes the use of cigarettes and chewing tobacco — a policy that has been in place for 15 years. Any recruit that tests positive, may be denied entry into the fire academy.
“When firefighter recruits go through the training academy, a component of physical fitness is instilled,” said Bracey, who belongs to Bailey’s Gym himself at $30 a month, an offer the gym has extended to every City employee. “We want to start them off with good habits.”
Bracey pointed at the Berkman Plaza garage collapse as an example of the need for firefighters to be physically fit, especially those in the JFRD’s urban search and rescue division.
“It can be very taxing,” said Bracey. “They were climbing rocks, using jackhammers and lifting heavy rocks. The terrain can be tough to negotiate.”
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