The Wellness Councils of America has honored the City of Birmingham's Working Well initiative, which relies heavily on nurses to improve employee health. WELCOA's 2006 Well Workplace Award winners included the Working Well program with a Gold Award. The UAB School of Nursing administers three programs within the 15-year-old initiative: the Good Health Program, Medical Services Unit and Back School. The Good Health Program is a comprehensive health promotion and risk reduction program that serves the approximately 4,000 city employees. It provides annual health screens and innovative interventions to reduce health risks and promote healthy lifestyles. The Medical Services Unit is an occupational health clinic dedicated to city employees and run by nurse practitioners from the UAB School of Nursing. Clinic personnel offer a variety of services, including physical exams and drug testing. Personnel also see on-the-job injuries and illnesses and provide referrals and case management. Immunization programs for selected at-risk groups of employees also are maintained. Back School is an exercise and education program designed to reduce the risk of reinjury for employees who have experienced a back injury. UAB School of Nursing Dean Doreen Harper, PhD, RN, FAAN, notes that the program has allowed the city to save money on health insurance costs. "The kinds of things this program does are cholesterol screening, weight reduction, exercise, nutrition counseling, all the preventive health interventions people need to stay healthy," she says. "They also work with employees who have been injured or have chronic disease to help those employees get better." May 2007