On the morning of Wednesday, October 23, 2024, I began my workday in the office where a biometric screening clinic was being held. My motivation for attending was the financial incentive for participating in the Well-U employee wellness program. At the time, I was far less concerned about the screening itself.

That day, a kind and soft-spoken nurse was running the clinic. As we went through the process, she asked me a series of questions related to my blood pressure. It quickly became clear that my blood pressure was high… very high. In fact, my systolic reading of 167 was only a few points away from warranting an immediate trip to the emergency room.

While I knew my blood pressure had been elevated, I had never seen numbers that high. The nurse calmly explained what was happening, why I should discuss the numbers with my primary care provider, and what symptoms would indicate that I should be treated immediately. At the time, I was not overly concerned, as I already had an appointment scheduled with my primary care provider the following week.

The ER Visit

On Monday, October 28, I developed a severe, thundering headache. Typically, I would have gone to bed and tried to sleep it off, which I initially did. But I remembered the nurse’s words of warning and concern. I got out of bed and checked my blood pressure using my OMRON home monitor. The reading was 195/136, and the device alerted me that I was in a hypertensive crisis.

My wife and I immediately sought help. We attempted a MyChart video visit and were instructed to go directly to the emergency room. When we arrived at Strong West in Brockport, the medical staff's reactions as they checked my blood pressure confirmed the seriousness of the situation. I was treated in the ER and started on blood pressure medication. Shortly thereafter, in coordination with my primary care provider, medication and lifestyle changes put me on a path toward significantly better health.

The Outcome

I often reflect on how that biometric screening impacted my life. My nurse was so patient, caring, and thorough. What if I had not attended that screening? Would I have written off the headache and just gone back to bed? And if so, where would I be today?

This is my heartfelt thank you to that kind and caring nurse. You opened my eyes and empowered me to make a well-informed decision about my health. The truth is, if not for the nurse’s guidance, I likely would have slept through that hypertensive crisis, continued to ignore my body’s warning signs, and suffered the consequences. It is entirely possible that your program saved my life.

This is my wholehearted thank you to my employer, the University of Rochester. If not for the Well-U employee wellness program and the additional benefits it offers I may not be here today. I believe this program exists not just as a token benefit, but as a meaningful resource designed to help each University of Rochester employee succeed in their personal health journeys.