A yearlong virtual health program led by clinicians and dietitians
Each day is a new opportunity to reset, refocus and become healthier from the inside out. If you’re ready to build better habits, have accountability and support from experts and a like-minded community, the Jefferson Lifestyle Program may be for you.
“The foundation of lifestyle medicine is to help people have their best quality of life,” says Courtney Pinkham, MD, Medical Director of the Jefferson Lifestyle Program.
Lifestyle medicine is about your everyday life – your habits and relationships shape how you feel today and how you will feel in the future. This approach to care focuses on major areas of your health including diet, sleep, physical activity, stress management and social connection. The goal is to help you make sustainable lifestyle changes, so you can live your life to the fullest.
Maybe you feel a bit stuck right now – and that’s OK. Building better habits takes time and intentional effort. Having an accountability buddy helps too.
Perhaps meal planning and cooking don’t come naturally to you, but you’d like to finally master some recipes. Maybe you want to be able to take the stairs with ease. Or you’d like to have the energy to play with your kids or grandkids.
Lifestyle medicine is designed to meet you right where you are – practical steps that won’t leave you feeling overwhelmed. It’s evidence-based medicine that improves your overall health and may help manage or even reverse chronic conditions like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
The Jefferson Lifestyle Program is a yearlong virtual health program that covers every aspect of lifestyle medicine. After a virtual visit with your clinician to talk through your health goals, you’ll join a small group and participate in weekly virtual visits for 12 weeks.
These online sessions will be offered at convenient times during the week including morning, lunchtime and evening hours. Each week, you’ll hear from clinicians and registered dietitians about topics such as:
“Having the partnered expertise of both a clinician and registered dietitian in the same place at the same time is incredibly valuable,” Dr. Pinkham says.
When you join the program, you’ll receive a link to sign up for a MyChart account. Each virtual visit will occur through your patient portal and costs the same as your typical primary care appointment copay. A session will focus on one area of lifestyle medicine and include movement, an educational lesson with action steps and a class activity. You’ll have guidance from our experts and be part of a supportive community that motivates you to achieve those healthy habits you desire to have.
“One of the goals of this program is to help you feel comfortable sharing your successes and what’s been hard for you,” says Jocelyn Baumgarten, Lead Dietitian of the Jefferson Lifestyle Program. “Having people to talk to and relate to in our everyday life makes a difference.”
Throughout the rest of the year, you’ll meet with your group monthly and get to check in with your clinician along the way. Your clinician will order standard lab work such as cholesterol and blood sugar so you can track your progress.
There will be bonus activities offered like cooking demonstrations, grocery store tours and meditation sessions. You’ll be invited to join a Facebook group, so you’ll know what events are happening in your area – everything from farmer’s markets to wellness events at your local library.
By enrolling in the Jefferson Lifestyle Program, you’ll also get access to weekly recipes, journaling prompts, mindful minutes and more to help you keep the momentum going.
To join the program, you need to be 18 or older. You can sign up online at JeffersonHealth.org/Lifestyle or talk with your clinician.
