Attaining good health has become much more convenient for San Antonio-area residents with the opening of a Humana Health & Well-Being Center at two San Antonio Walmart locations – one at 1200 S.E. Military Drive and the other at 6703 Leslie Road.

Visitors to the centers can take advantage of a variety of health education resources. To help people continue to learn, the Humana Health & Well-Being Centers feature seminars and educational sessions that aim to keep brains and bodies fit, regardless of age. Community members can learn tips on monitoring diabetes, the importance of eye health, how to keep allergies under control and other topics that provide tools and information to make effective decisions about health and well-being.  Seminars run the gamut from healthy food and nutrition to lifestyle topics, such as how to keep the kitchen organized or how to use a tablet computer. A calendar of daily demonstrations is available free at each of the center locations.

The Health and Well-Being Centers offer adults of all ages a place to socialize and learn about ways to achieve lifelong well-being. Socially-connected adults are three times as likely to report very good or excellent health. Additional research supports that people with a strong social network have less stress and typically feel a greater sense of self-esteem. As a result, they take better care of themselves by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Among various activities available to local residents, the centers host live social events such as crafting for a cause, crafts for kids, planting 101, family fun, home budgeting and organization.

Walking programs provide the opportunity to join instructor-led groups to learn proper walking and stretching techniques while socializing with each other. The centers host a group of walkers, every Tuesday and Thursday, at 9 a.m. at Military Dr. and every Monday and Friday at 9 a.m. at Leslie Road, who walk inside the store. Participants even receive pedometers after they complete their first walk, helping them track their steps and calories burned.

Humana members can even speak in private with a customer service representative live through video chat via a computer. As an added bonus, some associates are bilingual in English and Spanish, allowing the centers to efficiently serve residents of Hispanic and Latino origin, who make up roughly two-thirds of the San Antonio population.

In addition, “The doctor will see you now” takes on a new, high-tech meaning at the Humana Health & Well-Being Center with its telemedicine suite. Patients who visit the center use the latest audio and video technology to speak directly to a Concentra physician who evaluates, diagnoses and treats their medical condition (prescriptions can be phoned in to the pharmacy at the Walmart location or to a pharmacy of the patient’s choice). Patients are assisted by an on-site medical professional during their visit. Telemedicine has been touted as a way to improve access to health care and is currently used in 34 percent of U.S. health centers.

Consults available include nurse visits such as health screenings and immunizations and urgent care services for such health issues as ear/eye infections, sore throats and sinus infections, allergies, stomach ailments, rashes and pain such as to a knee or lower back. Point of care tests for flu, strep or mono, administration of steroid, allergy or antibiotic shots and specimen collection and interpretation of tests sent to a laboratory can also be accomplished.

Visits would not include treating trauma beyond minor sprains and strains, conducting physical examinations or evaluating wound care or medical procedures of any kind (elective, excisions, foreign body removal, etc.).

These facilities serve as an excellent alternative for San Antonio residents – as well as all adults – to connect with each other and improve their overall health and well-being.