WPS Health Solutions: Discover treatment options for post-traumatic stress disorder

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
DeAnne Boegli
Vice President of Communications
608-512-5754
deanne.boegli@wpsic.com

Discover treatment options for post-traumatic stress disorder
WPS Health Solutions shares how millions of people deal with diagnosis each year

MADISON, Wis.—Feb. 15, 2023—Post-traumatic stress (PTS) can often be a result of exposure to severe trauma. It’s a normal response to a traumatic event. But sometimes, the effects of PTS are more extreme, and symptoms won’t go away on their own. That’s when it becomes post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). About six out of every 100 people will have PTSD at some point in their lives, and 12 million adults in the U.S. are diagnosed in a given year.

What are some of the treatment options for PTSD?

“There are a variety of treatment options for PTSD. Examples include talk therapy, medications, and lifestyle changes,” according to Dr. Ken Robbins, WPS Medical Director of Behavioral Health. “When considering options for treatment, talk therapy or psychotherapy—which involve talking with a professional about the experience and symptoms—is generally the first step.”

There are a few different types of therapy that are effective for treating PTSD, according to the American Psychological Association. These include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. CBT involves discussing the trauma and your symptoms, and helping you implement better thought and behavioral patterns.
• Exposure therapy. This type of therapy involves talking through the trauma and working through it in an environment that is safe and nurturing. It allows you to fully process the experience and take time to examine it however you need.
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. This is an interactive therapy that involves moving your eyes from side-to-side while recalling the traumatic events, so that you can process the events outside of the strong emotions that are attached to them.

In addition to therapy, medication is another great option available. There are a wide variety of options people can discuss with their doctor. 

Lifestyle changes and self-care practices are another important component of managing your symptoms. There are many different avenues you could take, but some of them might include:

• Learning about PTSD to better understand the symptoms
• Meditating
• Exercising
• Journaling
• Attending a support group
• Having a strong social network
• Reducing negative coping mechanisms

Beyond just treatment—how can I help myself?

One of the hardest things people are forced to do sometimes is make the choice to recognize that they need help and to try to take that first step. It’s important to remember that while therapy and treatments take time, they are scientifically proven to be a contributor to getting better.

To help yourself while pursuing other options for treatment:

• Talk with your doctor regularly about your treatment and other options.
• Engage in physical exercise to help reduce stress.
• Set realistic goals for yourself.
• Try to spend time with people you care about.
• Expect a gradual change in your symptoms, not immediate.
• Identify coping mechanisms to help yourself in times of crisis. 

Why do some develop PTSD and others do not?

It’s important to remember that not everyone who lives through a traumatic event will develop PTSD. In fact, most will not. 

There’s a variety of factors as to why a person will or won’t develop PTSD. Some of them are listed below. Risk factors are elements that will likely further develop PTSD, while resilience factors are components that help reduce the risk.

Some factors that increase the risk include:

• Living through dangerous events and traumas (for example, combat veterans).
• Getting injured or seeing another loved one hurt.
• Childhood trauma.
• Having little or no social support.
• Dealing with extreme stress around the event.
• Having a prior history of mental illness.

Some factors that promote resilience include:

• Seeking and receiving help from others.
• Learning to feel confident about yourself and your actions.
• Having positive coping mechanisms and ways to “get through things.”
• Being able to act and respond effectively, despite being afraid.

When should I seek help?

If you are having post-traumatic stress reactions that are lasting for longer than a month, or are severe, or if your daily life is being disrupted, you should seek professional help to see if you may have PTSD. Getting treatment as soon as possible can prevent PTSD symptoms from getting worse.

Some other ways to get help include:

• Reach out to a close friend or a loved one.
• Contact a suicide hotline. In the U.S., call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. There is also a chat service through this same lifeline.
• Make an appointment with a doctor or mental health professional.

If you feel like you are suicidal or in immediate danger, get help right away. Call 988.

About WPS Health Solutions^®

Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS Health Solutions), founded in 1946, is a nationally regarded benefits administrator for a variety of U.S. government programs and a leading not-for-profit health insurer in Wisconsin. WPS Health Solutions serves active-duty and retired military personnel, seniors, individuals, and families in Wisconsin, across the U.S., and around the world. WPS Health Solutions, headquartered in Madison, Wis., has more than 2,700 employees. Within the enterprise, there are three divisions: WPS Government Health Administrators, WPS Military and Veterans Health, and WPS Health Insurance/WPS Health Plan/EPIC Specialty Benefits. For more information, please visit wpshealthsolutions.com.

Note: This information is not intended to be medical advice.

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Agrace News: February 2023

Volunteers Needed in Dane County

Volunteers are needed to assist customers, operate the cash register and sort donations at the Agrace Thrift Store; pack donated items in donors’ homes for the thrift stores’ Donation Transportation Service; or provide companionship to clients at the Agrace Adult Day Center.

Agrace will host orientation for new volunteers Tuesday, March 28, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its Madison campus. Pre-registration is required. To register, call (608) 327-7163 or visit Agrace.org/Volunteer and fill out an application.

Agrace Offers Opportunities for Grief Support in March

In March, Agrace is offering one-on-one grief support, and professionally led grief support groups to anyone, even if the person who died did not have hospice care.

• Journey Through Grief is a six-week grief support group series for adults. It meets Wednesdays, March 1 to April 5, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Agrace Grief Support Center in Fitchburg.

• Bridges is for adults grieving the death of any loved one. Meetings are held every other Wednesday and pre-registration is required. In March, in-person meetings are March 1 and 15, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Virtual meetings are March 8 and 22, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

There is no fee for these programs if a participant’s family member was in hospice care in the past 12 months; fees for others can be lowered or waived, if needed. Call (608) 327-7118 with questions, to register or make an appointment.

Agrace Adult Day Center Offers Daytime Care

Do you care for or know an older adult who cannot—or chooses not to—stay alone all day? The Agrace Adult Day Center in Madison gives seniors the reassurance and comfort of having others with them throughout the day. It’s especially helpful for people who have dementia or trouble with their memory, and can be a welcome break for family caregivers, too. Learn more at (608) 327-7303 or Agrace.org/AdultDayCenter.

Savant Wealth Management Announces Two Strategic Hires in Support of Growth Goals

ROCKFORD, Ill. (Feb. 14, 2023) — Savant Wealth Management, a nationally recognized, fee-only registered investment adviser (RIA), announced that Myles Cavell has joined the firm as director of new partner optimization, and that Brad Felix, CFA®, has joined as director, Ideal Futures Platform.

Myles Cavell has more than 15 years of experience with strategic problem solving and building effective business processes. Most recently he served as Regional Director for M&A Integrations for Edelman Financial Engines where he led, planned and implemented business optimization processes and expanded sales integration for a number of newly acquired entities. In his role at Savant, Cavell will guide leaders from acquired firms through the transition and integration process post-acquisition. In addition, he will serve as an advocate to newly acquired partners, ensuring a positive integration experience and quick adoption of Savant resources and process to achieve optimal growth. Cavell will be a member of Savant’s Advisory Leadership Team, reporting to Chief Advisory Officer Chris A. Walters.

Brad Felix joins Savant after serving as director of innovation for Truepoint Wealth Counsel, a fee-only, fiduciary financial advisory firm in Cincinnati, OH. He is also the founder of Commas, a fee-only RIA in the Cincinnati area. At Savant, Felix will collaborate with Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer Rob Morrison, CFP® to develop and launch the firm’s Ideal Futures Platform, a fintech-based financial planning process designed to enhance client engagement and improve the overall client experience.

“In 2023, we are focused on growth and committed to making experiences more seamless and hassle-free, not only for clients, but also with the partner firms we acquire,” said Brent Brodeski, CPA, CFP®, CFA®, MBA. “Myles will be dedicated to smoothing the transition for firms partnering with Savant, from both an operational and cultural perspective. As director of our Ideal Futures Platform, Brad will be working to create a more impactful onboarding process and an easier way for clients to follow their progress toward their goals.”

Earlier this month, Savant announced that Patrick Lawlor, CFA®, CFP®, joined Savant as head of mergers and acquisitions, part of the firm’s efforts to expand its M&A activity in 2023. In 2021, Savant recapitalized to accelerate from incremental to exponential growth, and last year, it strengthened its advisory leadership team by naming Chris A. Walters to the position of chief advisory officer, hiring Jason R. English as director of growth, and naming John M. Hanley, CFA®, CAIA® as director of practice management.

About Savant Wealth Management

Savant Wealth Management is a leading independent, nationally recognized, fee-only firm serving clients for over 30 years with approximately $14 billion in assets under management and assets under advisement (as of 12/31/22). As a trusted advisor, Savant Wealth Management offers investment

management, financial planning, retirement plan and family office services to financially established individuals and institutions. Savant also offers corporate accounting, tax preparation, payroll and consulting through its affiliate, Savant Tax & Consulting.

Headquartered in Rockford, Illinois, Savant has offices in Bloomington, Chicago, Downers Grove, Freeport, Hoffman Estates, Lincolnshire, Naperville, Peoria, St. Charles, Sterling, and Wilmette, IL; Phoenix, AZ; Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, IA; Indianapolis, IN; Plymouth, MI; Santa Fe, NM; Doylestown, PA; Madison, Middleton, and Park Falls, WI; and Manassas, McLean, and Reston, VA.

Savant is a registered Investment advisor. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk. Please read our Important Disclosures at savantwealth.com.

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Lake Ridge Bank Begins Operation as of February 13

Contacts:
Jim L. Tubbs
CEO
Lake Ridge Bank
608-798-3961

Paul Hoffmann
President
Lake Ridge Bank
608-223-2183

Lake Ridge Bank Begins Operation as of February 13
Merger of Equals Creates 7^th Largest Bank in Wisconsin 

(MADISON, Wis.) – On February 13, two of the largest independent community banks in South Central Wisconsin officially complete their merger to become Lake Ridge Bank. As of today, all Monona Bank and State Bank of Cross Plains locations begin operating under the new name. 

Lake Ridge Bank is now the seventh largest bank headquartered in the State of Wisconsin, with 23 branch locations and nearly 400 associates serving almost 40,000 households across 17 communities. The goal was to create a bank with resources and services that compete with regional or national institutions but still maintains the local focus, mission, and philosophy of a community bank. 

The new name is meant to reinforce the bank’s focus and priorities. With a nod to local geography, Lake Ridge Bank wants to help shape the communities within the bank’s service area in the same way the glaciers shaped the region’s lakes and landscape. 

With more than 95 percent of the bank’s 1,400+ shareholders living in Wisconsin – most within Dane and Rock counties – Lake Ridge Bank is both widely held and locally owned. Combining for total assets approaching $3 billion, Lake Ridge Bank is well-positioned to fulfill its commitment to support and invest in our local area. 

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For additional information, please contact Mark Schellpfeffer at mschellpfeffer@lakeridge.bank.  

WPS Health Solutions named a 2023 Top Workplaces USA award winner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
DeAnne Boegli
Vice President of Communications
608-512-5754
deanne.boegli@wpsic.com

WPS Health Solutions named a 2023 Top Workplaces USA award winner

MADISON, Wis.—Feb. 3, 2023—WPS Health Solutions has earned the 2023 Top Workplaces USA award issued by Energage, a purpose-driven organization that develops solutions to build and brand Top Workplaces. The Top Workplaces program has a 15-year history of surveying more than 20 million employees and recognizing the top organizations across 60 markets for regional Top Workplaces awards.

“In a remote-first work environment, feeling seen over being seen is more important than ever.  We work daily to drive a culture of connectedness by showing appreciation, focusing on mental health and well-being, and fostering an inclusive and empowering employee experience,” said Moira Klos, WPS Chief People Officer. “Making health care easier for the people we serve is at the heart of what we do at WPS. When we take care of our people, they are able to take care of our customers and beneficiaries in meaningful ways.”

Top Workplaces USA celebrates organizations with 150 or more employees that have built great cultures. More than 42,000 organizations were invited to participate in the Top Workplaces USA survey. The award selection is based solely on employee feedback gathered through an employee engagement survey, issued by Energage.

Results are calculated by comparing the survey’s research-based statements, including 15 culture drivers proven to predict high performance against industry benchmarks.

“Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees,” Energage CEO Eric Rubino said. “That’s something to be proud of. In today’s market, leaders must ensure they’re allowing employees to have a voice and be heard. That’s paramount. Top Workplaces do this, and it pays dividends.”

About WPS Health Solutions^® 

Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS Health Solutions), founded in 1946, is a nationally regarded benefits administrator for a variety of U.S. government programs and a leading not-for-profit health insurer in Wisconsin. WPS Health Solutions serves active-duty and retired military personnel, seniors, individuals, and families in Wisconsin, across the U.S., and around the world. WPS Health Solutions, headquartered in Madison, Wis., has more than 2,600 employees. Within the enterprise, there are three divisions: WPS Government Health Administrators, WPS Military and Veterans Health, and WPS Health Insurance/WPS Health Plan/EPIC Specialty Benefits. For more information, please visit wpshealthsolutions.com.  

About Energage
Making the world a better place to work together.^™
Energage is a purpose-driven company that helps organizations turn employee feedback into useful business intelligence and credible employer recognition through Top Workplaces. Built on 14 years of culture research and the results from 23 million employees surveyed across more than 70,000 organizations, Energage delivers the most accurate competitive benchmark available. With access to a unique combination of patented analytic tools and expert guidance, Energage customers lead the competition with an engaged workforce and an opportunity to gain recognition for their people-first approach to culture. For more information or to nominate your organization, visit energage.com or topworkplaces.com.

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