Introduction Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is undergoing changes in the practice of health care focusing on approaches that prioritize veteran well-being. Given transformation efforts, opportunities exist to enhance the health and well-being of patients and employees alike – a significant proportion of whom are veterans. To date, differences in health status between veteran and civilian employees within VHA have not been examined. Materials and Methods Data from an annual organizational census survey with health promotion module conducted in 2015 were analyzed to estimate the prevalence of health risk behaviors, mental health, and chronic health conditions by veteran status within genders (n = 86,257). To further examine associations by gender between veteran status and health measures controlling for covariates, multivariate logistic regression analyses were utilized. Results Prevalence estimates generally indicated veterans have worse health status and health risk behaviors than their civilian counterparts. Results from multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated many significant associations between veteran status and health by gender controlling for other important demographic variables and a total comorbidity score. Compared to civilian employees within respective genders, both male and female veteran employees have increased odds of being a current smoker. Both male and female veteran employees have decreased odds of physical inactivity compared to civilian employees. For mental health and chronic health conditions, there are several conditions that veteran employees have increased odds for when compared to civilian employees of like gender; these include low back problems, arthritis, anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders. Conclusions Veteran employees in VHA have worse health status than their civilian counterparts on a number of measures of health risk behaviors, mental health, and chronic health conditions. Given current organizational priorities aimed at cultural transformation, the present time is an optimal one to work collaboratively to enhance the health and well-being services that are available for patients and employees alike. All employees, particularly our unique population of veteran employees, will benefit from such an approach.

Results suggest that a worksite culture of health exists in some but not all facilities within Veterans Health Administration; this has implications for integrating employee health promotion programs systemwide. A phased-in approach is likely warranted.

Use of a stability ball alone and stability ball chair were evaluated in the Veterans Health Administration as possible alternatives to incorporate with regular office chair use. The evaluation of stability ball use was conducted under the auspices of a work site health promotion program as a cross-over trial with participants rotating through use of the stability ball, stability ball chair, and regular office chair on a monthly basis for a total duration of 3 months. Rotations on regular office chairs served as the control. Three medical facilities participated. A total of 193 employees completed a baseline questionnaire; 159 completed at least one post-rotation questionnaire. Self-reported measures included perceived posture when sitting, perceptions of overall balance, energy levels, job performance, safety, and pain. Use was associated with improvements in perceived posture (p < 0.0001) and energy levels (p = 0.007) for stability ball users compared with the office chair control, and improvements in perceived posture (p < 0.0001) and overall balance (p = 0.05) for stability ball chair users compared with the control. Use of stability balls at work decreases the likelihood of reporting pain from regular office chair use from approximately 45% to 21%. Alternatively, a high number of participants reported pain with use of the stability ball alone and stability ball chair, 42% and 45%, respectively. The perceived risks and benefits of stability ball use should be weighed when incorporating use.