From a press release:
Park Ridge Health celebrates becoming the only Health Care Network in Western North Carolina to receive the Prevention Partners Excellence Recognition for three years in a row. This honor recognizes Park Ridge Health for reaching the highest standards in workplace health and prevention.
To receive this honor, Park Ridge Health once again earned straight A’s in four modules of WorkHealthy America, a Prevention Partners initiative addressing tobacco use, physical activity, nutrition and the overall culture around health and wellness. The Excellence Recognition honors Park Ridge Health’s commitment to employee health as demonstrated by its policies, programs and benefits to support employee health, optimize employee productivity, and integrate wellness into daily operations.
Those policies and programs include the Fit for Life Program and Chronic Disease Prevention and Reversal Program. The initiatives have helped more than 90 employees in their journeys to reduce BMI and become medication free (blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.). Park Ridge Health Wellness has seen an 80% drop in at least one risk factor among the participants.
In 2015, Park Ridge Health introduced its Fitbit Initiative. It quickly grew to more than 65% participation. Park Ridge Health team members in the program have walked a total of 526,000 steps since the initiation of the program on April 13, 2015. That equals 263,000 miles which is further than the distance from the earth to the moon (238,855 miles) and roughly 10.5 trips around the earth (Earth circumference = 24,901 miles). In 2016, Park Ridge Health Fitbit participants are taking on a 13-week “Walk Around the World” challenge.
Park Ridge Health also provides team members an on-campus walking trail, free use of two on-campus workout facilities and discounted memberships to local fitness centers.
The combination of these wellness initiatives led to a total weight loss of 2,250 pounds among participating employees last year.
“Small changes do produce large results,” says Katherine Schuen, Wellness Practitioner, Park Ridge Health Wellness Manager. “Our team members and their families are experiencing an increase in quality of life by embracing a solid work/life balance and making healthy eating, exercise and overall wellness a priority in their lives.”
“We have set and are meeting our goal to make wellness a priority for our team members,” says Jimm Bunch, President and CEO of Park Ridge Health. “It brings me great joy to see them embracing the opportunities to be active and make healthy choices in their lives. The benefits go far beyond improving their ability to care for our guests. We are seeing our team members experiencing healthier, happier lives.”
“Park Ridge Health sets a high bar in establishing and sustaining a workplace where employees can make healthy choices,” says Meg Molloy, President and CEO of Prevention Partners. “I applaud this great effort and the commitment of Park Ridge Health’s leadership to create a culture of wellness.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has acknowledged Prevention Partners’ WorkHealthy America Excellence standard as one of highest achievements in building a healthy workplace.
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