Hospitals Partner for Healthier Workforces

COLUMBUS – Five Ohio hospitals are teaming up with local schools, fire departments, manufacturers and nursing homes to fight obesity in the workplace, aided by $100,000 in grants from the Foundation for Healthy Communities.

The five “Hospitals for Healthier Workforces” grants are the latest from the foundation endowed by Ohio hospitals in 1994 to improve the health of Ohioans. Since its inception, the foundation, an arm of the Ohio Hospital Association, has awarded more than $1.4 million in grants to 121 Ohio hospital community health improvement projects.

The newest grants were presented today during the Leadership Luncheon at the OHA Annual Meeting at the Columbus Hilton at Easton. The newest grants include:

Blanchard Valley Hospital, Findlay, $13,207, “Weigh to Wellness”
Whirlpool Corporation, Findlay’s second-largest employer with, has identified obesity as one of the most significant opportunities to improve wellness for its 2,000 employees. This project will provide a medically directed weight loss program for up to 100 Whirlpool employees with a body mass index over 30. Customized treatment plans with specific diet and exercise goals will be developed for each participant. Following individual health assessments, a four-week education program will lead to weekly support group meetings for three months and then monthly thereafter, with weekly weigh-ins and exercise tracking.

Community Mercy Health Partners, Springfield, $25,000, “Wellness Works!”
The Benjamin Steel Company’s workforce has an obesity rate of 86 percent, far exceeding the national estimate of 70 percent of manufacturing workers who are overweight. The project will use the 12-week Body for Life program of regular exercise and healthy eating, tracking progress in daily food and exercise journals. Employees will complete in three-person teams in a challenge to achieve the greatest reduction in body mass index. Two-thirds of the 220 employees are expected to participate, earning points to cover up to 100 percent of scheduled increases in their weekly health insurance premiums.

Memorial Hospital of Union County, Marysville, $24,973, “Lighten the Load”
Seven Union County fire departments with 230 firefighters will be the focus of this project, which recognizes that because of their work schedules and situations, firefighters are at increased risk for obesity. Obesity is a major contributing factor to heart attacks and strokes, which are the most common cause of fatalities in the fire service. The fire chiefs of all seven departments have committed to provide staff time and resources to support the program, which will take advantage of the family-like environment, camaraderie and inherent competitive culture of fire stations to promote behavioral changes to improve firefighters’ nutrition and exercise. 

Salem Community Hospital, Salem, $24,564, “Get Schooled and Dump Your Plump”
Eight Columbiana County school districts are targeted for better nutrition and exercise, using the “Dump Your Plump” worksite wellness program already offered by 1,000 organizations nationwide with a 96% completion rate. The project is expected to draw 10% of the 2,000 school employees in teams of 4 to 10 people who set exercise and weight loss goals for a 10-week period. This project expands on the hospital’s community partnership work to promote healthy behaviors with youth, engaging school staff as influential catalysts for healthy lifestyles to students at all levels.

Twin City Hospital, Dennison, $12,256, “Fit for Life”
The hospital’s “Fit for Life” program expands into area workplaces, serving up to 100 employees of two Hennis Care Center nursing homes and manufacturer Zimmer Orthopaedic Surgical Products. A medical team headed by a family practice physician will assist overweight and obese employees to achieve weight-loss and wellness goals. Personalized diet and exercise programs will augment 11-weeks of classes, followed by quarterly on-site support group meetings in addition to monthly meetings at the hospital. The worksite program builds on the hospital’s community wellness initiative that helped more than 250 adults lose weight and improve other health indicators.

The Foundation for Healthy Communities was established in 1994 and its mission is to advance good health for all Ohioans. It initiates and champions health improvement and education by engaging partners, promoting proven strategies and advocating for wellness. Learn more about the Foundation for Healthy Communities at www.HealthyCommunitiesOhio.org.

The Ohio Hospital Association was established in 1915 and currently represents 174 hospitals and 40 health systems throughout Ohio. OHA is a membership-driven organization that provides proactive leadership to create an environment in which Ohio hospitals are successful in serving their communities. Visit OHA at www.ohanet.org. 

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