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Find yourself struggling to keep your New Year’s Resolution to get fit? Renew your commitment to good health next week as the hospital kicks off BWH Wellness Works, an employee health and wellness program that starts with a health fair on Feb 15.
Though still in development, the program aims to encompass nutrition, fitness and smoking cessation to support employees in taking control of their health.
“In a hospital, we’re so focused on the health of our patients that some of us let our own health fall by the wayside,” said Lisa Ponton, JD, vice president of HR. “We don’t always practice what we know to be true, whether it’s because of a lack of time or resources or other obstacles. We want this program to help employees meet their health goals.”
As one component of the program’s fitness portion, BWH has joined the American Heart Association’s Start! program, which encourages people to live healthier lives by walking. Representatives from the AHA will be at next week’s health fair to help employees sign up, start their own walking teams and learn to track their progress.
“We are starting off small with the program and will build it up based on feedback we get about people’s needs,” said Maryellen Cotter, director of Occupational Health and project coordinator. “We encourage everyone to attend the health fair to see what resources are available right now and to tell us what would be most beneficial to them in the pursuit of overall wellness.”
Learn more at the Feb. 15 health fair, 7 a.m. – 4 p.m., in the Cabot Atrium. The event features body composition screenings, blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose checks, raffles and information on nutrition, infection control, fitness and more.
Congratulations to Shelley Stark, director of Women’s Health Policy and Advocacy, and Frank Mihovan, Partners Benefits Consultant, whose contest entries were combined to form the official program name: BWH Wellness Works… For the Health of It!
Stark and Mihovan were among 37 creative thinkers who submitted suggestions for the program that made it difficult to select just one. Thanks to all who participated. Employees’ continual feedback is encouraged as the program takes shape. Attend the health fair Feb. 15 to tell the program coordinator what you’d like to see in this program.