Carroll Hospital Recognized as an American Heart Association Fit-Friendly Worksite

Carroll Hospital was recently named a 2016 Fit-Friendly Worksite by the American Heart Association (AHA) for helping its employees adopt better eating and exercise habits.

Carroll was recognized as a Platinum Level worksite for the eighth consecutive year. Platinum-level employers, as defined by the AHA, promote a wellness culture in the workplace by expanding physical activity and healthy eating options; demonstrating measurable outcomes related to workplace wellness; and implementing at least nine criteria outlined by the AHA in the areas of physical activity, nutrition and culture.

Carroll Hospital has many healthy options for its employees, including activities and education sessions offered through the hospital's wellness incentive program, on-campus healthy food choices, wellness screenings, and various healthy living programs at the Tevis Center for Wellness.

"Physical activity and associates' wellness are important priorities at Carroll Hospital. We are honored and excited to be recognized by the American Heart Association as a Platinum-Level Fit-Friendly Worksite," Leslie Simmons, president of Carroll Hospital, said in a press release announcing the designation. "We're committed to providing the best workplace environment possible. This will benefit our associates' health and produce even more positive results for our worksite overall."

The AHA established the Fit-Friendly Worksites Recognition Program as a way of inspiring companies around the country to create initiatives that can improve employee health and support other key objectives, like increasing productivity in the workplace and reducing absenteeism, employee turnover and health care costs. Building off the Fit-Friendly initiative, the AHA recently established the Workplace Health Solutions program, which provides evidence-based tools companies can use to maximize their current employee health programs, focusing primarily on cardiovascular health.

Carroll Hospital's recognition as a Fit-Friendly worksite is another example of LifeBridge Health's steadfast commitment to helping employees as well as patients make healthier choices. The incentive-based LiveWell at LifeBridge wellness program helps employees learn how to better manage their health, giving them access to health risk assessments and promoting engagement with a primary care physician and participation in health and fitness programs. In January 2014, LifeBridge Health campuses went tobacco and smoke free. From Jan. 30 to Feb. 27, LifeBridge Health will hold its Eat Right for Life Challenge, during which the goal for participating employees will be to consume four servings of fruit and five servings of vegetables daily, a goal that's recommended by the AHA based on an eating pattern of 2,000 calories per day.