Hospital association takes aim at workplace wellness

The Louisiana Hospital Association says it’s launching a new workplace wellness initiative for hospitals throughout the state. The “Smart Choices, Better HealthSM Hospital Campaign” is an LHA board-directed initiative that will be implemented in two phases over three years. Phase one will focus on healthy eating, exercise and weight loss, while phase two will focus on smoking cessation. Hospital CEOs from throughout the state have appointed “Campaign Champions,” who attended an orientation in Baton Rouge to learn how to put together a wellness team at their respective hospitals. These teams will implement hospital-specific worksite wellness action plans for their employees and communities. Over 100 hospitals have signed on to the initiative. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, over 66% of adults and over 35% of children in Louisiana are obese. Also, over 22% of adults in Louisiana are smokers. Resources for planning and implementing the programs in hospitals are being provided by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals and the Louisiana Business Group on Health. “It’s great to see hospitals leading the way to improve the health of Louisianians, not just for their patients but also for their employees who should serve as role models for their patients,” says DHH Secretary Bruce Greenstein. To learn more about the initiative and find participating hospitals, click here.