Hospital receives workplace excellence awards
CMH offers worksite wellness program to local employers
The Alliance for Workplace Excellence has named Calvert Memorial Hospital a 2008 Workplace Excellence Award winner. CMH also received the Health & Wellness Trailblazer award. AWE is a nonprofit organization founded by Montgomery County and the Chamber of Commerce to recognize employers in the greater DC area that are creating workplaces which promote professional fulfillment and personal wellness. Other honorees included Allstate Insurance, Marriott International, Post-Newsweek Media and Verizon Wireless.
"At CMH, we believe that our employees are our greatest asset," said CMH President and CEO Jim Xinis. "That is why we invest in programs that help them achieve a healthy work-life balance. It is a win-win for everyone."
The winners were selected after a comprehensive evaluation process by an independent panel of business professionals. In all, there were 62 workplace excellence award winners and 19 winners of the Health & Wellness Trailblazer award. The 2008 winning companies represent more than 1.3 million employees from small, medium, large, private, nonprofit and public sector businesses.
"Calvert Memorial Hospital takes great pride in providing many programs to meet the changing lifestyles of our employees," said Carrie Forrest, vice president, human resources at CMH. "The Health & Wellness Trailblazer Award is very special because it describes what CMH stands for – healthy living."
According to Forrest, CMH offers a wide range of outstanding benefits that allow each employee to tailor a benefits package that meets his or her specific needs. The hospital provides comprehensive health insurance including flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care, tuition assistance and an on-site child care center. The hospital's retirement plan offers an employer match and contribution.
Additionally, said Forrest, CMH offers a robust wellness program, called KeepWell@Work, for its employees. The voluntary program, which began in 2006, is open to employees who work at least 400 hours each year. It encourages healthy lifestyles by providing financial incentives to those who join. Employees who are insured through CMH can reduce their healthcare costs. All participants can take advantage of discounts on wellness activities and complementary therapies like seated massage.
According to Margaret Fowler, director, community wellness, 54 percent of employees insured at CMH enrolled in KeepWell@Work last year and 30 percent of all eligible employees participated.
"The program's impact is well documented," said Fowler, "60 percent of participants showed a positive change in one or more risk factors such as lower blood pressure or lower cholesterol."
Participants complete a health risk assessment (HRA) as part of the annual medical insurance enrollment process. The results are used to target areas for improvement. It also helps employees track their progress from year to year.
Fowler said participation in KeepWell@Work continues to grow each year. "The feedback from our employees has been very favorable," she said. "Here are just a couple of quotes: 'I always suspected I had high cholesterol, now I know for sure...' and 'It makes me feel like they care for us.' "
Fowler points to other benefits. "The number of sick days used has decreased," she said. "Additionally, there was a definite reduction in claims and our premium increase for 2008 was a lot lower than the year before."
Now the hospital is offering to develop similar worksite wellness programs for local employers. "Small or large, we can design and implement a wellness program that meets your organization's needs," said Fowler. "It can range from something as simple as blood pressure screenings to a more comprehensive package that includes an array of services to optimize your employees' wellness potential." For more information, call 410-535-8233.
Carrie Forrest, VP Human Resources (at left) and Margaret Wellness, Director, Community Wellness, accepted the 2008 Workplace Excellence Award and the Health & Wellness Trailblazer Award for Calvert Memorial Hospital.
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