Kennedy Health has been recognized as a Platinum-Level Fit-Friendly Worksite by the American Heart Association (AHA) — its highest honor — for helping associates eat better and move more. Kennedy received gold-level recognition in 2014 and 2013.
“Physical activity and employee wellness are important priorities at Kennedy,” said Cheryl Rosselli, RN, MSN, CNRN, Kennedy’s Corporate Director of Employee Health, Wellness and Employee Safety. “We are honored and excited to be recognized by the American Heart Association as a Platinum-Level Fit-Friendly Worksite. We’re committed to providing the best workplace environment possible.”
AHA-designated Platinum-Level employers:
· Offer employees physical activity options in the workplace.
· Increase healthy eating options at the worksite.
· Promote a wellness culture in the workplace.
· Implement at least nine criteria outlined by the AHA in the areas of physical activity, nutrition and culture.
· Demonstrate measurable outcomes related to workplace wellness.
Kennedy encourages associates to live a healthy lifestyle by offering and promoting many walking programs, such as Kennedy Health Alliance’s free Walk With a Doc program. Offered monthly, participants engage in physical activity, while asking doctors questions about current health issues.
Further displaying its commitment to health and wellness, Kennedy promotes a minimum of 12 sneakers-workout attire days, where associates are encouraged to participate in physical fitness activities. The organization also offers and promotes various fitness classes, provides general nutrition education, and serves healthy choices in cafeterias and vending machines.
The Fit-Friendly Worksites program promotes positive change in the American workforce by helping worksites make their employees’ health and well-being a top priority. American employers are losing an estimated $225.8 billion a year because of healthcare expenses and health-related losses in productivity. Many American adults spend most of their waking hours at sedentary jobs. Their lack of regular physical activity raises their risk for a host of medical problems, such as obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes.
“The Fit-Friendly Worksites Program offers easy-to-implement ways for organizations to help employees eat better and move more, which will help improve their health,” said VP of Human Resources Anneliese McMenamin. “Even people who haven’t exercised regularly until middle age can reap significant benefits by starting a walking program.”
Kennedy is a health services delivery system serving the communities of southern New Jersey. Kennedy meets community healthcare needs at its hospital campuses in Cherry Hill, Stratford and Washington Township, and at outpatient facilities throughout Camden and Gloucester counties, with administrative offices located in Voorhees. Kennedy University Hospital is the principal teaching hospital of the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine (RowanSOM). Kennedy is also a member of the Penn Cancer Network and the Jefferson Neurosciences Network (JNN). For more information, visit www.kennedyhealth.org. For more information about the Fit-Friendly Worksites program, visit www.heart.org/worksitewellness.
