The majority of Americans spend the greatest portion of their day in the workplace. Therefore, the workplace is an ideal setting to implement policies and programs that support a healthy lifestyle. The Passport to Cardiovascular Health Planning Committee, comprised of the American Heart Association, Catholic Medical Center, the City of Manchester Department of Health, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Manchester, and Elliot Health System, is pleased to announce the development of a Worksite Wellness Resource Kit for local businesses. The overall goal of the Resource Kit is to provide local businesses with the tools they need to implement comprehensive wellness programming and to develop a work environment that supports a culture and value of health and wellbeing for all employees.
Additionally, the Passport to Cardiovascular Health Planning Committee has also developed a Facilitator's Guide for a Cardiovascular Wellness Program that was implemented for Manchester City Employees in September 2006. This program is known as the Passport to Cardiovascular Health Challenge. The program is structured as a three-month, team-based challenge to help participants reduce their risk factors for heart disease. The Challenge was very well received by City Employees with a total of 106 City Employees from 16 Departments participating in this three-month program. This included over a half-dozen Department Heads for a total of 23 teams. Overall, participants in this program made remarkable changes in their health screening results, including significant decreases in their blood sugar levels and waist measurements.
By promoting and assisting individuals to make healthy behavior changes that will translate to long-term lifestyle transformations, we will begin to reduce the impact of chronic disease in the Manchester Community. In return, businesses that invest in comprehensive health and wellness programming will benefit from increased productivity, reduced absenteeism, lower employee turnover, and decreased healthcare utilization.
A free copy of the Worksite Wellness Resource Kit and the Passport Facilitator's Guide are available. Please register below. If you have any questions or experience technical difficulties, please send an email with "worksite wellness" as the subject for assistance.