2014 Leaders in Health Care Awards: Achievement in Wellness Programs

Winner

Faculty & Staff Wellness Program
Western Washington University

Measure a wellness program by the enthusiasm of its participants, and Western Washington Universitys is off the charts. After six years, more than 1,000 faculty and staff members on the Bellingham campus voluntarily take part.

My fitness class has really been a life changer, says one staff member in an online testimonial. I may be in last place or walking amongst the runners, offers another, but I am out there.

All employees at Western can take a large variety of free fitness classes that include yoga, aerobics, Tai Chi and basketball. Other free courses provide lessons on nutrition, lifestyle changes, goal setting and stress management. This breadth of offering helps make Westerns one of the most comprehensive worksite programs in the state, earning recognition from the Washington Health Care Authority and the American Cancer Association.

Like most wellness programs, boosting employee health helps contain insurance costs, raises productivity and limits absenteeism. But for Western, where the average age of faculty and staff members is over 50, preserving a healthy workforce is especially vital. Participants embrace the program fondly. One calls it a priceless asset, which all employees should take advantage of.

Silver Award

Live Well
Miller Nash LLP

The law firm Miller Nash likes to think of wellness not just for its employees, but also for the entire community. Its voluntary Live Well program includes subsidies for exercise expenses, rewards for preventive medical visits and prizes for attending luncthime health seminars. But a fit staff benefits more than the company. Free weekly distribution of fresh organic fruits and vegetables supports area farmers, and participation in exercise events like the Heart and Stroke Walk, Komen Race for the Cure and Bike MS help raise funds for healthful causes.