GHS earns top award for being a fit-friendly worksite

GEORGETOWN, S.C. - May 14, 2013 - PRLog -- Georgetown, S.C. — Georgetown Hospital System has been recognized as a Platinum-Level Fit-Friendly Worksite by the American Heart Association for helping employees eat better and move more.
“Physical activity and employee wellness are priorities for Georgetown Hospital System, so being recognized by the American Heart Association as a Platinum-Level Fit-Friendly Worksite is quite an honor,” CEO and President Bruce Bailey said. “We have chosen to pursue creating the best workplace environment possible, not only because it benefits our employees’ health, but also because it leads to better results and signifies to our patients and visitors our commitment to health and wellbeing.”
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 American Heart Association in the areas of physical activity, nutrition and culture.
▪ Demonstrate measurable outcomes related to workplace wellness.
GHS promotes a culture of wellness by providing employee incentives to participate in wellness activities. The cafeterias at Georgetown Memorial and Waccamaw Community hospitals offer an array of healthy foods daily and post the nutritional content.Both hospitals have walking trails and offer onsite yoga classes, and all employees are encouraged to participate in quarterly wellness challenges that emphasize healthy nutrition and physical activity. Employees also have access to weekly and monthly webinars on topics related to physical, mental and emotional health.
The Fit-Friendly Worksites program has been a catalyst for positive change in the American workforce by helping worksites make their employees’ health and wellness a priority.
According to statistics, American employers lose an estimated $225.8 billion a year because of health care expenses and health-related losses in productivity, and those numbers are rising. 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. Employers face $12.7 billion in annual medical expenses due to obesity alone. The American Heart Association is working to change corporate cultures by motivating employees to start walking, which has the lowest dropout rate of any physical activity.    
###
Georgetown Hospital System is a private, not-for-profit organization. The system consists of Georgetown Memorial Hospital, Waccamaw Community Hospital and several facilities throughout Horry and Georgetown counties. For more information about Georgetown Hospital System, please visit our website at www.georgetownhospitalsystem.org.

The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – America’s No. 1 and No. 4 killers. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke