On Saturday, January 21, 2012, St. Joseph’s family and friends enjoyed a break in the rain and some exercise in the 3rd Annual 5k Run/Walk for Wellness presented by In-Shape Health Clubs. The event featured a 3.1 mile run or walk through the picturesque University Park grounds, a health expo, and a Zumba warm-up led by In-Shape instructors!
Click here for results from the race and check out event photos here.
Thank you to our generous sponsors:
As a healthcare organization our mission is to help improve the health status of the community we serve. We are committed to this mission by providing an environment for healing and tools to support and encourage the healthy life styles that reduce or prevent disease. The
Healthier You! St. Joseph's
initiative is congruent with our strategic plan and goals of innovation and leadership for St. Joseph’s Medical Center.
There are five components of the Healthier You! program:
- Physical Fitness
- Disease Management
- Healthy Eating
- Spiritual Wellness
- Tobacco-Free
The Physical Fitness component of Healthier You! emphasizes physical activity for all employees. The Wellness Committee welcomes ideas for new types of exercise options, and offers employees opportunities to learn about activities they may have never been exposed to before, such as Tai Chi, Snow Shoeing, Adventure Hikes, and Outdoor Cycling.
Activities coordinated within this program include:
- Tuesday Morning Walks – 10-minute walks led by Paul Vosti, Functional Services Coordinator, St. Joseph’s Medical Center - STAR Clinic
- In-Shape Health Clubs “mentors”
- Bike with Mike
- Adventure Day Hikes
- Periodical Team Fitness Challenges with incentives for winning teams
- Walking Maps with miles/calories burned information
- Opportunities to get involved in St. Joseph’s teams at annual community fitness events
- Fun Run/Walk for Wellness 2010
Disease Management is concerned with improving or maintaining health and is specifically concerned with common chronic illnesses such as coronary heart disease, asthma, obesity and other common ailments, and the reduction of future complications associated with those diseases. The Disease Management group targets common health risk trends of employees from information provided by Health Risk Assessment questionnaires. The HRA is designed to give a picture of overall health, including lifestyle habits that may affect your future health. Everyone, no matter how healthy, can work on to improve overall health and reduce risks for disease. As a St. Joseph’s employee, you are entitled to a personalized Health Risk assessment. Contact Employee Health for information and to fill one out: (209) 467-6342.
The Disease Management element of the program will coordinate:
- Diabetes Management Health Risk Assessments
- Cholesterol clinic - (referral program)
- Annual Flu Shots (employees and dependents)
St. Joseph’s Wellness Program also has a Healthy Eating component. The Dietary Department incorporates healthy eating options into many of its daily menu offerings. At the California Street Café, the Just 4 U healthy eating program is in place, with food markers to let you decide which options are best for you. These food markers note menu items which are low fat, organic, vegetarian, less than 100 calories, baked, and have zero trans fats.
Specifically, the Healthy Eating element of Healthier You! will offer:
- Registered Dietician services
- Just 4 U healthy eating program
- Seasonal Farmer's Markets offering fresh fruits and vegetables
- The Biggest Loser weight loss competitions
Spiritual Wellness is finding meaning in life events, demonstrating individual purpose and having the ability to be compassionate towards others. It involves connecting with the bigger picture as you search for meaning and purpose in your life.
Some of the Healthier You! Spiritual Wellness offerings include:
- Reiki for Relaxation
- Compassionate Communication (Nonviolent™ Communication)
- KMBS Wellness Series
Lastly, St. Joseph’s is proud to be a completely Tobacco-Free Campus. This means that smoking and tobacco use are not permitted anywhere on St. Joseph’s grounds and properties. Employees, physicians and volunteers who smoke or use tobacco will be offered information and services about smoking cessation and nicotine replacement therapy. If nicotine replacement therapy is desired, St. Joseph’s Medical Center will provide nicotine patches to employees free of charge.
- Free nicotine replacement patches for up to ten weeks
- Smoking cessation support during the employee’s nicotine replacement therapy
Recognition & Awards
St. Joseph's Wellness Steering Committee has been hard at work coordinating activities to promote overall wellness in St. Joseph’s employees. We have been recognized for a second year with two awards celebrating our efforts and offerings geared toward helping all employees become healthier.
In September, the California Task Force on Youth and Workplace Wellness awarded us with Silver level status, up from the Bronze level we were awarded last year. The mission of this Wellness Task Force is to create and promote programs and policies which decrease the obesity rates in California’s schools and workplaces.
In October, St. Joseph’s was reconfirmed as a Platinum Level Recipient of the American Heart Association’s Start! Fit-Friendly Companies Recognition program. The Platinum Level is the highest level of recognition from the American Heart Association Start! Initiative, and we are one of only 108 companies to achieve such status. The
Start! Fit-Friendly Companies Program
is a catalyst for positive change in American business. Companies throughout the nation become part of the Start! Initiative by demonstrating progressive leadership and making the health and wellness of their employees a priority.
