Health providers merge forces to boost wellness

Roger Williams Medical Center and St. Joseph Health Services each used to offer their own employee-wellness programs. But when the two medical providers became affiliated under CharterCare Health Partners in 2010, it brought the best of both worlds into one wellness plan.
“By combining the best of both programs, we have been able to market and promote worksite wellness as a key tenet in our philosophy,” said R. Otis Brown, CharterCare’s vice president of development and external affairs.
Under the direction of a Worksite Wellness Committee, the CharterCare Wellness Program offers its employees a mix of opportunities to improve their minds, bodies and spirits. CharterCare provides classes, financial planning sessions, weight loss and exercise programs, healthy cafeteria meal options, and even a weekly on-site farmers market. Brown said about 40 percent of CharterCare’s staff currently takes advantage of the wellness program, and it continues to grow in popularity year over year.
Tracking progress is another critical element of the wellness plan. Employees are encouraged to log all of their activities into an online wellness portal. CharterCare even provides incentives to boost staff participation in all of the programs that the health system offers.
“Offering a variety of programs and educational tools is very important, but only if it is considered of value to our workforce,” said Brown. •