PROVIDENCE – The American Heart Association has certified the Lifespan health system as a Gold Level Start! Fit-Friendly Company, an award that recognizes employers that go “above and beyond” in promoting their employees’ health.
Lifespan is the only Rhode Island company with this certification, the AHA said.
To qualify, the association asks companies to meet at least nine criteria involving workers’ diets and exercise options, including offering employees different physical activities, increasing healthy eating options and promoting a wellness culture in the workplace.
Companies that join the program are listed on a national Web site and recognized at CEO events and a Start! Heart Walk. Qualifying companies also have the right to use the program’s annual recognition seal for internal communications and with external, recruitment-related communications as well.
In addition, participating companies get free access to program resources such as the free Start! Walking Program, materials to help promote company wellness programs, internal newsletter templates, and consultation on CPR/AED (automated external defibrillator) programs.
Start! also offers MyStart! Online, a free Web-based fitness and nutrition tracker for companies and individuals.
“Improving the health of our employees is an extremely important priority at Lifespan,” said Brandon Melton, senior vice president of human resources at Lifespan, in a news release.
“Lifespan is committed to providing our employees with the best work environment possible,” he added, noting that “this will benefit our employees’ health, increase productivity and help manage our health care costs.”
The next deadline for Fit-Friendly Company applications and renewals is Jan. 15, 2009. For more information, call the American Heart Association at 330-1704 or www.americanheart.org.
