Employees: 1,400
New Jersey employers paid $7,307 on average per employee for health insurance in 2004, an 11 percent jump from 2003 and a continuation of dramatic yearly increases, according to the New Jersey Business and Industry Association.
In an effort to find a fun and engaging way to help improve the health of its workforce, Ocean Medical Center, a 241-bed community hospital in Brick, developed a staff wellness competition. The program was motivated by a desire to improve the health of the hospital community while minimizing the employer’s health care costs.
Called “Fit to Win,” the program engaged 25 employees to compete in an effort to slim down and become more active. The medical center’s administrative staff chose five teams of five employees each out of the many teams that applied. To be selected, the teams had to submit a one-page essay on why they were “Fit to Win.” The teams with the best responses were chosen for the competition.
The teams competed against each other with the help of the medical center’s personal trainers and dieticians. Each participant was given a three-month membership to the hospital’s on-campus gym that included full use of the facilities and unlimited access to fitness classes.
The teams held weekly weigh-ins for 12 consecutive weeks. While team members were responsible for choosing their own diet plan, they were provided the opportunity to meet regularly with a dietician for helpful tips and access to additional resources. Participants were asked to keep a food and exercise diary, and were encouraged to attend health and wellness education classes. Each team was also assigned its own personal trainer.
Through rigorous exercise supervised by an assigned personal trainer, the participants worked relentlessly to lose excess weight. Employees kept track of their eating habits, and stuck to nutritious foods. The increased exercise, along with monitoring caloric intake, resulted in major weight loss among the participants. Team weight loss results were posted at four locations throughout the hospital during the competition to help motivate participants and to promote the program to the rest of its staff.
Results
Health Benefits
By the end of the competition, the participants had lost a total of 425 pounds, and a total of 76 inches off their waistlines. Though the amount of weight loss varied from person to person, every team member lost weight.
The Fit to Win participants inspired other hospital workers to lose weight and pay attention to their health, encouraging a myriad of other health-related initiatives. Employees started to become more active. Healthier meals were offered in the hospital cafeteria, which began labeling caloric information and Weight Watchers points on meals. The response was so positive that a spin-off of the Fit to Win contest was created to include employees from throughout the Meridian Health System of which Ocean Medical Center is a part. In addition, a Fit to Win employee health fair was held at each Meridian hospital, where Fit to Win cook books were distributed to interested individuals.
Although exact numbers are not available, contest organizers said most of the competitors have kept the weight off. During the holidays, nearly a year after the competition, the winning team noticed an increase in their weight and decided to organize their own version of the program. In total, 17 individuals participated by putting $10 each into a collection and registering for a weight-loss competition. At the end of one month, the person who lost the most weight won the money. While this was not a hospital-sponsored event, but rather run by individuals, it clearly demonstrates that those involved truly grasped the importance of fitness and health.
Cost Savings
The Meridian Health System is allowing a full year to pass before analyzing potential health savings. By increasing exercise and encouraging weight loss in the workplace, Meridian believes it can save potentially thousands of dollars, as well as keep its workforce healthy, strong and active. A complete analysis on hospital savings due to weight loss is expected by the end of this year.
Additional Initiatives
Ocean Medical Center now hosts a similar program for its employees, called “Commit to Get Fit,” a self-directed, six-month wellness program aimed at encouraging staff members to reach their own personal health-related goals. For the cost of a $20 entry free, participants received a pedometer, a health diary, and baseline screenings. They are required to attend monthly motivational meetings, which are led by the program members themselves. Staff members who complete the six-month program win a warm-up jacket, as well as their $20 entry fee.
Strengths
Innovative Ideas
Lessons Learned
Contact Information
Human Resources Manager
Ocean Medical Center
732-840-2200
