Frisbie recognized for healthy workplace

ROCHESTER - Frisbie Memorial Hospital's Healthy Workplace Program was recently recognized as a model of effectiveness in two national conference case studies.

In March, Frisbie's Healthy Workplace Program was featured during a preconference presentation at the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses National Conference in Boston.

On May 7, Frisbie's Healthy Workplace Program was featured in the presentation, "Total Worker Health™ in Action: A Community Hospital Case Study" at the Work, Stress and Health Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Frisbie's program was also highlighted in the February 2015 edition of Hospital Employee Health, "Healthy worksite toolkit calls for 'participatory interventions' to engage frontline workers."

Frisbie was also recognized as a Gold Level organization in the American Heart Association's Fit-Friendly Worksites Recognition Program, which acknowledges employers who champion the health of their employees by creating physical activity programs within the workplace. The program is designed to be a catalyst for positive change in American business and to encourage other worksites to participate and demonstrate similar physical activity practices for their employees.

Frisbie Memorial Hospital was among the first hospitals in the country to adopt The Center for Promotion of Health in the New England Workforce's Healthy Workplace Participatory Program model, which promotes worker well-being in all its aspects. In seven steps the unique tool helps employers plan, design, implement and evaluate integrated health, safety and wellness programs that promote overall health and well-being.

"The health of workers is tied to the health and productivity of organizations. Employees are part of the community and their health and safety is part of Frisbie's mission," explained Janice Parker, MSN, APRN, FNP-B, employee health nurse practitioner/manager at Frisbie Memorial Hospital.

The Frisbie Memorial Hospital Safety Committee, and Wellness and Ergonomics Teams work together to integrate health promotion, safety and health protection. This integrated focus includes staff input regarding safety issues and the health and wellness factors that influence them. Some factors the Committee considers include, nutrition, ergonomics and equipment, sleep, physical activity/fitness, injury data, smoking, staffing and collaboration, benefits and policies, awareness and education, infection prevention and control practices, communication and culture, injury prevention and safe return to work, stress and time management.

"This program has helped us organize, plan approaches and create a wellness program that is most productive, while bringing all stakeholders into the conversation. With the awareness and help of each employee, Frisbie has low injury rates compared to similar size and type hospitals," said Parker.