Healthy employees are more productive and have fewer health insurance claims.

 

Those are just a few of the reasons Sherburne County implemented a Health & Wellness Program back in 2008.

 

Last week, Health & Wellness Committee Chair Mandy Feeks gave the county board an update on how the program fared in 2017.

 

She said for the first time ever, the program utilized an online wellness portal through HealthPartners insurance. The system offers three team challenges, four online mobile programs, four health coaching topics and unlimited employer sponsored programs.

 

In 2017, 278 employees signed up and 227 completed a health assessment, which is one of the requirements of the program. It also requires two healthcare provider screenings, one health challenge and six well-being activities. Those who complete all the requirements receive eight hours of paid time off (PTO). Feeks said 143 employees achieved that goal, which is 51.4% of participants.

 

In 2017, employees took part in three challenges. The first was a fruit and vegetable challenge for better nutrition where 100 people participated and consumed almost 20,000 servings of fruit and vegetables over a six-week period.

 

“The second was a weight loss challenge. Ninety-six participants lost a total of 333 pounds in eight weeks,” said Feeks.

 

The third was a make-a-move challenge where about 100 participants walked 33 million steps - about 17,000 miles.

 

Feeks said the program also had a few presentations, one of which was a Bounce Back presentation by Melissa Pribyl of CentraCare. Participants learned about random acts of kindness and how to increase a person’s happiness.

 

The program also held a salad bar potluck and had its first backyard bash - a beanbag tournament.

 

“We did a survey and asked what employess wanted to have for the sports tournament,” said Feeks, “and almost everybody said beanbags.”

 

Originally, 75 people and 21 teams signed up. The event was rained out, but 13 teams participated on the rescheduled date.

 

“We had good comments about the event,” said Feeks. “They said it was great to mix with people from other departments. It was very well organized, easy to register and the rules were clear.”

 

They also set up two healthy snack stations at the Government Center, one in the west wing and the other in the jail breakroom using funds from the SHIP grant.

 

“We wanted to make the healthy choice the easy one for staff,” said Feeks.

 

Human Resources Director Tammy Bigelow said their goal is to carry that process into 2018.

 

“We really want to focus on that culture of health and an environment that supports healthy choices,” she said. “Healthy choices should be convenient for employees. In 2018, we  want to focus on the employee cafeteria. Employees are asking for healthy lunches.”

 

In 2018, the wellness program will also offer fitness classes and presentations about back pain, identified by HealthPartners as one of the biggest issues facing employees.

 

Bigelow said the program is working and offers a good return on investment. Data from the MN Dept. of Health shows the county can save $3 to $6 for every dollar spent on the program.