Ohio Department of Health Honors Employers for Health Practices

Columbus, OH, December 28, 2015 --(PR.com)-- The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and the Healthy Ohio Business Council (HOBC) will recognize 68 Ohio employers for healthy worksite practices during the 12th annual Healthy Ohio Healthy Worksite Awards ceremony.

These awards recognize Ohio employers who demonstrate a commitment to employee wellness through comprehensive worksite health promotion and wellness programs. Applicants are scored on the extent their wellness programs facilitate and encourage employee health, enhance productivity and ensure a healthy work environment.

“Poor nutrition, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and alcohol and drug use limit our potential to be productive Ohioans. This is why a comprehensive approach to preventive health and wellness at worksites is an essential part of improving both the health of Ohioans and the overall success of our state,” said Dr. Mary DiOrio, Medical Director at ODH. “Healthy Ohio Healthy Worksite Award winners are leading the way in this effort by creating healthy work environments for their employees.”

“Employee health and wellness efforts result in major benefits for both employer and employee,” Helene Szczerba, chair of HOBC said. “Positive returns on investment are realized for the employee who improves his or her health and the employer who realizes reductions in healthcare costs and an overall increase in productivity and job satisfaction.”

All worksites, large and small, public and private, for profit and nonprofit, are encouraged to apply for the Healthy Ohio Healthy Worksite Award. All applications are reviewed and evaluated by members of HOBC. The three levels of achievement are awarded in Gold, Silver or Bronze. All other applicants who meet basic criteria receive a Recognition award. Increasing the number of worksites receiving awards is an objective in Ohio’s Plan to Prevent and Reduce Chronic Disease: 2014-2018, an objective being led by HOBC.

The ceremony will be held at 12:30 p.m. on January 20, 2016, at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus, Ohio as part of the Health Action Council 2016 Annual Conference. The conference features national experts on health reform, health care systems and health benefits. The awards are sponsored by Provant, a leader in population health management strategies and customized worksite wellness services that support employee well-being and productivity and healthcare cost containment.

Methodist ElderCare Services is a recipient of the 2015 silver award, which will recognize 23 medium size businesses with 301-1000 employees. Methodist ElderCare Services is an affiliate of the West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church that provides quality housing, health care and services for seniors in Central Ohio. Incorporated in 1967, Methodist ElderCare Services is a not-for-profit Ohio corporation that knows its business and cares about its residents. Methodist ElderCare Services operates Wesley Glen Retirement Community, Wesley Ridge Retirement Community, Wesley at Home and Hospice Services at Methodist ElderCare in Columbus, Ohio.

The 2015 Healthy Ohio Healthy Worksite Award recipients are:
Medium Business: (23 awards)
Gold Award: Community Hospitals and Wellness Centers; Colgate- Palmolive, IGS Energy, MillerCoors; Fulton County Health Center, Greater Dayton RTA, Western Reserve Hospital
Silver Award: Pickaway County Commissioners, Automated Packaging Systems, Welltower Inc., Methodist ElderCare Services, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, City of Dublin, Equity Trust Company, North Star BlueScope Steel, LLC, Magma TEAM Systems, City of Kettering, MS Consultants
Bronze Award: Ohio Public Employees Retirement System, Brickler and Eckler, Molina Healthcare, City of Westerville

For more information and to register for the Health Action Council 2016 Annual Conference in Columbus, visit www.hacannualconference.org.

For more information on the Healthy Ohio Healthy Worksite Award program, visit: http://www.healthy.ohio.gov/businesses/howkawd.asp