Adventist Health Ministries Win WELCOA Awards

Since its inception, Adventist Health has been focused on wellness and prevention as the core of delivering whole-person care. While many health care organizations have not moved past treating disease and illness, Adventist Health is focusing on preventing sickness through a wellness model known as LivingWell. The organization knows that wellness is central to patients and caregivers.

“In order to live our values, our workforce is committed to walk the talk on wellness,” says Ed Hoover, manager of the LivingWell program at Adventist Health in Portland, Ore. “We know fitness, fresh air, rest, plant-powered nutrition along with a connection with God and others helps our caregivers to assist others in living their most vibrant lives.” With this understanding, Adventist Health hospitals and clinics have placed prioritization on wellness in workplace environments.

Wellness Councils of America (WELCOA) has recognized the deliberate work of Adventist Health and awarded 13 Adventist Health hospitals with the esteemed Well Workplace Award. All of the hospitals throughout Adventist Health’s Pacific Northwest Region were among the award winners.

Every employee within the organization is working toward building an optimal future of well-being. Adventist Health's goal is to help employees live productive lives by lowering health risks, increasing energy and inspiring the hopeful well-being of those they encounter.

Employees at Adventist Health Portland have been engaged in fitness, nutrition, stress, weight management and self-care. This includes interactive lifestyle programs with access to the hospital’s employee fitness center, comprehensive lifestyle classes, and healthier food options in vending machines as well as the LivingWell Bistro and the Garden Café. Annual biometric health risk appraisals provide employees a road map for their wellness journey.

According to WELCOA, Adventist Health has demonstrated the importance of workplace wellness by creating a supportive environment, collecting data that drives health efforts and evaluating outcomes to create change.