When Lakes Regional Healthcare (LRH) says their mission is to improve the health and well-being of people in the Iowa Great Lakes, they aren’t kidding around. To demonstrate that commitment, LRH recently partnered with the Bedell Family YMCA (YMCA) to start from within and improve the health of hospital employees and their families. LRH President and CEO Jason Harrington said, "We want to show people that we not only provide good care to patients and encourage healthy habits, but that we also practice what we preach and strive to live a healthy lifestyle ourselves.”  

 Physical activity is an important part of overall health and a way to reduce the likelihood of obesity or being overweight. Obesity is increasing at an startling rate nationwide, and in Iowa. Currently, approximately 67 percent of Iowa adults are at an unhealthy weight, and that will increase to about 77 percent by 2020. This trend has negative implications not only on quality of life, but on healthcare costs. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, 31 percent of the expected overall increase in healthcare costs from 2005-2020 will be due to the projected increase in obesity and being overweight.

 

Harrington said, "The statistics are alarming. We want to do what we can for our staff and their families to live a quality, healthy life. We also want to do our best to be a productive and efficient organization by decreasing absenteeism due to illness and by decreasing health care costs as much as possible. We know that the payback will take several years and it’s what stops many employers from investing. We’re fully committed.”

 

LRH has demonstrated their commitment to improving the health and well-being of their staff by creating an Employee Health and Wellness Committee. Consisting of staff from several departments within the organization, the committee developed a wellness program for LRH staff to participate in all year long. Nearly 150 employees participate in the program, tracking the number of minutes they exercise, the number of vegetables they eat, and the number of ounces of fluids they drink each day. Committee member and LRH Director of Surgical Services Robyn Paulsen said, "We take a multi-faceted approach to it. Besides eating right and exercise, participants have an opportunity to test their blood with a wellness screening that determines their cholesterol, thyroid, and immunity levels. They also have biometric testing, a walking fitness test, and body mass index testing available. We provide health-related educational opportunities and recommend participants receive their age-appropriate health screenings. We also encourage people to take care of their mental health by doing stress management, relaxation exercises, and volunteer work in the community, such as yesterday’s Dickinson County Trails clean-up.”

 

Harrington added, "Health is important to everyone at Lakes Regional Healthcare. We’ve done a lot internally to promote healthy habits. The partnership with the YMCA is a great way to broaden our efforts and encourage increased physical activity and is a win-win situation for all involved – Lakes Regional Healthcare, the Bedell Family YMCA, about 600 people that make up our staff and their family members, and our community.”

 

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Okoboji Foundation Youth in Philanthropy Present Grant to Camp Foster YMCA

At the Youth in Philanthropy year-end celebration on May 11, members of the Youth Council and Mary Freiborg of the Okoboji Foundation presented a check for $11,600.00 to Norm Johnson of Camp Foster YMCA.  These funds were raised by the students to send a Ripple of Good with their annual grant process.  This award will assist with construction of a permanent roof structure and handicapped access ramp in the area that serves as a chapel and outdoor events venue at
Camp Foster.



The Okoboji Foundation’s Youth in Philanthropy Initiative inspires high school students to identify community needs and build a sense of social responsibility by funding grants to send Ripples of Good throughout the lakes community.  Congratulations Youth Council!  Your dedication to our lakes community is amazing!  The 2011 Okoboji Foundation Youth Council includes 22 students from Okoboji and Spirit Lake High Schools:  McKenzie Colt, Natalie Delaney, Clare Eckard, Abby Goodenow, Riley Hoien, Anne Horsman, Sarah Hussong, Katie Johnson, Rick Maris, Hannah Marsh, Izaak Plunkett, Jennifer Poncelet, Isabel Reed, Ashley Rohlf, Maggie Rohlk, Caitlin Rolfes, Jessica Sandy, Kayla Seeger, Zach Skopec, Sydney Powell Spies, Kieja(KJ) Veldman, and Kiley Wermersen.

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