WorkHealthy Hospital Highlight: Northeastern Health System

Posted on: 8/13/21

Each quarter, the WorkHealthy Hospitals (WHH) team, a grant program of TSET, will be highlighting the excellent work happening in some of our engaged partner hospitals. WHH members are considered “engaged” when they take an annual online WHH assessment, which provides strengths and areas of opportunity for their wellness infrastructure. Additionally, engaged hospitals participate in WHH’s educational opportunities and have been active members for more than one year. 

Northeastern Health System, Tahlequah, is the first hospital to be highlighted. The WHH team sat down with Jennifer Bentley, HR director, to learn more about their current wellbeing efforts, including barriers, successes, and advice for other hospitals in implementing their wellbeing programs.  

What is one of the biggest barriers you have had to overcome with implementing your wellness program? 
Communication is the biggest barrier. We have found that email blasts, flyers, intranet for employees, and internal TV screens have helped disseminate information. There is no one way to communicate effectively. We have had to utilize every avenue we have to get wellness information out.    

What is your favorite initiative or activity that your wellness committee/program has done at your organization? 
Last year, we took an idea from the WorkHealthy Group and did a month-long wellness challenge. We called it Nourish to Flourish. It had activities to do daily and at the end of the challenge, participants were entered in a drawing for prizes. Our employees enjoyed the variety and asked for more workplace challenges. 
 
What is your most successful form of communication with employees about wellness events?
We use everything we have to communicate. I feel the internal TV screens have helped. They play messages on a loop for employees and are located in break rooms and common areas. We update the messages often.

Do you use social media for your wellness program? How so? Do you feel it is well received? 
We do not use it regularly, but we have posted on the NHS Facebook page about employee wellness activities before.  
 
What WorkHealthy dimension do you think is the easiest to do well in? 
Tobacco cessation is the easiest. We have company-wide policies, signage, and most employees are well versed in the smoking cessation program. We also have made great strides in food options for our employees. We have several healthy options to choose from daily and are working on our overnight options for staff.  
 
What WorkHealthy dimension has your organization struggled with and how have you overcome barriers?
We are limited on space and offering a space for employees to take a mental health break has been challenging.  
 
What advice would you give to people who are starting with WorkHealthy Hospitals?
Wellness is a choice. Provide as much education and opportunities to employees to help them make better choices. Removing barriers to healthy decisions is what I strive to do in our wellness program and I feel that is the best advice for a new program.  

For information on the WorkHealthy Hospitals initiative, contact the WHH team at [email protected]. (Meagan Carter)