Valerie spoke on how implementing wellness program within the workplace can help in many ways.

Spoke on changing health behavior.  Theory of behavior change.  Wellness programs do not necessarily impact the bottom line.  Especially small companies that do not have a lot of money to spare.  

Incentives have worked very well in the past.  She believes that people should not have to buy into healthcare.  

When she joined Concord Hospital, she did a lot of community work with underserved populations.  Focus on what affects health in your environment. Spoke on research with Tufts on childhood obesity.   After pandemic she left community-based work and got back into employee wellness program.  Now doing “pandemic work”.  Poll on Wellness:

Work/Life Balance

Stress reduction

Mental Health

We think of physical side of things when we think of wellness. Things such as Socialization “make you well”.  “Do you enjoy the work that you do”? “Do you enjoy the culture you are in?”.  

Created an employee recognition and appreciation program after the pandemic.   This is an example of wellness.

Helps staff work with compassion fatigue, burnout, and moral injury.  Focus on culture, building teamwork, work manageable, keeping people physically well.  

Dean Cascadden - Thanked her for her work.  His wife is Director of Pharmacy at Spear facing the same challenges.

Michele Fortin - Asked if they have any online resources such as Talk Space.  Valerie stated that they do not have Talk Space.  They do have external resources such as phone line.  They also have an onsite EAP.  This is different from most EAP programs which are remote. 

 

President Michelle presented the book “Outside In” to Valerie.  The book will be donated to the Bow Elementary School.  

 

Meeting adjourned 8:30 a.m.