SHIP stories
The Statewide Health Improvement Program
(SHIP) supports employers seeking to add
or enhance work place wellness efforts.
Comprehensive work place wellness programs
have been shown to be very effective in
improving health and reducing health care costs
and offer a return on investment for employers
of between 3:1 and 6:1.
•
In the first three years of SHIP, 940
worksites have engaged in the worksite
wellness strategy with the potential to
engage 154,500 employees
Advancing Wellness at ATS
“ATS recognizes the importance of having employees
feel their best, so they are healthy and productive in
both their professional and personal lives,” explained
Peter Kuechle, President of Advanced Telemetry
Systems (ATS). This is precisely why Kuechle went to
the Isanti-Mille Lacs local public health with questions
regarding implementing a worksite wellness program
at his company.
After partnering with the Statewide Health
Improvement Program (SHIP) in 2012, they were able
to identify a work wellness coordinator and create a
wellness committee. They also developed a worksite
wellness toolkit, pre- and post-assessments and activity
guidelines and examples for ATS’s new committee to
utilize in their program. With all these resources, the
difference is seen in the employees: They are now able
to enjoy friendly weight loss challenges, healthy lunch
options, access to on-site workout room and fruit and
veggie trays.
Over the last year, 61 percent of employees have
increased or slightly increased their physical activity
(with nearly 85 percent participating in committee
provided activities), 52 percent have increased their
intake of fruits and vegetables, and 52 percent have
decreased their intake of high-fat foods. What a
change for the better!
As one employee quotes, “Since the wellness program
began here at ATS both my husband and I have
become more active, are making healthier food
choices and have lost weight. I am thankful that the
ATS Wellness program continues to provide us with
information and activities that have helped us make a
positive change to our lifestyle.”
ATS isn’t stopping just yet. They have worked closely
with their local health care facility to provide “wellness
vans” and to gather more information on their
employees’ health goals.
“We have witnessed some employees make positive
sustainable changes to their lifestyle. We appreciate
all the time and resources that SHIP has made
available to ATS; it truly has made a difference,”
finishes Kuechle.
***
5/2013
The Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) works to
improve health through better nutrition, increased physical activity
and decreased commercial tobacco use and exposure. Find out
more at www.health.state.mn.us/ship