As part of its “total employee wellness” initiative, Owensboro Health is offering membership to the Healthpark as a benefit for all employees.
On Monday, December 1, Owensboro Health President and CEO Philip Patterson announced the move via an email to all health system employees. The memberships, which are subsidized by the health system as a benefit to employees, went into effect on Jan. 1, 2015.
“We envision a future where the people in our communities are the healthiest in Kentucky and Indiana. That’s not just a pie-in-the-sky statement – I truly believe we can accomplish the goal we have set for ourselves,” Patterson said in the email. “The best way to kick-start that effort is to invest in our own people.”
In addition to employee’s receiving Healthpark membership as a benefit, spouses and dependent children (between the ages of 13 and 26) of Owensboro Health employees will also have their membership covered by the health system.
Collette Carter, director of the Healthpark, said the move is already generating a huge amount of interest. “I think it’s fantastic. It’s a great investment in our employees and their health and well-being. We have a nationally recognized wellness facility and now employees will have access. We know that someone is more apt to stick with programs when they can take part with their families. The Healthpark team is looking forward to the opportunity to engage employees and their families in the programs and services we provide. This has created a lot of excitement and pride among the employees,” Carter said.
Patterson said this move is one way to show the entire region that Owensboro Health is committed to helping improve the health of the people in the communities served by the health system. “As western Kentucky’s largest employer, we have a responsibility to lead by example,” Patterson said in his email message. “If we move forward as a united front, committed to our own health, there’s no limit to what we can accomplish.”
