Wheeling Hospital workers set example

WHEELING - As part of its ongoing wellness program, Wheeling Hospital has instituted a weight loss program for its employees, and in the first two weeks participants lost a total of 2,106 pounds.

The hospital's wellness committee, instituted by the human resources department, developed the program in the form of a contest, and a total of 106 five-person teams entered, along with several individuals competing on their own.

"We have more than 650 of our employees participating in this contest, which some liken to the Biggest Loser," said Joe Slavik, director of the hospital's Howard Long Wellness Center and hospital Wellness Committee spokesman for the weight loss contest. "It's literally been the talk of the hospital since we introduced it. This has been a great team effort."

To provide added incentive to the competitors, the winning team at the end of November will receive $5,000 and each member will be given a one-year membership to the Howard Long Wellness Center. First, second and third place individual winners, whether competing on a team or alone, will be awarded $2,500, $1,500 and $1,000, respectively, as well as one-year free wellness center memberships.

Confidential weigh-ins are conducted every two weeks, and all prizes are based on percentage of weight lost.

"We have bi-weekly motivational rallies to announce the latest winners," Slavik said. "Prizes are awarded to the team and individual with the greatest weight loss for those two weeks."

Before the contest began, all participants completed the Wellness Committee's Healthy Opportunities Provided to Employees confidential health screening, and they will be screened again next spring to compare the results.

Teams from the hospital and its satellite locations at Belmont Community Hospital, Wheeling Clinic and the Stratford Center are involved. Participants chose team names and were presented with team t-shirts.

Stepping up with a healthy plate is the hospital's dietary department. In the cafeteria, the cooks have begun dishing up items such as baked pollock with herb crust, baked sweet potatoes, balsamic chicken breast, grilled zucchini, lemon dill tilapia, grilled salmon sandwiches and turkey omelets.

In addition, the cafeteria has added a number of whole wheat pasta dishes. Also very popular are the hospital's soups and the salad bar. Breakfast eaters will find low-cholesterol eggs, yogurt, fruit, healthy cereals, several varieties of breads and juices.

Joe Moses, dietary director and member of the Wellness Committee, said, "The new menu items have been well received. We've tried to incorporate menu favorites and adapt the recipes to meet wellness guidelines, such as using ground turkey for our sloppy joes."

Other aspects of Wheeling Hospital's wellness program involve educational sessions, hospital-sponsored walks such as Light the Night and Relay for Life, annual flu shots and health assessments.

In addition to Moses and Slavik, other members of the wellness committee are: John DeBlasis, director of physical therapy; Beckie Dille, human resources generalist; Kelly Fry, a human resources director; Renee Griffin, dietician; Tamara Holler and Deanna Jamison, human resources assistants; Michelle McNally, clinical diabetic educator; Brian Scalzi, manager, dietary; and Beth Zebick, coordinator of community education and outreach.