Employees reach fitness milestone

    While out-of-control health care costs could easily send most employers’ blood pressure off the chart, a Presque Isle-based company has teamed up with the medical community to help its employees get more physically fit by making life-saving changes in their daily routine. After six weeks in the program, the local business is experiencing some positive results — workers are feeling more productive and positive, and management sees the beginning of a new trend that could pay dividends down the road.
    Late last year Northeast Publishing Company officials approached The Aroostook Medical Center with a challenge — help the firm slow down or stop runaway medical expenses while at the same time improving employee health and wellness. According to Dawn Poitras, director of Horizons Occupational Health and Wellness Services, a proven 12-week system called Move and Improve was just what the doctor ordered. The lifestyle-changing initiative, started several years ago with tobacco lawsuit settlement funds, has been adopted by the hospital and its parent organization Eastern Maine Heathcare and has helped thousands of Mainers feel better.
    After forming a Wellness Committee made up of employees from Northeast and its affiliated newspaper offices (the Star-Herald, Aroostook Republican in Caribou, Houlton Pioneer Times and Piscataquis Observer in Dover-Foxcroft), a nurse was dispatched to each location to do a baseline screening of employees who elected to participate in Move and Improve.
    Since early March, over 30 of NEP’s 47 employees have challenged themselves to become more physically fit by striving to meet one of two wellness goals — either working out 30 minutes daily, four times per week or exercising for 45 minutes daily, five times a week. “Coaches” at each office help participants stay on track with helpful hints, and sometimes, special incentives like free or reduced cost healthy snacks and weekly prize drawings for T-shirts and soft lunch bags. Participants post their activity on the program’s Web site and are also able to track their progress.
    Poitras has seen the program work at other companies like MMG Insurance and know it can pay off in many unexpected ways.
    “We’re hoping that the message spreads. Good health seems to be contagious … many employees have reported that their families and friends have picked up on the fitness fun and joined along,” she said.
    Although this round of Move and Improve ends at the end of May, hospital and program officials know that the newly developed health habits have a real chance of becoming permanent changes for the better.
    “When people start feeling better, the whole way that they think changes. It is not uncommon to see people working out together … you can’t help but share the knowledge that you gain with your loved ones,” Poitras said.
    Aroostook County, she said, has taken positively to Move and Improve with over 40 business, organizations and individuals participating in the 12-week health initiative. A special wrap-up celebration has been planned for June.
    “Measurable, data-driven employee wellness programs are a win-win situation for worker and employer. We expect to see much growth in this direction in the future,” she said.
    Poitras invites anyone who is interested in improving their fitness level to contact her office.