UofL wins Growing Healthy Lives ONE Award

The University of Louisville was presented with the Baptist Health Growing Healthy Lives ONE Award this week during the 29th annual ONE Awards, sponsored by One Southern Indiana.

The Growing Healthy Lives ONE Award recognizes and highlights employers that have gone above and beyond expectations in the areas of employee health and wellness. Attributes of an ideal nominee include businesses that have health programs, incentives and environments that have shown positive results in improving employee health outcomes.

Patricia Benson, UofL's AVP for Health, Wellness and Disease Management, said the university's comprehensive, strategically implemented workplace wellness program helped earn this year’s award.

“The Get Healthy Now team has worked hard to build trust-based partnerships with campus and community stakeholders to drive year-over-year success, program sustainability and demonstrated positive return-on-investment,” she said. “We are recognized nationally and are regularly called upon to share our story with others in the industry seeking to emulate our success. Success as evident in our impact on the bottom line coupled with high employee engagement and retention in the wellness program for 11 consecutive years."

In 2016, for example, the Get Healthy Now program at UofL generated a 73-percent participation rate in telephonic coaching and held 401 onsite wellness coaching sessions. There are about 4,000 wellness center members who take advantage of the diverse class and programming schedule, including personal training sessions.

Also last year, GHN held 2,204 fitness classes with more than 10,500 in attendance. 

"We have built a sustainable program with measurable impact and this recognition is a testament of our good work and accomplishments to date," Benson said. “The award helps position the University of Louisville as a great place to work. It says we value our employees and are willing to invest in their well-being."

Past Growing Healthy Lives ONE Award winners include Baptist Health and Floyd Memorial Hospital and Health Services.

One Southern Indiana's program recognizes finalists in seven business categories who were scored by an independent panel of judges based on criteria of business history, community involvement, response to adversity, new opportunities and innovation.

Additional category winners are listed online. One Southern Indiana (1si) was formed in July of 2006 as the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development organization serving Clark and Floyd counties.