Holyoke Medical Center’s Work Connection Helps Companies Focus on Wellness

When her employer, Stevens Roofing in Holyoke, began a wellness program last July, she jumped right in. With monthly weight and blood pressure checks, Roy was motivated and within six months, lost 20 pounds. She now exercises for at least 30 minutes, four or five times a week.

“It’s been great overall, trying to get healthy,” said Roy, one of 18 Stevens Roofing employees participating in the program. “It provides an incentive for people to meet their own goals. Exercise helps you feel better about yourself and to have more energy for your daily activities.”

The Wellness Program at Stevens Roofing is made possible through a unique collaboration with The Work Connection (TWC) at Holyoke Medical Center. Wellness Coordinator Alanna Smith is based in Westfield, N.C., and she needed someone local to Holyoke to help implement the program — TWC Occupational Health Clerk Lisa McLain.

“We were talking about wanting to change our lives and eating habits, and had heard that other plants had events like weight-loss competitions that were very well received,” said Smith. “Our program’s been tremendous. The morale in the office is great. . . . they’re benefiting themselves, their families, and other employees. They have more self-confidence, all of which spills over into their work.”

McLain visits Stevens Roofing once a month and visits with each employee who is participating in the Wellness Program. She checks their weight and blood pressure and faxes the results to Smith, who tracks employees’ progress.

“We’ve become very good friends with a lot of people there,” said McLain. “They’re very welcoming. It’s rewarding to see that people are becoming more fit and conscious about their health.”

For almost 20 years, TWC has provided a comprehensive range of occupational health services to companies throughout Western Mass. From drug testing, medical surveillance and pre- and post-placement examinations to injury care services, flu shot clinics, and CPR trainings, TWC serves about 1,000 businesses overall, and treats over 1,200 people a month in its occupational health clinic.

Providing personalized service by well-trained professionals who get to know both the companies’ and their employees’ needs are the goals of TWC, according to TWC Assistant Manager Audrey Zalewski.

Stevens Roofing Human Resources Manager Ann Jones said she appreciates HMC’s assistance.

“We had been using HMC as our place for pre-employment physicals for new hires,” said Jones. “It’s a good relationship. They always come through with whatever we need.”

Stevens Roofing’s wellness program is based upon an accumulative point system, Jones explained. Points (and prizes — Holyoke Mall gift certificates and exercise equipment) are awarded to employees who meet goals involving exercise, smoking cessation, reduction in alcohol consumption, weight loss, body fat loss and acceptable blood pressure, cholesterol level and cardiac risk factor level, she said.

Dan Gaughan, part of Stevens Roofing’s Information Technology Department, had already dropped 30 pounds and developed a regular exercise routine when the Wellness Program began.

“It was easy for me to be a joiner. Now I get to check my weight and blood pressure for free,” said Gaughan, who runs every morning and plays golf. “Regular exercise gives you a clear presence of mind, helps you do your job better and makes you feel more prepared for the day.”

Roy, who won the program’s first phase last December, couldn’t be happier with her newfound fitness. “There’s a real correlation between physical and mental health,” she said. “It improves your outlook on life and impacts people in a positive way.”