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Friday, July 13, 2018

Wood River Health Services earns Worksite Health Award

Workplace health programs boost morale and productivity
George Tager (at left), Director of Broker Relations and Sales at
BCBSRI, and Janet Raymond (at right), Senior Vice President
at the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, present the

Exemplary Worksite Health Award and the Create and Innovate 
Award to Dr. Tiffanie Waldeck, Dental Director and Wellness 
Committee Chair, and Development Coordinator David Henley at a 
breakfast awards ceremony in Warwick on June 20.
Wood River Health Services was recognized with an Exemplary Worksite Health Award from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) and the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce (the Chamber) for effective programs encouraging employee health and well-being in a meaningful way.

Wood River Health Services was one of more than 65 Rhode Island businesses honored by BCBSRI and the Chamber with a Worksite Health Award at a breakfast attended by hundreds of state business leaders.

The event celebrated local businesses who have demonstrated a commitment to improving Rhode Islanders’ overall health through innovative wellness programs, as companies and individuals.

The health center’s Wellness Committee was also honored as a Wellness Achiever with a Create and Innovate Award for their November “Planksgiving” and “30 Days of Thankfulness” programs.

Each day of the program involved planking (a specific exercise that helps improve core stability, abdominal strength, posture, and balance) for increasing lengths of time, building up to three minutes.

The calendar also posed a “thankfulness” question to reflect on, such as “What life challenges are you thankful for?” “What small thing happened today that you are grateful for?” and “What memory are you grateful for?” The goal of this program was to increase fitness and take time to reflect and give thanks.

“As a not-for-profit committed to the health of all Rhode Islanders, we’re delighted to continue our partnership with the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce as presenting sponsor of the 24th annual Worksite Health Awards,” said Melissa Cummings, executive vice president and chief customer officer of BCBSRI.

“This event includes the opportunity to learn from each other’s successes and this year we have launched a new opportunity to highlight wellness achievers, companies that have taken unique, innovative and creative approaches to prioritizing wellness and helping employees achieve and maintain their health goals.”

“By increasing morale and production, and decreasing healthcare costs and sick leave, worksite health programs are a win for all involved. We applaud Wood River Health Services for making the commitment to invest in the wellness of their team and for inspiring more Rhode Island businesses to find creative ways to help their employees live better, healthier and happier lives. We encourage other companies to follow their lead,” said Laurie White, president of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce.

Wood River Health Services is the Federally Qualified Community Health Center for southwestern Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut, providing medical and dental care and social services to over 7,000 area residents.

The center also administers the area WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Nutrition Program, provides a nationally recognized chronic disease management program, has available onsite lab testing in cooperation with Westerly Hospital, including blood work, x-ray and mammography, and provides behavioral and mental health counseling and referrals.

Sliding scale payments are available to those who qualify.