Ohio DOH Honors RTA With Silver Award for Healthy Practices
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and the Healthy Ohio Business Council (HOBC) will recognize Dayton RTA along with 45 other Ohio employers for healthy worksite practices at state conference event. RTA’s health initiative, HEARTA — Healthy Employees at RTA, lead the way to garner the Silver Level award.
A total of 71 companies, cities and townships applied for the 2014 awards, which recognize Ohio employers who demonstrate a commitment to employee wellness through comprehensive worksite health promotion and wellness programs. Applicants are scored on the extent their wellness programs facilitate and encourage employee health, enhance productivity and ensure a healthy work environment.
RTA’s step-by-step wellness program, supported by a full-time wellness coordinator, tackles the challenges of an aging and largely sedentary workforce with two fitness centers, personal training sessions and organized worksite and community wellness events.
The agency’s executive team is very committed to this program. “We’re all in,” said Mark Donaghy, RTA executive director. The agency’s executive team is leading by example with 100 percent participation, which not only encourages involvement across the organization, but also results in their improved health.”
“Poor nutrition, inactive and sedentary lifestyles, tobacco use, and alcohol and drug use limit our potential to be productive Ohioans. This is why a comprehensive approach to preventive health and wellness at worksites is an essential part of improving both the health of Ohioans and the overall success of our state,” said Dr. Andrew Wapner, Chief of the Bureau of Healthy Ohio at ODH. “Healthy Ohio Healthy Worksite Award winners are leading the way in this effort by making a healthy work environment a priority for their employees.”
“Employee health and wellness efforts result in major benefits for both employer and employee,” Helene Szczerba, chair of HOBC said. “Positive returns on investment are realized in employees who improve their health resulting in decreased rates of absenteeism and increased productivity.
According to Donaghy, these investments paid off by helping the agency meet its objective of achieving a healthier workforce. “Today we are experiencing a tremendous return on our investment,” he said. “Lives have been saved, the workforce is in better health, and the program has demonstrated positive financial results.”
The Ohio Department of Health officials state, “Employers also realize reductions in health care costs and an overall increase in productivity and job satisfaction.”
RTA has realized benefits in all these areas. “RTA’s wellness program, through the efforts of our HEARTA Team, has delivered spectacular results on a variety of fronts,” Donaghy said. “Healthier employees, across the board reductions in medical claims, and a culture of commitment to better decision making regarding diet and exercise have moved RTA from an underwriter’s nightmare to self-funding health care because of the dramatic reversal.”
RTA is spreading the wellness word through customer health and wellness programs, as well. In partnership with the Public Health Department Montgomery County, RTA held its first ever customer wellness event, “Our RTA to Health and Wellness” this past fall. Over 300 participants received access to free health services, screenings, nutrition programs and children’s wellness information at its downtown transit center.
RTA will be honored, along with other honorees, during the 11th annual Healthy Ohio Healthy Worksite Awards ceremony in January at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus, Ohio as part of the Health Action Council 2015 Annual Conference.