Crow Wing Energized has been the local organization coordinating partner awards through the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP). These awards focus on creating or improving healthy opportunities for community members — with a focus in the areas of active living, healthy eating, and commercial tobacco-free living.
Last summer Big Stone Therapies received a partner award focused on creating a more inviting outdoor space for employees to enjoy break time during warm months. Previously our outdoor space had an older picnic table and an umbrella that did not cover many people at one time. It was not a comfortable or inviting space. If it was sunny, the direct sun was too hot on the cement area and employees would end up having to come back in before their break time was over. Being able to enjoy the sun on your break is much needed in Minnesota. Our clinic now has a wonderful space to enjoy nice Minnesota days on our breaks. With our grant we were able to purchase two convertible benches and one large cantilever umbrella. The benches can easily be turned into a picnic table to sit and read or to enjoy the company of others while eating, then with one movement back into a bench for relaxation. With these new additions to our outdoor space, we come back to work after lunch rejuvenated and ready to serve our patients. In addition to our new tables/benches and umbrella we spruced up our old picnic table to offer more space under the umbrella.
A fun story utilizing our improved outdoor space: One of our physical therapists was out on maternity leave. She decided to bring her new baby in to meet the team and was able to spend time outside with everyone while we met Brooks and caught up with Cassie on homelife with a toddler and a newborn.
Our Baxter Big Stone Therapies team meets twice a month for team meetings. One of these meetings we were able to hold outside as our new umbrella is huge and shaded many of the employees. Being able to get some sunshine on a day when we normally would have been inside from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. boosts morale.
Big Stone Therapies offers physical, occupational and speech therapy. One thing Big Stone strives to be for our patients is healthy. Getting outside and moving are key components to rehabilitation.
Thank you Crow Wing Energized from all of us at Big Stone Therapies!
Most adults spend nearly half of their waking hours at work. The work environment has a significant potential to influence health. If you would like to learn more about incorporating healthy workplace options in your place of business, please consider joining our Workplace Wellness Goal Group. The Workplace Wellness Goal Group meets virtually the second Thursday of every month from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. To learn more about the Workplace Wellness Goal Group visit our website,
CrowWingEnergized.org
, or contact Kelli Johnson at
.
Crow Wing Energized was founded with the mission to “Improve health and wellness in our community by making the healthy choice the easy choice.” We know this is best accomplished when we work together to improve our communities, which is why we also recognize the works of other organizations and programs in our Midweek Motivator article. We want to connect readers to services, events, organizations, and resources that promote healthy living as well as healthy and productive workplaces. If you are interested in learning more about Crow Wing Energized and our upcoming classes and events visit
CrowWingEnergized.org
. You can also stay updated by following Crow Wing Energized on Facebook.
The Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) supports community-driven solutions to expand opportunities for active living, healthy eating, and commercial tobacco-free living; helping all people in Minnesota prevent chronic diseases including cancer, heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.
SHIP works with community partners to increase opportunities for safer physical activity, increase access to healthy and affordable foods, reduce commercial tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure, improve wellness opportunities in the workplace and create opportunities for improved emotional well-being.
SHIP helps build thriving communities, creating opportunities for all people in Minnesota to live longer, healthier lives. Ninety percent of the nation’s health care costs are for people with chronic conditions, and the majority of those costs are preventable.
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