Healthy Active Arkansas, an initiative launched by Gov. Asa Hutchinson in October 2015 in an effort to improve the health of Arkansans through healthy dietary choices and increased physical activity, and the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI) are co-sponsoring the Second Annual Arkansas Hospital Challenge. Last year, 20 hospitals participated in this contest, which is part of the upcoming Blue and You Fitness Challenge, and the Arkansas Hospital Association (AHA) is encouraging even more hospitals to participate this year.
The Blue and You Fitness Challenge (hosted by Arkansas BlueCross and BlueShield, the Arkansas Department of Health, and the Arkansas Department of Human Services) is a free-to-enter, three month competition among work organizations aimed at increasing employee cardiovascular activity and health. Participating organizations will receive a kit to help coordinate an onsite employee fitness contest. This kit outlines steps from contest preparation and structure to execution and evaluation – all in an effort to encourage improved employee and community fitness. In addition to contest information, the kit includes ideas for promoting worksite wellness throughout the year.
ACHI will award within each of the AHA regions a “Regional Hospital Fitness Challenge Champion” and there will be an overall state “Arkansas Hospital Fitness Challenge Champion.” New this year, the Blue and You Fitness Challenge has added a Fitness Throwdown Challenge allowing groups to name an organization to compete against throughout the challenge. After you register your group, you will receive a link to use for the Fitness Throwdown Challenge. The contest will occur March 1-May 31 with participants competing to exercise as much as possible, logging their workouts and activity via the Challenge website. Regional winners will be chosen based on the Blue and You contest measurements, which include highest percentage of eligible employees participating, lowest dropout rate, highest percentage of employees logging 30 exercise points, and highest average of most days exercised. The overall winner will be chosen based on the number of eligible employees participating.
To join, follow these simple steps: First, by Feb. 14, register (or ask your delegate to register) your hospital by visiting https://secure.blueandyoufitnesschallenge-ark.com/index.aspx; Second, when registering your group, select “hospital” as the organization type; and Third, by Feb. 28, encourage your employees to sign up individually as part of your group.
The Fitness Challenge Tool Kit that includes resources and additional information is available at https://secure.blueandyoufitnesschallenge-ark.com/ContestInformation.aspx#tab_contest. Please contact Jennifer Wessel JBWessel@uams.edu at ACHI if you have any questions regarding the Arkansas Hospital Challenge.