from the Department of Veterans Affairs
Efforts by hundreds of Veterans and employees at the VA Hudson Valley Healthcare System to get focused on fitness earned the medical center a trifecta of awards from the Veteran’s Health Administration June 17.
With 213 Veterans and 599 employees rolling or walking, VA Hudson Valley earned a “Greatest Participation” nod and a “Greatest Number of Veteran Participants” award from the Department of Veterans Health Administration’s Employee Health Promotion Disease and Impairment Prevention Program. The 4th annual VA2K event took place at the campus in Montrose and Castle Point, N.Y., May 21.
VA Hudson Valley also captured an award for “Most Unique Event.” Throughout the day, which coincided with National Employee Health and Fitness Day, VA Hudson Valley used videoconferencing to reach its seven remote clinics, conducting Zumba, yoga and other classes; held a farmer’s market; passed along health information; created teams and joined with local community fire departments, schools and others.
The center also created its own jody call (Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=gEMnariCbCk) for the event, written by five employees.
No stranger to these awards, VA Hudson Valley grabbed a second-place honor in 2013 for highest employee participation. The medical center also grabbed a third-place nod for most unique event.
Dr. Mona Mittal, health promotion disease prevention program manager and VA2K organizer for VA Hudson Valley, said she was excited about the awards but the real focus was on the Veterans and fitness.
“It really speaks to the spirit of VA Hudson Valley,” said Mittal, who’s been here about three years. “There are many people who are driven and really care to do their best. When we put our minds together, great things happen.”
Nationwide, more than 5,000 Veterans and 18,000 employees participated, generating donations for homeless Veterans exceeding $275,000. VA’s employee wellness program, called “Wellness is Now,” aims to inspire VA staff and Veterans to live healthier lifestyles and reduce preventable injuries and illnesses.
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