May 17, 2010

(Bangor, ME) – The Wellness Council of Maine, a subsidiary of the Wellness Councils America (WELCOA), announced that Eastern Maine Medical Center has received a Platinum designation as a Well Workplace. By becoming a Well Workplace, EMMC demonstrates that its worksite health strategy is not only comprehensive, but effective and has produced measurable results.

“We are so pleased to have EMMC’s commitment to employee wellness recognized by the Wellness Councils of America,” said Deborah Carey Johnson, RN, president and CEO. “I believe people expect their medical center to be a role model in this area, working hard to give employees opportunities to become healthier, enhancing our ability to provide reliable care to the public, and producing operational savings that ultimately can be passed on to our customers.”

A Well Workplace fully embraces its responsibility for maximizing the health and well-being of its employees. Employee wellness is a part of EMMC’s overall business strategy and includes the vision of protecting and enhancing the health of each and every employee is an integral part of the organization.

In 2009, EMMC was recognized as a Gold workplace. The Platinum Award is granted to organizations that link health promotion objectives to business outcomes.

“Our mission to care for our community starts before people ever come through our doors. If we are successful in helping people live healthier lives, we may reduce the effect of chronic diseases on our neighbors and perhaps delay or even prevent some debilitating medical events like heart attacks or strokes. This starts and ends with our own employees,” says Debbie