Hospital Receives Governor’s Wellness Award
At Columbus Community Hospital, your health matters — and building a healthier tomorrow starts with the choices we make today. That’s why the hospital is proud to announce its recognition from Governor Jim Pillen and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) as a 2023 Governor’s Wellness Award recipient.
Gov. Pillen and the DHHS honored the hospital and 26 other Nebraska organizations for their efforts in building evidence-based wellness programs. These award-winning health initiatives include features such as wellness challenges and plans with goals, measurable results and reward incentives.
“This award is a culmination of many people working together for many years toward a similar goal,” said Dr. Luke Lemke, a doctor at Columbus Medical Center. “It helps signify that the work we are doing truly does make a difference, and re-energizes our efforts to keep moving down the path of better wellness.”
The Governor’s Wellness Award began in 2008 and features three categories: the Sower Award, the Grower Award and the Harvester Award. Over the years, more than 500 elite organizations have received the award for dedicating resources and time to wellness efforts in the workplace. Columbus Community Hospital was one of six organizations to receive this year’s Harvester Award — the highest honor a company can receive.
“We are delighted to be recognized and honored by Gov. Jim Pillen,” said Mike Hansen, president and CEO for Columbus Community Hospital. “Back in 2012, our board recognized the need for developing a strategic approach to wellness. Since that time, countless people have been involved in developing multiple programs, services and tactics to address the overall health and wellness of the communities CCH serves. Some of those tactics have included building the Wellness Center in 2015 and starting the Columbus Fieldhouse, which will open in early 2024. Columbus Community Hospital has a tremendously robust wellness program that should impact our communities for generations to come.”
“Over the years, we have worked diligently to create a wellness program for our employees,” said Danielle Frewing, director of Occupational Health Services for the hospital. “It takes collaboration and support from various key stakeholders, who all share the same vision of improving the health and wellness of our community. But in the end, we’ve built a strong wellness program that everyone can be proud of, that extends far beyond the traditional annual wellness screening.”
A full list of the 2023 Governor’s Wellness Award recipients is available on the DHHS website.
To learn more about Columbus Community Hospital and its wellness initiatives, visit columbushosp.org.