I am honored and thrilled to announce that the ACC has been named one of Greater Washington’s Healthiest Employers by Washington Business Journal. Fifty Washington, DC-area employers were identified as the area’s healthiest employers within five categories based on organization size. The College was honored with 8th place in the 250 to 500 employee category.

The award makes public the news that the ACC truly practices what they preach. ACC’s Ready, Set, Go: Taking Care of You Wellness Program focuses on overall well-being of its more than 330 ACC staff. The program highlights the importance of mental, physical, emotional, nutritional and financial wellness. The Wellness Program was introduced in 2009 to proactively tackle increasing health care costs, changes to the health care landscape and industry competition by focusing on wellness education, employee education and lifestyle modification at Heart House.

The program has blossomed in 2012 with more participants than ever before and a growing culture of wellness within Heart House walls. Staff participate throughout the year in education sessions, fitness classes, fairs, partner challenges, screenings and more – all aimed at increasing morale, strengthening professional relationships, and resulting in healthier, happier employees. To date, 40 percent of employees completed biometric wellness screenings in both 2010 and 2011, 30 percent of staff participated in a pedometer-based step challenge and more than 40 employees consistently participate in ACC fitness classes. One of the newer offerings of the wellness program is a staff-specific version ACC’s CardioSmartTXT program to keep employees up to date on upcoming events or provide a quick wellness tip or resource. A short video (watch below) highlights the program offerings and was shown at the Healthiest Employers awards ceremony at the Grand Hyatt Washington.

We are days from the World Heart Federation’s World Heart Day celebration. Their theme last year was workplace wellness – a theme that ACC staff clearly embrace. This year, the College will celebrate World Heart Day’s women and children’s heart health theme in a big way with engaging, educational on-site events for staff. ACC members and the public can engage with ACC during the week prior to World Heart Day through social media channels including a #HeartChat Twitter Chat next Friday, Sept. 28 at 1 p.m. ET, led by the ACC, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s The Heart Truth® Campaign, healthfinder.gov, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Million Hearts™ initiative. Stay tuned for more details.

Congratulations to the College and its staff for being awarded this prestigious title and for making wellness a priority.