John Muir Health Spearheads Initiatives Encouraging Healthier Lifestyle

Walnut Creek - To raise awareness about health, the environment and the importance of using locally sustainably produced foods, John Muir Health is embracing several new initiatives to help create healthier lifestyle choices for employees, patients and visitors.

Under the direction of the Healthy Food in Healthcare Committee, comprised of John Muir Health staff, food service representatives, physicians, and select community members, John Muir Health is taking several steps to provide access to the healthiest food options available for patients, employees and visitors.

Among those steps, is participation in the "Healthy Foods in Healthcare" program. The program provides a framework that outlines steps to be taken by the health care industry to improve the health of patients, communities and the environment.

This initiative was spearheaded by "Health Care Without Harm," an international coalition of more than 440 groups working in 55 countries. Their focus is to transform health care into an ecologically sustainable industry. There are currently several hospitals nationwide participating in the "Healthy Food in Healthcare" program.

The "Healthy Food in Healthcare Pledge" is part of the "Healthy Food in Healthcare " program and includes eight objectives that range from procurement from local farmers, community-based organizations and food suppliers to increase the availability of locally-sourced food, to supporting the use of food packaging and products which are ecologically protective. Senior leaders from John Muir Health recently signed the pledge, further highlighting John Muir Health's commitment to healthier lifestyles.

Other initiatives

John Muir Health also offers other initiatives designed to improve the well-being of staff, visitors and patients. These include:

• Increased offering of fresh fruits and vegetables that are in season and locally grown, including an increase in whole grain foods.
• Use of trans-fat free oil in cooking.
• Employee participation in the "Farm Fresh to You" program at John Muir Medical Centers in Walnut Creek and Concord as well as other John Muir Health facilities. Capay Farms delivers a box of organically grown fruits and vegetables weekly to participating employees. Program encourages increased consumption of fruits and vegetables and supports this local farm.
• Healthier options in vending machines, replacing foods with trans-fats and high fat content with items that are low in fat and sugar and higher in whole grains.
• Partnership with Mt. Diablo High School. Students learn hands-on about sustainable gardening.
• Aromatherapy Garden. Students at Mt. Diablo High School cultivate and tend to an aromatherapy garden at John Muir Medical Center
• Walnut Creek Campus, providing an opportunity for rehabilitation patients to actively participate in gardening as part of therapy.

(Posted August 28, 2007)