American Heart Association Recognizes Salinas Valley Health for Workplace Health Achievement

Media Contact: Karina Rusk
831-759-1843

Salinas, CA, August 13, 2018- Salinas Valley Health (Salinas Valley Health) has received the American Heart Association 2018 Silver level recognition for taking significant steps to build a robust culture of health in the workplace. The American Heart Association relies on the Workplace Health Achievement Index which uses science-based best practices to evaluate the overall quality and comprehensiveness of companies’ workplace health programs.

“Our employees walk the walk,” says Pete Delgado, President/CEO of Salinas Valley Health. “We want our entire community to be healthy and that commitment starts here at home, our workplace.”

The American Heart Association created the Workplace Health Achievement Index with a leadership collaborative of more than 40 chief executive officers from some of America’s largest companies who are committed to applying evidence-based approaches to improve their employees’ overall health.

“Every year we offer free health screenings to our employees,” says Tiffany DiTullio, Chief Administrative Officer Patient Experience and Community Wellness. “We then share the results with them so they are aware of their personal health risk factors. Our overall goal is to motivate our employees to make changes for a healthier life through our exercise classes, free prediabetes classes and Farmers’ Market.

More than one-thousand companies including hospitals completed the Workplace Health Achievement Index assessment this year. Companies receive benchmarking reports which allow them to identify potential areas of improvement so that they can advance their annual performance and recognition in the Index and move their workforce more toward ideal health.

The American Heart Association’s Workplace Health Achievement Index allows companies to measure the effectives of their workplace health programs as well as the overall health of their employees. The Index also scores companies on the heart health of their employees based on Life’s Simple 7^® the American Heart Association’s scientifically validated definition of ideal heart health.

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About Salinas Valley Health

Salinas Valley Health (Salinas Valley Health) is an integrated network of health care programs, services and facilities. At the core of the System is an acute care, public district hospital licensed for 263 beds. Several distinct specializations and programs at Salinas Valley Health include the Regional Heart Program, the Comprehensive Cancer Center, a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit operated in partnership with Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Joint Replacement Center, Regional Spine Center and Sleep Medicine Center. Salinas Valley Memorial features advanced imaging and diagnostic tools, including the Salinas Valley Health Advanced Imaging and the Salinas Valley Health Nancy Ausonio Breast Health Center. Salinas Valley Memorial employs more than 1,800 people; its medical staff includes more than 300 board-certified physicians across a range of specialties. For more information, visit www.svmh.com