SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., – Regional West is among 38 Nebraska employers to receive the 2018 Governor’s Excellence in Wellness Award.

The health system is the recipient of the Large Sower award, which is presented to wellness champions that offer evidence-based health and wellness programs for their employees. The award was presented today at the Panhandle Safety and Wellness Conference in Gering.

“Receiving the Governor’s Excellence in Wellness Award is a great honor and fantastic motivation to maintain the strong momentum and continue to build upon Regional West’s wellness-centered successes, such as our walkable campus and healthy vending initiatives,” said Vice President of Human Resources Summer Parker.

Regional West launched a new, more comprehensive employee wellness program two years ago that includes annual biometric screening and health evaluations tied to individualized employee health goals through the contracted Wellness Provider, Interactive Health. In addition to insurance premium discounts for achieving health goals, employees and covered spouses are provided opportunities to participate in many wellness activities, including personalized health coaching, workshops, webinars, challenges, and campus-based initiatives, such as access to a walkable campus.

“As we enter into our third full year of Regional West’s Wellness program provision, positive changes in our employee’s health behaviors are demonstrating the importance of implementing best practices into our Wellness program,” said Parker. 

Panhandle Public Health District and the Panhandle Worksite Wellness Council played an integral role in assisting Regional West to develop the new wellness plan and corresponding strategies, including the funding to support the medical center’s healthy vending initiative.

Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff, Neb., is the parent company of Regional West Medical Center, a 188-bed regional referral center and one of three Level II Trauma Centers in the state. As the region’s only tertiary referral medical center, Regional West offers care that spans more than 32 medical specialties provided by over 28 physician clinics. With nearly 300 providers, and over 2,000 employees, Regional West provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming.