The Ohio State University has achieved silver-level status in the HealthLead™ Workplace reaccreditation, demonstrating Ohio State's increased engagement and initiation of positive changes to further instill a culture of health and well-being, the nonprofit US Healthiest announced today.
Through a two-step reaccreditation process, including completion of an online assessment and a site audit, Ohio State advanced from its bronze status achieved in 2012 to silver status. Since its initial accreditation in 2012 at the bronze level, Ohio State has continued to strengthen, build and expand its comprehensive integrative model to optimize health and wellness to improve population health.
Over the last four years, Ohio State's Chief Wellness Officer Bernadette Melnyk, PhD, RN, CPNP/PMHNP, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN, along with the Buckeye Wellness and Your Plan for Health teams, escalated change, created the One University Health and Wellness Council and expanded data collection and communication initiatives across the university. Additionally, Ohio State has increased its activism and role as a convener within the employer and university spaces through its leadership and involvement in nationally recognized consortiums, including the National Consortium for Building Healthy Academic Communities (BHAC).
“I am continually impressed with [Ohio State's] commitment to and evolution of health and well-being. Not only are they HealthLead Workplace-accredited; but they are also HealthLead Academic Community-accredited, meaning that they focus on and create a culture that emphasizes and values the health and well-being of both their employee and student populations, ” said Nick Baird, MD, CEO of US Healthiest. “What stuck out to me the most was four years ago, they stated their goal of being the healthiest university on the globe; and they remain focused on that goal and continue to take action in making it happen!”
Silver-level accreditation represents an integrated and comprehensive approach to employee health and well-being, while demonstrating positive outcomes that positively affect the organization’s bottom line.
“The HealthLead Accreditation process has been extremely beneficial as we strive to achieve our vision of becoming the healthiest university in the world,” said Melnyk. “Through the accreditation process, we receive important feedback on our strengths as well as areas needing improvement with helpful strategies for strengthening our approach in building a culture and environment that makes healthy lifestyle behaviors the social norm.”
The Ohio State University, along with 18 other public, private, governmental and academic organizations that are HealthLead Workplace accredited, represents employers who have invested in developing and sustaining an integrated, comprehensive approach to employee health and well-being aligned with their respective business strategy. Nationwide Insurance, Target, CDC and HealthPartners are among other employers representing various sizes and industries that are HealthLead accredited. To maintain accreditation status, organizations go through reaccreditation every three years.
About HealthLead™
In 2012, US Healthiest created the HealthLead Accreditation Program to recognize public and private sector organizations that demonstrate best practices in employee or academic community health management and well-being. HealthLead is designed to set the standard for workplace and campus health management by expanding the definition and breadth of health to include integrated well-being information and support services, individual/group engagement strategies and leadership in community health issues.
About The Ohio State University College of Nursing
The Ohio State University College of Nursing is the world’s preeminent college known for accomplishing what is considered impossible through its transformational leadership and innovation in nursing and health, evidence-based practice and unsurpassed wellness. As part of the largest health sciences campus in the United States, the College of Nursing offers seven innovative academic programs. The college’s graduate nursing programs are among the top five percent in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report, while its online graduate program is ranked 6th and its RN to BSN program is ranked 8th as part of Ohio State’s ranking for online bachelor’s degree programs. Annual college enrollment is approximately 1,950 students. The college celebrated its centennial in 2014.
