Tuesday, December 23, 2014

End of the Year Coaches Report

About this time a year ago, we started the Coaches Model @ both Takoma and Laughlin. The coaches are the ones on the front lines in their respective hospitals/departments promoting health and wellness to their patients/co-workers using Creation Health principles.

They have done a fabulous job so far! Here are few things I have seen implemented along the way...

(C) Choice:




A fall tree, where employees write one healthy choice that they are going to make for 2 weeks. After the 2 weeks has passed, they report their experience.


A fall wreath, where employees do the same thing as they did for the fall tree (see above).



Encouraging thoughts and quotes, posted for employees to read.



A list of healthy choices that employees can apply to their lives, posted in the break room.


A "Take the Stairs" flier displayed, showing the benefits of taking the stairs instead of the elevator.


A choices Christmas board displaying healthy choices, with a place for employees to write out the healthy choices they are committing to implement.


Taste test set-up to discover yummy, yet healthier food options.



Creation Health feed playing in waiting rooms.

*Other ideas I saw on my rounds:

A grab bag, where employees draw out a healthy choice that they must try out for 1 week and report their experience. The next week they draw a new one.

Healthy snack options for employees, in addition to what is available in the vending machine.

A Creation Health "library" of materials (books, study guides, devotionals, etc) for employees to check out and return when they have some extra time to spend studying on their own or with their families, helping them learn to make better choices in all of the 8 areas that affect our overall health and wellness.

(R) Rest: 



A daily joke sent through email, to give employees a laugh break each day.








Rest related tips, sent to employees in an email to kick off the 6 weeks of rest or posted around the unit.

A bag of herbs for employees to place inside their pillow, to help them sleep better.


A sleep contest, where employees track sleep time and there is a winner for most sleep overall as well as most consistent sleep hours each day.


Table with information about rest, complete with stress test and raffle drawing for all who took the test.


Stress basket raffle to bring awareness to the reality of stress, filled with products intended to reduce stress and promote rest.

*Other ideas seen on my rounds:

1 minute massages and "fresh air" breaks. Candles for stress relief.


(E) Environment: 


A "pot your own plant" seminar to "make and take" a live, potted plant to put in their home or office, which helps remove toxins from the air.


Group nature hikes on the new Creation Health Nature Trail and walks on the Laughlin Walking Trail, to encourage getting out in the fresh air on work breaks.


An informational board with facts about how the environment affects our health, as well as a cute little puppy to hold because the unconditional love we get from animals soothes and heals the mind and body, as well as has a positive effect on lowering blood pressure reactivity.

*Other ideas seen on my rounds: 

De-cluttering the break room.

(A) Activity:







Bulletin boards in highly visible/trafficked areas with reminders, tips for getting both physical and mental activity into your day.


Movement workshop to learn fun, dance moves, an easy way to incorporate more activity/steps into their daily lives.


Activity table displaying easy ways to keep your mind and body active.

*Steps Contest (see example below)

Hello Everyone!

The next Creation Health principle that we will be focusing on is ACTIVITY.  The project that we will be doing for Activity will be a STEPS CONTEST!  The contest will run from February 14th – February 28th and will include everyone on 2nd floor.  If you know of someone that is not included in this email on 2nd floor, please share this with them and let me know. 

Here is what you will need to do…..

*Purchase a pedometer (see below on pricing and locations for pedometers).
*Each day log the number of steps that you’ve taken for that day (see attachment for a log sheet).
*Turn in your log sheets with your name on them-the steps that you turn in are only from 2/14-2/28.  All log sheets must be turned in by Tuesday, MARCH 4th.   You can turn them in by email, inter-office mail, or slide under my office door (2nd floor-Diabetes Education).   

ANYONE WHO COMPLETES AT LEAST 50,000 STEPS DURING THE CONTEST TIME FRAME WILL BE ENTERED TO WIN A BRAND NEW FITBIT FLEX!!!
FITBIT FLEX IS A $100 VALUE.  HERE SOME OF FEATURES….
    • Tracks steps, distance, calories burned, and active minutes
    • Monitors how long and how well you sleep
    • Wakes you (not your partner) with a silent wake alarm
    • LED lights show how your day is stacking up against your goal
    • Easy-to-wear, slim, comfortable wristband
    • Wirelessly syncs to your Mac, iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPad (3rd or 4th Gen.) and iPod touch (5th Gen.)
    • Set goals, view progress, and earn badges
    • Share and compete with friends throughout the day
    • Free Fitbit iPhone app
    • Waterproof so you can wear it in the shower
WE WILL DRAW FOR THE GRAND PRIZE ON THURSDAY, MARCH 6TH  (YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE PRESENT TO WIN).  WE WILL BE SENDING OUT MORE INFORMATION ON LOCATION AND TIME OF THE DRAWING.

We want to see everyone from the 2nd floor participate in this fun event!

Please see the attachment for some guidelines on goals for your steps each day and how to achieve them.  The 2ndattachment is a sheet that you can print off and log your daily steps.

Locations and prices for pedometers:

Wal-Mart:  $4.97 (sporting goods dept.)
Walgreens:  $19.99
CVS:  $9.99 (thru Saturday), $19.99 after Saturday
Hibbett’s:  $15.00
Kmart:  $9.99

**I have listed the least expensive price for each store, prices go up from there depending on additional features.

Please remember this is a fun contest to encourage friendly competition and for everyone to ENJOY being active.  If you have any questions, please let me or Joanie know.


A few words of encouragement….

“Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person’s physical, emotional, and mental states.” 
~Carol Welch

Dear friend, I pray that all goes well for you.  I hope you are as strong in body, as I know you are in spirit.”
~Apostle John

Congratulations to Brenda for winning the Takoma 2nd Floor Steps Contest!!


(T) Trust:


A Thanksgiving board for employees to write down things they are thankful for, as they reflect on all that God has done in their lives.


Trust booth where scripture cards are passed out, along with other facts showing how our relationship with God affects our health.



A prayer tree where employees write prayer requests on the leaves and tape them to the tree, so others can include them in their daily prayers.



Blessings board where employees can "count their blessings."

*Other ideas seen on my rounds:

Scriptures hung around the unit for employees to meditate on during their day, or placed in a basket for employees to grab and take with them to focus on and/or memorize while they walk.

(I) Interpersonal Relationships:



Blank cards and pens, set out so that employees can write notes of encouragement to their co-workers.


A pumpkin full of challenges for employees to take and apply to their relationships, in order to strengthen and improve them.



A "Get to Know You" board with employees' pictures and fun facts about them, followed by a quiz to see who knows their co-workers best.


Interpersonal relationships booth containing facts about the importance of a strong social support system related to health.

(0) Outlook:




A "Happiness" jar filled with positives thoughts, quotes and scriptures set out for employees to take and read.


An Outlook board filled with positives thoughts, quotes and information about outlook, placed in a high traffic area for employees to see.


Table filled with games that show how our outlook affects the way we see things.

*Other ideas seen on my rounds:

A mirror with positive words written on it, such as "leader, friendly, smile, funny," placed next to a board that said "look in the mirror and find your outlook."

(N) Nutrition:



A basket of apples set out in the lobby. Employees are encouraged to take and eat 1 each day, as a way of helping them choose to add something "good" to their diet, instead of beating themselves up over the "bad." Over time, as they add more "good" choices they will eventually crowd out the "bad" choices.



Label-reading seminar, to learn how to read food labels, encouraging making more nutritious food intake choices.



Healthy holiday party with yummy, healthy treats and the recipes to take and implement at holiday parties.

*Healthy Recipes Cookbook (see example below)

We will continue to focus on Nutrition for CREATION Health thru April 11th. 
We are asking each of you to send an email including your favorite healthy recipe to Joanie.Scott@ahss.org. by Monday, April 7th.
The recipes will be compiled into a cookbook and distributed to those that participated.
Suggestions on modifying recipes to make them healthier are provided on a handout in the cafeteria for pick up by the cashier.
Send your best, healthy recipe now by e-mail!
You are what you eat!  Eat more fruits and vegetables.  The goal is at least 2 fruits and 3 vegetables.  5 a day! :)

When you eat or drink or do anything else, always do it to honor God.    1 Corinthians 10:31

*Water Drinking Competition and Salad Party (see example below)

We are competing in a water drinking competition on 3 West. This is our last week and then we are going to have a salad/healthy food day where everyone brings in a healthy choice to add to a salad. They will also bring in healthy snacks to munch on throughout the day.



What other ideas do you have, have you done or have you seen? Feel free to implement these ideas where you are and if you need help creating the "coaches model" in your organization, I would love to help you get started! 

About the Author: Erin Franklin is the Creation Health Coordinator for Greene County, the Head Volleyball Coach at Greeneville High School and the Founder/Director at Worthy of the Prize Sports Ministries. Erin has a BBA in Marketing and Management from TCU and a Masters of Christian Education in Church Recreation from Southwestern Seminary. She is a published, award-winning author and poet. Purchase her book Worthy of the Prize Sports Camps: A Church's Guide to Implementing an Effective, Community-Reaching Christian Sports Camp to be used as an outreach tool for your church or mission organization, and her ebook find joy in the journey: how 12 women could face tomorrow just because He lives for inspiring stories of women who found overwhelming joy despite their circumstances. Erin is the wife of Aaron, the Minister of Music & Senior Adults at FBC Greeneville, and the momma of 2 sons, Anderson and EJ. Click here for full bio.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Wrapping Up 2014

Today, my main focus is wrapping up the year 2014. It is my kiddos' last day of school and I plan on enjoying Christmas vacation with them, which means this is my last official workday of 2014, not that I won't do any other work from home over the next few weeks, just nothing major. All Creation Health events for the year are over, all that remains is a little planning and preparation for 2015.

That being said, I need to fill you in on what I have been up to the last several weeks!


In early November, I had the privilege of speaking at the Diabetes Dinner @ Friendship Baptist Church. We enjoyed a delicious catered meal from Ella's Catering (seriously, highly recommend) and then I gave an overview of the Creation Health material as it relates specifically to diabetes.


Before Thanksgiving, I hosted a Coaches Appreciation Breakfast at both Laughlin and Takoma, to thank my coaches for everything they do for Creation Health at their respective hospitals. We gave each coach a complimentary breakfast in the cafe as well as a small gift. It was a joy for me to have the opportunity to spend some time catching up with each coach and to wish them a happy holiday season!

At Takoma's breakfast, we were able to take part in the Thanksgiving Board that Janie, one of my fabulous coaches, created so that all employees could write down things they are thankful for as they reflect on all that God has done in their lives.


Last week, I set-up a table at the Takoma Diabetes Fair for the 2nd year in a row.


This event is not only a great time to share Creation Health with the community, but to learn and share with colleagues as well. I always find new healthy recipes, hear about great programs and learn new health ideas/tips from the other vendors.

This week I was so excited to set-up our brand new CH pop-up banners @ the General Morgan Inn for the Takoma/Laughlin joint physician's dinner. We lined the hallway so that as guests arrived, they would see each of the 8 banners in order as they made their way down the hall to the banquet room.


Here are a few more pictures from the event. The decorations were so pretty, I just have to share!


Looking back, it has been another great year for Creation Health and I am excited for all that is in store in 2015! If you need a speaker or vendor for your upcoming event, be sure contact us ASAP...as always our calendar is filling up fast!

Hope you and your loved ones have a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!

About the Author: Erin Franklin is the Creation Health Coordinator for Greene County, the Head Volleyball Coach at Greeneville High School and the Founder/Director at Worthy of the Prize Sports Ministries. Erin has a BBA in Marketing and Management from TCU and a Masters of Christian Education in Church Recreation from Southwestern Seminary. She is a published, award-winning author and poet. Purchase her book Worthy of the Prize Sports Camps: A Church's Guide to Implementing an Effective, Community-Reaching Christian Sports Camp to be used as an outreach tool for your church or mission organization, and her ebook find joy in the journey: how 12 women could face tomorrow just because He lives for inspiring stories of women who found overwhelming joy despite their circumstances. Erin is the wife of Aaron, the Minister of Music & Senior Adults at FBC Greeneville, and the momma of 2 sons, Anderson and EJ. Click here for full bio.