Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) applauds Lutheran Medical Center in Wheat Ridge and St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood for their involvement in the Colorado Healthy Hospital Compact. Compact members agree to promote healthy food and beverage options in cafeterias, vending machines, and patient menus, and/or support new moms with breastfeeding.
The Colorado Healthy Hospital Compact is an excellent example of how Jefferson County systems are working together to create healthier people in healthier places. JCPH’s executive director, Dr. Mark B. Johnson said, “Lutheran Medical Center and St. Anthony Hospital continue to demonstrate their commitment to the health and wellbeing of their staff and patients by encouraging healthy food and beverage consumption. We are happy to be able to partner with both hospitals in building a healthier Jefferson County.”
Both hospitals chose to reduce sugar-sweetened beverages to provide a healthier environment for patients and their families, staff and visitors. Joining the Compact allows the hospitals to work with state and local health departments and other Colorado hospitals to implement the best practices in hospital nutrition and breastfeeding support.
While Colorado is the leanest state in the nation, one in five Colorado adults and one in seven Colorado children are obese. Obesity puts people at risk for diabetes, heart disease, cancer and other diseases. Coloradans spend more than $1 billion each year on obesity-related health care. Public health professionals point out that hospitals can play a critical role in reducing obesity by working with the health department and other hospitals in the compact to develop best practices in hospital nutrition and breastfeeding. Jefferson County’s Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) and accompanying comprehensive community health assessment completed in 2013 identified physical inactivity, poor diet and psychosocial stressors as the highest priority areas to address in the county. JCPH continues to encourage multi-sector partnerships to promote health and wellness and remove barriers to healthy living.
- For more information or to join other professionals and engaged residents working on access to healthy food and physical activity, please contact Molly Hanson, JCPH policy analyst at mhanson@jeffco.us. Information about Jefferson County is also available on Healthy People Healthy Places Jefferson County, a collaboration of health partners, individuals and organizations in the county committed to implementing the CHIP.
- For more information on the Colorado Hospital Compact, contact Susan Motika at CDPHE or go to www.colorado.gov/cdphe/healthy-hospital-compact.
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