Local people have been coming to Glens Falls Hospital for more than 100 years. But increasingly, Glens Falls Hospital is bringing its services to you, at your workplace, in the schools and around your local community.

It’s all part of your Hospital's commitment to keeping local people healthier and reducing the overall cost of health care in our region. And there's no better example than the work being done by the Warren-Washington Counties Healthy Heart Coalition.

Now in its second year of work, the Coalition is made up of a diverse mix of health care professionals, business people, educators, physical fitness experts and public officials joining together with a common goal — to improve the cardiovascular health of local people. The Coalition is coordinated by Glens Falls Hospital and the Warren and Washington Counties public health offices, with help from a $225,000 grant from the New York State Department of Health.

Among the Coalition's projects is the "Lets Get Physical Challenge," an eight-week program now taking place in cooperation with 10 regional employers: Telescope Casual Furniture, General Electric-Fort Edward, Bell Atlantic, International Paper-Corinth, Washington County, Warren County, both the Warren and Washington Counties Head Start programs and Glens Falls Hospital itself.

Employees at each of these businesses or organizations are encouraged to take part in a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate physical activity three times each week, as well as to keep track of their healthy eating habits during that time. Health and nutrition educational materials are also being made available to the employees throughout the program.

People today are working longer hours than ever before, and finding it more and more difficult to fit regular physical fitness and good nutrition into their lives. The Healthy Heart Coalition and these 10 health-conscious employers are making sure healthy hearts and healthy living are part of the daily work day. I hope you will too.

Best of Health,
David G. Kruczlnicki

For more information on the Healthy Heart Coalition, please call Michelle Burke at 761-2310.