Hospitals in Action >> Case Examples

HAYS MEDICAL CENTER, KS
"Steppin Out" - The National Walking Challenge - 70,000 steps in 7 days

What is it? 
Hays Medical Center-The center for Health Improvement joined the Medical Fitness Association (MFA) last year and has plans to do the same this year as they sponsor their Annual Medical Fitness Week every year in April.  The goal of this MFA initiative is to promote an increase in physical activity levels in all ages and to highlight the medical fitness difference.  During this international event, medical fitness centers and communities are asked to offer programming that focuses on teaching families the skills they need to develop healthy lifestyle habits.  In addition, all participating organizations are asked to raise money through participation in the Walking Challenge, "70,000 Steps in 7 Days".  Centers are asked to donate all monies raised to local programs and scholarship funds in the fight against obesity or other health related issues.  Currently, medical fitness facilities provide health and wellness programs to over three million people. 

The Walking Challenge encourages local communities to get up and move by striving for 70,000 steps in seven days.  The challenge involves wearing a pedometer and tracking how many steps a day a person is achieving.  The community who achieves the most steps in the seven days will receive national recognition through press releases, the MFA website and 2007 Annual Conference in Orlando.  Hays Medical Center-The Center for Health Improvement was a 2006 National Walking Challenge winner.

Who is it for? 
The program is for Hays and surrounding communities, including the local schools.  In our first year, Hays Medical Center-The Center for Health Improvement had 1,277 participants and completed 63,868,910 steps. 

Why do they do it? 
The obesity epidemic continues to grow: 64%.
Americans are overweight and obese.  Less than 20%-30% of the population engages in recommended levels of physical activity.  Focusing efforts on changing negative lifestyle habits of parents and their children is today's challenge.  Medical fitness centers are in key positions to impact the healthcare of their communities and to partner with the medical community in creating models for success. 

Contact:  Kelly Flaska
Aquatics/Fitness Coordinator
785-623-6338
kflaska@haysmed.com

Stephanie Schaffer
Fitness Manager
785-623-6340
sschaffer@haysmed.com