News & Events

Day Kimball Hospital Wellness Department Helps to Develop Employee Wellness Program at Foster Corporation


Foster Corporation in Putnam has worked with Day Kimball Hospital to develop “The Biggest Loser Weight Loss Challenge,” an employee wellness initiative. Some “Biggest Loser” participants include: Carolyn Prunier, Steve Waterman, Janet Gendron, Nancy Mercier, Halina Spath, and Pat Faucher

PUTNAM, CT – As a community hospital, one of Day Kimball’s responsibilities it to provide wellness support services to the local area. These services may include education, awareness campaigns, risk assessments and challenge facilitation. Recently, Foster Corporation in Putnam visited Whitcraft, LLC in Eastford and was impressed with their fully integrated wellness program, developed by Day Kimball Hospital. Following the visit, Foster Corporation’s health team decided to embark on a challenge of its own, “The Biggest Loser Weight Loss Challenge.”

Of Foster’s 45 employees, 27 registered to form nine, three-person teams. These teams have committed themselves to this three-month Biggest Loser challenge. The teams were chosen randomly in order to create a fair competition. The winning team will lose the most percentage of body fat, and each member will be awarded $100.

“Even though only one team will be given monetary awards, all of the teams are winners because they’re working towards better health,” said Elaine Turner, RN, Day Kimball Hospital community education specialist. “A modest amount of weight loss, as little as 10 or 20 pounds can have a significant impact on promoting health and preventing disease. An added benefit of employer wellness programs is that work and home cultures begin to change in support of healthier behaviors.”

Turner visits Foster Corporation on a monthly basis, working with the health team to continuously provide guidance and resources. The nine teams weigh-in at their individual convenience due to shift differences. Teams check-in with each other, share recipes and provide a source of encouragement for each other.
“The Biggest Loser Weight Loss Challenge has been wonderful for our employees,” said Carolyn Prunier, assistant to the CEO and member of Foster Corporation’s health team. “Our employees have been receptive to the initiative. They’ve also come up with creative names for their teams. Since the challenge began on January 8, one of the teams named themselves, ‘Happy New Rears.’ The Happy New Rears have lost a combined 27 pounds, and another team has lost 24 pounds.”

Day Kimball Hospital is a non-profit, 103-bed community hospital in Putnam. Day Kimball has been in operation since 1894, and provides for the health care needs of Northeastern Connecticut, and nearby Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Day Kimball is served by more than 1,000 employees and more than 125 physicians and medical specialists.

In coordination with its affiliated health centers in Danielson, Dayville, Plainfield and Thompson, Day Kimball offers acute and general medical/surgical care, a 24-hour Emergency and Prompt Care Department, obstetrics, hematology and oncology, gynecology, pediatrics, cardiopulmonary and psychiatric programs.

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Day Kimball Hospital
320 Pomfret Street (Route 44)
Putnam, Connecticut 06260
Phone: (860) 928-6541 or (860) 774-3366
TTY: (860) 963-6422