How Kailo Promotes Wellness |
Kailo. A city in Africa? A river in Germany?
Kailo (rhymes with silo) is actually the name of an innovative program at the Mercy Medical Center in Mason City, Iowa.
Kelly Putnam, coordinator of the program said it was in 1996 that the hospital formed a task force to address the health needs of their employees. A survey revealed four major concerns that employees had about a wellness program.
 Employees wanted more than a traditional wellness program. They wanted the program to speak to the psycho-social health issues as well as the regular fitness topics.
Employees needed to be valued not just for their work, but for whom they are.
Employees experienced more stress in the workplace due to major changes in the health industry. (Medical technology is more advanced, hospital stays are shorter, patients that stay are very ill.
The major barrier to participation in a program was time. It would have to be on paid time.
The task force took this information and developed the Kailo program. Kailo, an Indo-Euro word, means, "to be whole or to be a good omen."
"We decided to work the program around those issues that cause stress," explained Putnam. "Most negative health behaviors are ways that people deal with stress. We want to help our employees with those problems." Self-esteem, depression and body image are some examples.
The Kailo program has several facets:
Kailo Breaks: Monthly wellness activities scheduled during work hours. Lunch is provided.
Health Club Cash Rebates: These are given to employees who join a health club in their community.
Free Health Screenings: Such as cholesterol, blood pressure, body composition.
Kailo Coaching: This is access to health professionals who can support employees involved in the wellness program.
Putnam said you can’t wait for employees to come to you. "You need to think of unique ways to reach employees."
Apparently, employees at Mercy like the program. The hospital reported 87% enrollment in the program. Half of the participants are active in the program on an ongoing basis.
Deb Winter, a transcriptionist in the Medical Records department at Mercy, said: "Kailo puts an emphasis on being able to have some fun at work, not having to be so serious all the time."
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