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Jennifer Jackson and Kenny Thompson of Mercy Hospital accept an award for being Certified Healthy. (Photo provided by Taylor J. Shelton, Kingfisher County Health Department)
WATONGA — Watonga’s Mercy Hospital was recently Certified Healthy for 2021. The Certified Healthy Oklahoma Program “is a free, voluntary statewide certification,” according to certifiedhealthyok.com. “The certification showcases businesses, campuses, communities, congregations, early childhood programs, restaurants, and schools that are committed to supporting healthy choices through environmental and policy change.”
Here in Blaine County, Okeene Public Schools was also Certified Healthy.
According to Taylor Shelton of the Kingfisher County Health Department, Certified Healthy workplaces “must rach a certain percentage of the 241 scoring criteria” to reach the “excellence” category, “including things such as smoking and tobacco policies, workplace wellness, and health benefits.”
“So it is a huge accomplishment for both of them!” she said in an email.
Certified Healthy winners will be invited to a special awards event. “Most importantly,” the program says, “Certified Healthy Oklahoma gives recipients a sense of pride in their passion for improving not only individual health, but Oklahoma’s future for generations to come.”