Methodist Mansfield Medical Center Offers Heart Health Challenge for Entire Mansfield ISD Staff

MANSFIELD, Texas, Jan. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Methodist Mansfield Medical Center will offer a heart health challenge to every staff member of the Mansfield Independent School District to promote the importance of heart health. By helping principals and school personnel learn ways they can lower their risk for heart disease and stroke, Methodist Mansfield is helping create a heart healthy environment for the community.

"Methodist Mansfield Medical Center is joining forces with Mansfield ISD to promote heart health – and help lower heart disease, the leading cause of death for Americans," says John Phillips, president of Methodist Mansfield. "By offering the Heart Health Challenge we hope to increase heart healthy behaviors, encourage healthy heart role models in our community, enhance employee morale, and continue to promote positive community activities."

Heart healthy schools create an environment where students can become fit, heart healthy, and ready to learn. A heart health conscious atmosphere helps students achieve their full academic potential and supports them in developing lifelong healthy behaviors. Methodist Mansfield recognizes that what happens in the classroom, gymnasium, cafeteria, at school events, at home, and in the community are interrelated and can reinforce heart healthy lifestyles and wellness.

"I want our employees to know we value their heart health and wellness," says Dr. Bob Morrison, MISD superintendent of schools. "If our staff identifies even small ways to improve their heart health, we'll have accomplished something positive. We hope this challenge becomes a catalyst to promote district wellness, improve workforce productivity, and reduce the costs of employee absenteeism and health care."

The Heart Health Challenge is designed for campus administrators to voluntarily challenge themselves to a free and simple-to-follow 12-week heart fitness and wellness program. The goal is to encourage participants to take the first steps toward living a healthier heart lifestyle by increasing physical activity and improving nutrition. MISD staff members are invited to participate through championing their administrator and even taking on the challenges themselves.

"We hope to have the school district staff understand what lifestyle changes they can make to improve their heart health," says Darin Charles, MD, an independently practicing physician on staff at Methodist Mansfield and a Mansfield High School graduate. "From heart health tips to treating heart disease, we feel it's important to share our resources to help improve the health of the people in our community."

To learn more about the Heart Health Challenge at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center visit http://www.methodisthealthsystem.org/HeartHealthChallenge

Guided by the founding principles of life, learning, and compassion, Methodist Health System (Methodist) provides quality, integrated care to improve and save the lives of individuals and families throughout North Texas. Methodist Dallas Medical Center, Methodist Charlton Medical Center, Methodist Mansfield Medical Center, Methodist Richardson Medical Center, Methodist Midlothian Health Center, and Methodist Family Health Centers are part of the nonprofit Methodist Health System, which is affiliated by covenant with the North Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church. Additional information is available at www.methodisthealthsystem.org. Connect with us through Facebook, YouTube and Twitter at www.methodisthealthsystem.org/socialmedia.

Texas law prohibits hospitals from practicing medicine. The physicians on the Methodist Health System medical staff and MedHealth are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Methodist Health System.

SOURCE Methodist Health System