LaGrange, IN. Rob Myers, COO of Parkview LaGrange Hospital, joined Randy Zimmerly, superintendent of Westview School Corporation, and approximately 55 sixth grade students for a walk around the school’s outdoor track earlier this week. The students are members of the school’s Fitness4Life Walking Club, created several years ago by Westview physical education teacher, Michael Grieser, to help foster healthy activity as a means of combatting childhood obesity.
“The club is open to fifth and sixth graders,” said Zimmerly as he and Myers walked with the students. “The students give up one of their 15-minute recess periods a day to walking. If they walk at least 15 days a month for 5 of the 6 months of the school year, they get to go on a field trip to the Roman Gingerich Recreation-Fitness Center at Goshen College in May.”
Parkview LaGrange Hospital has pledged $1,000 in support of the Fitness4Life Walking Club’s activities. The money comes from the hospital’s tithing program which supports local initiatives that help improve the health of the community.
“We really appreciate Parkview LaGrange’s support,” said Grieser. “The field trip gives the students the opportunity to spend a morning using all of the equipment and resources available at the recreation center. They have a great time and it builds on the momentum created by the club.”
“This is right up our alley,” said Myers. “It’s very rewarding to support a program for kids designed to encourage healthy activity. It sets a great foundation for them to continue a healthy lifestyle into adulthood. And it’s fun! I wish I could have spent the rest of the afternoon walking with them!”
Parkview LaGrange Hospital is a not-for-profit community hospital that provides acute care services to the people of LaGrange County and surrounding communities. In July of 2008, Parkview LaGrange opened its new hospital facility. In addition to the full range of general acute care services offered by Parkview LaGrange, an electronic intensive care unit (eICU) and the eICU robotic technology that is a hallmark of all Parkview Health hospitals has brought another, higher level of care to the people of LaGrange County. Current services include EMS and emergency care; ambulatory and inpatient surgery; endoscopy; medical-surgical care, a swing bed program and maternity. Ancillary and outpatient services offered include a full service laboratory; advanced diagnostic imaging including a CT and MRI; rehabilitation therapy; a sleep lab; and physician specialty clinics (including cardiology, gynecology, oncology, orthopaedics and general surgery). Parkview LaGrange is a member of Parkview Health, a family of hospitals and healthcare services covering a 15 county region in northeastern Indiana and western Ohio. With more than 200 employees, Parkview LaGrange Hospital's mission is to provide trusted quality care and to improve the health of the communities it serves.