Recess: A Playground Hit
Nearly 700 attendees showed up in workout gear to Fresno State’s Save Mart Center ready to play and challenge their fellow colleagues at Community Medical Centers’ Recess ’08 event.
“[We’re] encouraging people to go out and have fun, trying to give them a nice release where they can go out, play with their friends, play with their coworkers, feel like a kid again and just have a good time away from work,” said Rex Wilcox, manager of C-Fit Community Wellness Program.
Thirteen events including marbles, jacks, dodgeball, volleyball, basketball and hula hoop were part of the evening event on June 20.
“It’s just a fun chance to recognize the employees, a chance to recognize their importance and value to the organization and that we really do care about them – the most important thing at Community Medical Centers,” said Tim Joslin, CEO of Community Medical Centers.
Joslin challenged other fellow administrators and watched them go head to head. “I think it’s a great event for people, a chance to come out and test their athletic skills but just have a lot of fun. A lot of camaraderie goes into it, a lot of bonding,” Joslin said.
C-Fit’s aim is to improve the lives of employees as well as the morale, health and even the financial situation of central California’s largest hospital network. Community spends about $25 million on health care benefits annually. C-Fit Director Jack Lazzarini said C-Fit will save Community money in the long run that could go directly back to employees.
Raffle prizes for the night included items such as Nintendo Wii systems, stress relief and yoga packages.
Lupe Palacios, a patient representative in admitting at Community Regional Medical Center, won one of the Wii game packages and got a second-place medal with her volleyball team. "I had a good night," she said with a grin.
Mary Huffman, an interpreter and secretary at Clovis Community Medical Center, was the hula hoop champ. Huffman beat out lots of younger competition by keeping her hoop spinning with easy swivels around her hips as she jumped with both feet and kept two hoops circling at once.
Cynthia Cervantes, chief nursing officer at Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital said, “This is a lot of fun! I haven’t played hopscotch in years. The little boxes look so tiny. My foot barely fit in there.”
This story was reported by MedWatch Today staff. The staff can be reached at MedWatchToday@communitymedical.org.