Altru Health System First in North Dakota to Earn Certified Blue Zones Worksite Status

(Altru image)

(KNOX) – Altru Health System is celebrating a major achievement in its multi-year effort to enhance employee well-being, becoming the first organization in North Dakota to earn Certified Blue Zones Worksite status.

Through evidence based improvements to workplace policies, environments, and culture, Altru has made healthy choices more accessible for associates, visitors, and patients alike. This commitment has led to measurable gains, including reduced first-year turnover, lower tobacco waiver utilization, and improvements across physical, social, and purpose well-being indicators.

These organization-level improvements in employee well-being contributed to a 26.4% reduction in healthcare costs. These improvements come at a time in the nation when burnout and stress in health care are at detrimental highs.

Blue Zones is the nationally recognized leader in well-being transformation, and its Worksite Certification model draws upon 20 years of experience in community and longevity science to empower organizations to cultivate thriving work environments. In Grand Forks, the in-depth, multi-year commitment integrated the Blue Zones approach into Altru’s culture, aligning people, spaces, and policies to foster lasting change.