As the hospital prepares for its opening, Baylor Medical Center at McKinney is collaborating with the City of McKinney, the McKinney Independent School District and other non-profit organizations to improve the community’s health through the McKinney Health Challenge.
The McKinney Health Challenge is a major event supporting the city’s goal to become the most fit community in the country. A community-wide effort, the challenge is taking place over a two-month period and features eight events, from Relay for Life on April 27 through Baylor McKinney’s Open House on June 30.
“Our focus at Baylor McKinney is to take this healthy community and make it even healthier, and we are so pleased to work together with other community organizations to work towards this goal,” said Scott Peek, FACHE, president, Baylor McKinney. “We’re bringing additional resources to the community, such as advanced imaging services and health screenings, which will promote prevention and wellness.”
The idea for a community-wide health challenge has its roots in last year’s Mayor’s Get Fit Month.
“The McKinney Health Challenge is an evolution of the 2011 Get Fit program,” said McKinney Mayor Brian Loughmiller. “Once organizations such as Baylor McKinney and the school district became involved, we were able to really grow this into a major event for the city.”
The McKinney Independent School District hopes that its participation in the challenge will help address and bring attention to the problem of childhood obesity. “We have a serious childhood obesity problem in this country, and we need our students to understand the role that nutrition and exercise play in health and wellness,” said Dr. J.D. Kennedy, superintendent of schools for the McKinney Independent School District.
Take the Challenge
Baylor McKinney will be participating in all eight Health Challenge events, providing health information and serving as a check-in point for a chance for residents to win an iPad. Health Challenge events include:
April 27 – Relay for Life (American Cancer Society)
May 4 – Get Fit McKinney (City of McKinney, McKinney ISD)
May 5 – Historic McKinney Kiwanis Kids Triathlon (Kiwanis)
May 6 – Historic McKinney Kiwanis Triathlon (Kiwanis)
May 25 – Bike the Bricks (Main Street McKinney)
June 9 – Collin Classic (cycling event)
June 23 – Heart Chase (American Heart Association)
June 30 – Baylor McKinney Community Open House
Baylor McKinney opens July 6, 2012
The McKinney Health Challenge ends June 30 with a Community Open House at Baylor McKinney, which will feature a 5K and 1 mile fun run along with other health screenings, cooking presentations and exercise demonstrations. The hospital will open July 6, 2012.
“The opening of Baylor McKinney strengthens our city’s reputation for providing quality health care,” said Mayor Loughmiller. “Plus, we’ve already seen the hospital’s culture of getting involved in the community which will ultimately benefit all of our residents.”
Superintendent Kennedy agrees. “I believe that Baylor McKinney will be a big supporter of the community and the school district, and I look forward to working with them on improving health in McKinney,” he said.
About Baylor Scott & White Health
As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White is empowering customers to live well by reimagining traditional healthcare — creating more convenient, personalized and informed experiences. It serves more than three million customers through 53 hospitals, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple; the Baylor Scott & White Research Institute; 1,300+ access points; 59,000+ team members; and its leading digital platform — MyBSWHealth. The system's award-winning employer solutions include Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and Levanto — a company offering digitally enabled health products. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White's mission is to promote the health and well-being of all individuals, families and communities. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com
