‘Walk with your doc’ for solidarity—and fitness

Medical center staff thrives in half-hour weekly exercise routines

MONDAY, AUGUST 29, 2011 :: By Laureen Lazarovici

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Physician co-lead(s)

Sean Hashmi, Shahid.X.Hashmi@kp.org

Sean Hashmi, MD, (front and center) leads Woodland Hills employees, managers--and patients--in walks with the doc.

Sean Hashmi, MD, and a couple dozen employees and managers at Woodland Hills Medical Center often attract curious stares as patients and families approach the entrance every Tuesday morning.

And no wonder. Patients don’t expect to see their health care providers doing push-ups, running an obstacle course or doing lunges on hospital grounds.

Dr. Hashmi leads a weekly “walk with your doc” to boost employee health and build team cohesion at the same time. A nephrologist and former personal trainer, Dr. Hashmi kicks off the half-hour exercise blitz with quick tips on health and nutrition before running the group—which sometimes includes patients and even the hospital chaplain—through the heart-rate raising, large-muscle-group-targeting workout.

Make it fun

The key to good health, says Dr. Hashmi, is regular exercise that incorporates social interaction. “You have to make exercise fun,” he says. “If you create an exercise program that provides a social outlet where people can have fun and keep in shape, they’re more likely to stick with it.”

The social aspect of the program helps build team cohesion, which is a prerequisite for high-performing unit-based teams, says Lynne M. Agocs-Scott, the department administrator for inpatient dialysis. “It’s the camaraderie and the opportunity to get to know people from other departments, knowing labor and management, and all of that in a fun way,” she says.

Moreover, it is good for employees and their managers to exercise together in an informal setting. “We’re all letting our hair down,” says Agocs-Scott. “We have made this part of our culture.” She builds exercise time into their Tuesday routine, scheduling the department’s early morning cases slightly later so staff can get together without interruption to patient care.

“You feel fresh and rejuvenated, like you have more energy,” adds Annie Joseph, RN, the department’s labor co-lead and a member of UNAC/UHCP.  

Other Southern California medical centers, including Los Angeles Medical Center, Downey, and San Diego have launched their own “walk with your doc” campaigns. If Annie Joseph had her way, she’d be able to walk with her doc every morning. “I wish it would expand to more days and times,” she says.  

Make it big: Thrive across America

She and others across Kaiser Permanente soon will have just such an opportunity. Thrive Across America—KP’s physical activity program that encourages employees to team up, support one another’s fitness goals and have fun—kicks off September 19. The eight-week program provides friendly competition and recognition for participants. People can join individually or in teams, and advance along an online trail by logging up to 60 minutes a day of any physical activity. Learn more and register today for Thrive Across America.

See a video of “Walk with a doc."