Three Adventist Health Hospitals in Kern County Reached a Historic Blue Zones Worksite Certification

Kern County, CA – Three Adventist Health hospitals in Kern County have reached a historic milestone in a transformative well-being journey, becoming the latest Adventist Health hospitals to achieve Blue Zones Worksite™ Certification. This achievement marks a significant commitment to improving the health and happiness of employees, visitors, and patients by making measurable improvements in well-being, key HR metrics, and workplace environments. As a result of this work, Adventist Health in Kern County has reduced its overall voluntary turnover, contributed over $3 million in savings, and experienced measurable improvements in overall well-being.

Achieving this certification required strategic efforts in collaboration with national Blue Zones worksite experts to optimize workplace environments and policies. Certification standards include:

• Addressing burnout with mental health support
• Strengthening workplace connections
• Expanding healthy food access
• Developing leadership
• Encouraging work-life balance
• Enhancing the work environment
• Embedding well-being into workplace policies

By partnering with Blue Zones, each hospital has implemented lasting changes to support healthier lifestyles and reduce burnout among employees. These enhancements have led to improvements in employee engagement, well-being, and retention.

Well-Being Improvements at Bakersfield, Tehachapi Valley, and Delano Hospitals:

Adventist Health Bakersfield

• Reduced overall voluntary turnover by 8.1% over three years
• Launched a successful Purpose Workshop program with 41% employee participation
• Expanded access to healthier food options in the cafeteria and vending machines

Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley

• Improved work-life balance initiatives and implemented a No Meeting Fridays policy
• Mapped three outdoor walking paths on the expansive hospital grounds
• Launched the first Moai program for Adventist Health’s worksite certification initiative in Kern County

Adventist Health Delano

• Increased resources for nurses, contributing to a 21% improvement in nursing turnover
• Installed mission and purpose signage throughout the campus
• Developed new social connection programs, such as team-building events and a volunteering partnership with the Delano Navigation Center

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

“Blue Zones has contributed to a shift in mindfulness around well-being. It’s a philosophical shift in how we support our communities, employees, and patients; we look at it from a different lens. We are creating a culture shift by prioritizing the well-being of our people.”- Jenny Lavers, Operations Executive