IAFF Local | Metropolitan Dade County Association of Fire Fighters, IAFF Local 1403 |
District | 12 |
Department | Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department |
Members | 2,600 All Career |
Contact Information | Denise Paganacci [email protected] Brandy Paternoster [email protected] |
Approach
The preliminary work on the wellness center concept began in 2001 as key personnel from Metro-Dade County Fire and Rescue (MDFR), Metro-Dade Local 1403 and the Metro-Dade Fire Fighter’s Health Project participated on Task Force and Technical subcommittees of the Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness Fitness Initiative. The charge of these committees was to devise a comprehensive wellness and fitness program that could be implemented, in a cost-effective fashion, within fire-rescue departments of various sizes and diverse financial means. After great effort, these various committees devised a program that is 1) cost effective, 2) will prevent disease and disability and 3) will improve employee morale.
The MDFR Wellness Center began operations in 2003 under the auspice of the Local 1403 to provide comprehensive health and wellness initiatives to its fire fighters. The Center has transitioned from the sole auspice of Local 1403 to a joint partnership between the Metro-Dade Fire and Rescue Department and Local 1403. The MDFR Wellness Center is a not-for-profit corporation governed by a board of directors comprised of three Local 1403 representatives, three MDFR representatives and the Miami-Dade County Director of GSA Risk Management.
The MDFR Wellness Center provides these broad service components: 1) Medical, by administering pre-employment physicals to all fire fighter applicants and annual physicals to incumbent fire fighters and serving as a primary care center for fire fighters and their dependents; 2) Rehabilitation serving as a Worker’s Compensation Center while providing physical therapy services; and 3) providing wellness efforts through fitness and nutritional outreach efforts.
The MDFR determined that the best approach to promote to their members the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and the need to stay fit was to go out to the stations and offer assistance from the wellness coordinators. It found promoting fitness directly to members is the best way to get their buy-in to the program.
Medical
Facility | MDFR Wellness Center |
Physician | Two from the University of Miami |
Additional Staff | One Physical Therapist from the University of Miami Three Medical Assistants One Exercise Physiologist One Dietitian Two Front Desk Staff Four Support Staff from Miami-Dade County |
Exam Frequency | Annual |
Exam Details | MDFR Medical Protocols |
Fitness
IAFF/IAFC PFTs | 10 |
Duties | Post daily Workout of the Day |
Exercise Time | On duty if time permits |
Exercise Program | “Get Fit” Challenge Crossfit seminar Exercise Challenges FITNESS ZONE intranet – members post monthly circuits, fitness articles, list of PFTs, upcoming fitness events, WFI information Physical Therapy program |
Equipment | Treadmills, bikes, ellipticals, weights and Smith Machine at each station |
Nutrition | Registered Dietician; Online wellness resource for nutrition and recipes provided to members |
Assessment Protocol Worksheet
Body Fat Calculator
Circuit Poster
Fitness Tips
Fitness Newsletter
Wellness Newsletter
Healthy Back Circuit
Nautilus Equipment Budget
Peer Fitness Trainers
Sworn Personnel Fitness Policy
WFI Power Point
Incentive Programs
Get Fit Program
2010 Get Fit Fundraiser
Get Fit 2010 Tshirt
Get Fit After Party Invitation
Get Fit Flyer
Get Fit Poster 2009
2008 Get Fit Challenge
T-shirt Design
Flag Football Poster
MDPD/MDFR Challenge Poster
Obstacle Course Competition
President Fitness Challenge
Pumper Pull Winners
Stay Fit 5k T-shirt
Tunnel to Towers 5k 2009
Injury-Rehab
MDFR provides a physical therapy program for their fire fighters.
Mentorship Program with Athletes Performance
Data Collection
Excel document to track fitness assessments but no database
Implementation
Overview of Wellness Center/Business Plan