North Dakota offers wellness grants to rural hosptials

BISMARCK (KFGO) – North Dakota is offering new grant money to help improve the health and well being of workers at rural hospitals.

North Dakota Health and Human Services has opened applications for the hospital wellness equipment program. The goal is to help hospitals create healthier workplaces and support employees’ physical and mental health.

“The healthcare professionals caring for our communities need support, too,” said HHS Commissioner Pat Traynor. “These frontline workers often put the needs of others ahead of their own. By creating opportunities for staff to stay healthy, manage stress and recharge, hospitals can build stronger teams, improve retention and ultimately provide better care for the patients who depend on them.”

About $500,000 in federal funding is available. The state expects to award around 10 grants of about $50,000 each to eligible rural hospitals.

The grants can be used to by wellness equipment like treadmills, exercise bikes and weight equipment.

State officials say healthcare workers continue to deal with staffing shortages and burnout, and hope the grants will improve employee wellness to keep hospital workers in rural communities.