HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Sisters of Mercy Health System has received a 2011 Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles award. The National Business Group on Health – the nation’s only non-profit organization of large employers devoted to health care related issues – presented the honor at a leadership summit in Washington, D.C.

“This award places Mercy in prestigious company,” said Lynn Britton, president and CEO of the Sisters of Mercy Health System. “When other award winners include the likes of IBM, Campbell Soup and Target, you feel confident you’re doing a lot of things right as an organization.”

St.

The following is from Joe Slatton of St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital in Hot Springs.

JOPLIN, Mo. -- Mercy thanks the courageous doctors, nurses and other caregivers who evacuated 183 patients after a tornado struck St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Mo., Sunday evening. A number of Mercy caregivers themselves were injured. Their selfless efforts put their patients first and resulted in a timely and orderly evacuation.

In spite of these heroic efforts, Mercy is saddened to confirm that five patients lost their lives. The families of the patients have been notified. In addition, an unidentified visitor was among those who perished. Authorities have been working to determine the identity of the visitor and to notify the family.

Mercy is working with emergency response agencies, city and state officials, and other health care organizations to follow up on those patients who were evacuated from the hospital Sunday evening.

Hot Springs, Ark. -- Health·i·fi·ca-tion – verb 1. The process of getting your health groove on. 2. The act of transforming oneself from an unhealthy being into a totally, physically fit specimen.

Healthification is designed to encourage well-balanced, healthier lifestyles through nutrition, physical activity, emotional and spiritual wellness, and smoking cessation.

The initiative, recently introduced by the Sisters of Mercy Health System, has reached a fever pitch with the approach of National Employee Health and Fitness Day May 18 and the release of a promotional rap video. Performed by rapper M.C. Spookytooth (Hot Springs attorney Brent Miller), the video features Mercy co-workers – from surgical techs to radiologists – performing jumping jacks in preparation for the Mercy Million.

The video has been seen by more than 5,000 people on YouTube and other places on the Internet.