WILMINGTON, OH - Jan. 29, 2008 - ABX Air, Inc., was among the 22 businesses recognized by Alvin D. Jackson, M.D., Director of the Ohio Department of Health and Mary Beth Arensberg, chair of the Healthy Ohio Business Council at the Worksite Health Promotion Conference recently in Columbus.

ABX Air was recognized for its wellness efforts and its innovative on-site Healthcare Center.

“We opened the Healthcare Center a little over three years ago,” said Jeff Walling, Manager of Benefits at ABX Air. “It provides the employees and their families with convenient access to high quality and affordable health care.”
 

Three full-time physicians and three nurse practitioners or physician assistants staff the Healthcare Center. The Healthcare Center is open 19 hours each weekday and six hours each day on weekends to accommodate ABX Air’s 24/7 operations.

In addition to providing care for acute medical conditions, the staff at the Healthcare Center is focused on managing chronic health conditions such as hypertension and diabetes and encouraging wellness behaviors among its patients.

Wellness programs offered include smoking cessation classes, healthy weight management classes, an on-site nutrition counselor, and an on-site fitness center.

In addition in 2007, the Healthcare Center sponsored the “Moving in the Right Direction” challenge, which focused on six programs offered at different times throughout the year. Each program lasted about six weeks and focused on walking for health, cardiovascular health, sun safety, seat belt safety, mental health well being and weight control.

ABX Air also has an active volleyball league. An on-site court and lunchtime flexibility allows several teams to compete through the summer months. Employees get engaged not only in the healthy activity, but some healthy competition.

“We encourage our employees to adopt a healthy lifestyle,” said Joe Hete, President and CEO of ABX Air. “Not only are healthy lifestyles beneficial for employees’ health but it is beneficial for the company too, with fewer sick hours and medical expenses.”

This is the second year in a row ABX Air has earned the Gold Award. In 2005 it earned the Bronze Award.

ABX Air (www.abxair.com) is an air cargo services provider operating out of Wilmington, Ohio, and 15 hubs throughout the United States. In addition to providing airlift capacity and sort facility staffing to DHL, ABX Air is a Part 121 operator and holds a Part 145 FAA Repair certificate. It provides charter, maintenance and package handling services to a diverse group of customers. ABX Air is the largest employer in a several-county area in southwestern Ohio. ABX Air, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of ABX Holding, Inc.