#United States #Blue Zones #Marshall #El Dorado Hills

Marshall and Blue Zones Unite for a Healthier Community

In a groundbreaking partnership, Marshall has launched the Blue Zones Ignite initiative in El Dorado Hills, California, aimed at enhancing community well-being and longevity. This initiative employs a scientific, evidence-based approach to transform the local environment to make healthy choices more accessible for everyone. As part of the launch, an extensive assessment will take place from September 16-18 to evaluate the current health landscape of El Dorado Hills and to develop a comprehensive plan for improvement.

Community Engagement and Involvement

The initiative’s kick-off will feature a public keynote event led by Dan Buettner, Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer at Blue Zones, on September 16 from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM at the Patra Corp. building. The event aims to welcome all community members to engage in discussions about health, well-being, and their aspirations for the future of El Dorado Hills.

Participants will have opportunities to provide input through focus groups and interviews with Blue Zones team members, ensuring that the community's voices are heard in shaping the future health initiatives. As Jonathan Russell, Chief Ambulatory Officer at Marshall, affirms, this venture empowers community members to live longer, healthier lives by leveraging the local governance and expertise offered by Marshall.

The Blue Zones Approach

Blue Zones specializes in understanding the environmental factors that significantly influence health and longevity. By shifting the focus from individual behaviors to creating substantial changes in the surrounding environment, Blue Zones endeavors to foster healthier lifestyles. This involves redesigning policies, adjusting community infrastructures, and enhancing social networks to facilitate healthier living.

The factors contributing to health include the Life Radius®, which encompasses the spaces where individuals spend most of their time. Research conducted by Dan Buettner identified locations—termed blue zones—where populations enjoy exceptionally long, happy lives. This partnership with Marshall is expected to usher in similar transformations for El Dorado Hills, impacting areas such as nutrition, physical activity, and social connectivity.

Communities that embraced Blue Zones principles have seen remarkable improvements, including significant reductions in obesity and smoking rates, economic revitalization, and a healthier overall population. By transforming public spaces and implementing long-lasting changes, this collaborative effort aims to elevate community health and well-being.

Vision for the Future

As the Blue Zones team collaborates with local leaders and organizations, the initiative will focus on assessing El Dorado Hills’ strengths, challenges, and needs. The objective is to create a policy-focused transformation plan that will enhance overall community well-being, lower healthcare costs, and invigorate the local economy.

Ben Leedle, CEO of Blue Zones, highlights this collaboration as a pivotal moment, stating, "The Blue Zones Ignite launch in El Dorado Hills builds on the energy and vision of the local community. We’re creating a plan for change based on a transformative model designed to improve well-being through place-based strategies. Communities that achieve higher well-being enjoy lower healthcare expenses, enhanced productivity, and more robust civic engagement."

About Blue Zones and Marshall

Blue Zones is dedicated to helping populations lead healthier, longer lives through evidence-based strategies. Founded by Dan Buettner following his research in regions with notably high longevity, Blue Zones provides frameworks that foster healthier environments. Its success is evidenced by the marked improvements seen in various cities that have embraced the Blue Zones principles.

Marshall Medical Center operates as a local, nonprofit healthcare provider in the Sierra Foothills, serving over 180,000 residents. With multiple facilities and a commitment to community health, Marshall aims to integrate Blue Zones strategies to promote well-being in El Dorado County for generations to come. This partnership represents a significant step in transforming the health landscape of El Dorado Hills, ensuring that every resident has access to the resources they need to live their best lives.