By Heather Schablik

Movement – it’s part of our daily life.  And according to a recent study in HealthDay News, there is new evidence to show that getting older adults to move – and keep moving – is a challenge, albeit one with extremely positive  benefits.

Incorporating exercise and proper nutrition into our daily lives is something we all aspire to do. But how many of us can say we succeed 100 percent of the time? Sure, every little bit helps and makes a difference. But this is about making a lifestyle change. Consciously choosing to do those little things each and every day – the stairs instead of the elevator, the far parking spot instead of the closer one, the apple instead of the bowl of ice cream – that make a huge difference.

As we gear up for the Tennessee Senior Olympics state finals this weekend, I couldn’t help but read the HealthDay article and gulp a little bit. Getting older adults to become – and stay – active is a challenge because in many cases, we aren’t embracing this habit at an early enough age. We don’t need to wait until age 70 to start walking more. This needs to be something we consciously do now, to build the framework for the future.

And if that isn’t motivation enough for you to get moving, join us in Williamson County this weekend as we cheer on some of the state’s top athletes while promoting BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee’s MVMT for Life campaign. We all believe small steps can make a huge difference – and I can assure you this audience of athletes 49 ½ and older will back us up on that.

By Aileen Katcher

Most of us in Nashville know it is not only Music City USA, but Health Care City USA too.  But it is not always known outside of the market.  When KVBPR joined the Worldcom Public Relations Group some years ago and became active in the Health Care Practice Group, many members from around the world seemed surprised that we had the health care expertise that we do.  I got the usual music industry questions – what stars do you work with?

The truth is, other than my musician son, the only celebrities with whom I have worked were as a result of my health care public relations work here.

Before we started KVBPR, I was marketing director of Nashville’s Baptist Hospital, then the hospital of choice of the music industry union’s health plan and thus, many of Nashville’s biggest stars.  They often helped us promote the hospital, my only professional connection to the music industry.

Now, thanks to the Nashville Health Care Council’s 2010 Economic Impact Study, we have hard data to back up the claim that Nashville is indeed Health Care City, USA.  According to the study, Nashville’s health care industry contributes nearly $30 billion and 210,000 jobs to the local economy, 56 health care company headquarters (more than 100 employees) that generate nearly 400,000 jobs and more than $62 billion in revenues worldwide.

Nashville is home to a diverse sector of leading health care companies not found anywhere else, including hospital management, health information technology, disease management and more.

More than 250 health care companies have operations in Nashville, an industry concentration that ranks us above 13 other similar cities including Atlanta, Birmingham, Dallas, Denver, Indianapolis and Louisville based on the number of health care companies, industry revenues and employment.

And, 300 professional service firms here, including KVBPR, provide expertise in the health care industry.

Health Care City USA:  Nashville Rocks!  KVBPR is proud to be a part of it.

Note:  The Nashville Health Care Council 2010 Economic Impact Study was conducted by Business and Economic Research Center  at the Jennings Jones College of Business at Middle Tennessee State University.