CVS accredited with CEO Cancer Gold Standard

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Health was accredited with the CEO Cancer Gold Standard from the CEO Roundtable on Cancer, in recognition of the retailer’s efforts to reduce the risk of cancer for its employees and covered family members.

CVS was specifically honored for taking actions in five key areas of health and wellness to fight cancer in the workplace, including: discouraging tobacco use; encouraging physical activity; promoting healthy diet and nutrition; detecting cancer at its earliest stages; and providing access to quality care.

"This is certainly an honor that recognizes our hard work in building a culture of health and wellness," said Larry Merlo, CVS Health president and chief executive officer. "Receiving the CEO Cancer Gold Standard accreditation underscores our decision to eliminate the sale of tobacco from our retail stores and the innovative programs, resources and incentives we've put in place to help our colleagues achieve their best health and reduce their risk of cancer."

The CEO Roundtable on Cancer, a nonprofit organization of CEOs founded by former President George H.W. Bush, developed and administers the Gold Standard, a workplace accreditation program which encourages and recognizes the commitment of organizations that take concrete actions to address cancer in their workplaces. Nearly 200 private, nonprofit and government employers in a wide range of occupational categories have earned Gold Standard accreditation. In addition to the now 240,000 CVS Health employees, more than 6 million employees and family members are touched by the tenets of this workplace wellness and culture framework.

"We are pleased to recognize the efforts of CVS Health," said Robert A. Bradway, chairman of the CEO Roundtable on Cancer. "I hope the leadership and powerful example set by Chief Executive Officer Larry Merlo and the team at CVS Health will encourage other employers across all industries to meet this standard of excellence in cancer prevention, early detection and quality cancer care."

In addition to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 NCI-designated cancer centers and more than 100 other hospitals have earned Gold Standard accreditation.