What Do The Best
Employee Wellness Programs Have In Common?
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Answer: They produce
results! |
Employee wellness programs are the best
approach to reducing employer, employee and overall healthcare costs.
For organizations such programs reduce costs by increasing worker
productivity by lowering absences from work and direct medical costs.
The result is a demonstrably improved bottom line.
The 2004 Ipsos-Reid conference survey
conducted with WarrenShepell, Human Resources Professionals Association
of Ontario (HRPAO) found the main preventable contributors to employee
absenteeism were:
- Depression/anxiety/other mental
health disorders - 66%
- Stress - 60%
- [Negative] Relationship with
supervisor or manager - 44%
- Co-worker conflict in the
workplace - 28%
- Addictions or substance use/abuse
issues - 20%
To address these issues, organizations
undertook various measures including implementing leadership or
management training programs (64%), implementing employee assistance or
other wellness initiatives (59%), and delivering wellness or other
training sessions.
Since then the premium growth rate have
continued to escalate, outpacing the the growth in wages (greater than
3x) and inflation (just under 3x), according to a Kaiser Family
Foundation survey released in September 2005. As a result there have
been smaller take home checks for employees in companies having health
care benefit plans; and, most alarmingly, overall coverage of employees
has decreased mostly because of small businesses dropping coverage.
Such decreases in coverage will
continue to worsen overall employee wellness because uncovered employees
will fail to seek early care in attempt to avoid out of pocket costs.
Indeed, such a realization was impetus
behind the Asheville Diabetes Disease Management project (now know as
The Asheville Project). In a recent (August 2006) presentation about
the project to the Rotary Club of Charleston, John Maill, City of
Asheville Risk Manager, said the impetus behind the project was the
realization that 80% of organization health care costs were caused by
20% of the employees. If you could reduce those costs through a targeted
program of prevention, you should be able to reduce overall healthcare
costs.
That lead to an experiment involving a
group of pharmacists, an employer, a health-care system and two
universities. The participants devised a comprehensive six month program
targeting 46 diabetics and documented significant positive results in
less than the initial period. That program has now grown to a
nation-wide initiative expanded to focusing on four different chronic
diseases.* The latest related initiative is a Diabetes Ten City
Challenge (including Charleston, SC, the reason that John Maill's
presentation here).
*For
more information see
http://research.unc.edu/endeavors/win2004/asheville.html
The most important findings from
Asheville Project initiatives are that training, tracking and
funding costs employees lead to lower hospitalization costs AND to lower
absence from work. Combine those insights with the Ipsos-Reid conference
survey r and the associated company reported initiatives and we can draw
insights into the elements of a much wider program having the potential
for a dramatic approach to improving national health and the health care
coverage challenge.

Natural Supplements for Diabetes & ED
*Consider this. Every state faces a
similar challenge: how to deal with escalating Medicare costs. Drawing
from the findings above, for our senior citizens we also must train,
track and fund. And the key is applying a comprehensive wellness
approach. Those with chronic ailments must agree to enter an appropriate
programs. Others must pursue fitness programs aimed at preventing the
onset of aging related impairments.
We believe that such a program should
be centered on employee wellness programs with the following elements:
- the full commitment of
organizations including management involvement, commitment and
championship
- benefit program support to include
premium and co-payment support to participants and their families
- comprehensive training of
participants
- community, government, health care
and educational institution involvement
The specific elements to be included
are found in what is provided now by various support providers of
existing employee wellness programs. Here are some of those from a
survey I recently conducted:
The Microsoft Small Business Center
offerings include an article by Phillip Harper entitled, "Shape
up your company with a wellness program." He reports that the
leaders at Highsmith, a Wisconsin-based marketer of supplies and
equipment to schools and libraries, encountered the worst kind of
sticker shock: a 53% rise in the company's health-insurance premiums.
Management saw it as a harbinger of future problems unless steps were
taken to keep a lid on costs and claims -- so they launched a workplace
wellness program for about 200 employees which had a dramatic impact on
the company's productivity and bottom line.
Just consider the impact at Highsmith.
- The strategy has helped the company
keep a tight lid on health-insurance costs, with its premium rising just
3.1% in 2003 and 2.9% in 2002.
- Turnover also has slowed dramatically.
In 2001, while the average employer in Wisconsin's Madison-Milwaukee
corridor was losing 22% of its workforce, turnover at Highsmith was just
8.7%.
- As for the company's workers'
compensation costs, they've actually gone down to significantly less
than they we were paying in the early '90s."
Over time Highsmith broadened the program
to address issues beyond physical health that can have a profound impact
on a worker's sense of well-being. Highsmith now offers nearly 70
classes on subjects as diverse as resolving workplace disputes, coping
with teenage children and caring for elderly parents.
Other results are presented at the
Wellness Council of America's
website. It there documents that ROI from employee wellness programs
can exceed an order of magnitude (over $10 improvement in the bottom
line for every $1 invested).
Here are other attempts at making
employee wellness programs generally available in the community.
Universities
Towson University, Baltimore, Maryland
has a typical University Wellness Center. It has a wellness facility
(gym) and an education series. Here are descriptions of each:
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Facility Description
The Towson University
Wellness Center is a fully equipped facility with "state of the art"
cardiovascular and strength training equipment. Our newly expanded
facility now includes more equipment and a larger warm-up/cool down and
stretching area.
Wellness Center Equipment
and Features:
- Convenient Free Parking
- Locker Room / Showers / Towel Service
- Precor Elliptical Trainers
- Quinton Treadmills
- Stairmaster Steppers
- Recumbent Bikes
- Airdyne Bikes
- Concept II Rowing Machines
- Nu-Step Recumbent Steppers
- Keiser Strength Training Equipment
- Gravitron
- Free Weight Area
Educational Lectures
TUWC members will have the
opportunity to attend educational lectures to assist them in maintaining
a healthy lifestyle and learn more about to decrease their risk of heart
disease. Educational programs, free for participants and their family
members, are developed based on the needs and interests of the
participants and are offered regularly during the academic year. Typical
educational sessions may include the following:
• Strength Training
101
• Why Do I Need a
Stress Test?
• Dispelling
Exercise Myths
• Anatomy of the
Heart
• Arthritis and
Exercise
• The Right Way to
Stretch
• Nutritional
Supplements for a healthy Heart
• Exercise for
Weight Management
• Heart Healthy
Cooking Demonstrations
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Some Universities include Wellness
program attendance as a graduation requirement. At United States
Service Academies participation in the sports program is mandatory.
NOTE: Many military installations have wellness programs in which family
members can participate.
Medical Centers
Medical centers typically have programs
aimed to support (workforce) employee wellness programs. For example,
The South Central
Kentucky Medical Center's Worksite Wellness program will provide the
assistance you need for a healthier workforce and reduction in
healthcare costs. The program is flexible and can be adapted to meet
the specific needs of your employees. A well instituted wellness
program has definite advantages to business and industry including:
- Lower healthcare premiums
- Decreased absenteeism
- Increased productivity
- Reduced turnover
- Increased morale
Wellness Consultant
A dedicated health educator will meet with you and/or your wellness
team to design your wellness program. The Wellness Consultant will
work closely with you to monitor and measure the effectiveness of
wellness initiatives.
Health Promotion and Disease
Management
Pulling from a wealth of resources and expertise available through
The Medical Center, numerous presentations and classes are available
for your workforce. These range from onsite smoking cessation
classes to a presentation on management of diabetes.
Health Screenings
Periodic onsite health screenings such as blood pressure and body
fat analysis are available in addition to more extensive screenings
such as blood analysis and pulmonary function.
Health Risk Assessments
A comprehensive written assessment, detailed individual follow-up
report and employer aggregate report are provided which give the
employee and the employer the information needed to set wellness
goals.
Health Education Materials
A wellness display board will be provided and updated monthly with
health promotion and disease management materials. The board will
also contain brochures on wellness activities and programs available
through The Medical Center.
Executive Health Program
Professional men and women are provided an opportunity to evaluate
their health status, which includes a comprehensive physical exam
with state-of-the-art diagnostic technology.
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Fitness Centers
Increasingly established fitness centers
are targeting corporate employees to expand their services. For example
Club One is one of America’s leading club companies specializing in
design, development, and operations of high quality, convenient fitness,
sports and wellness centers. Here is how they market the use of their
facilities to prospective corporate clients:
America is facing an epidemic-level rise in chronic conditions caused by
obesity and the health behaviors associated with them.
Unfortunately, these conditions come with a staggering price, paid
primarily by employers.
Consider the following:
- More than 64% of U.S. adults are overweight or obese, with nearly 31
percent of adults – over 61 million people – meeting the criteria for
obesity.
- Studies estimate between $69-117 billion/year are spent in direct
medical costs.
- 58 million days of work are lost annually.
- $5.7 billion is lost in revenue.
As a member of WELCOA,** Club One is dedicated to helping you improve the
fitness and overall wellness level of your employees, which will also
help your company to have a healthier bottom line.
Regular physical activity among 88 million inactive
Americans – including your employees – could have the following effects:
·
A reduction
of annual direct medical costs of $76.6 billion.
·
Improved
quality of work performed and overall job performance.
·
Fewer sick
days and increased productivity in the workplace.
·
Your
employees will feel empowered by taking control of their own
well-being.
Club One ProServices is committed
to providing cutting-edge facilities, programs and services that deliver
a healthy return on investment (ROI) for our partners and their
employees.
In fact, studies on ROI for
health improvement programs range from $1.49 to $4.91 with a median of
$3.14 saved for every dollar spent. You’ll benefit from Club One’s:
·
Scalable, broad-based fitness and wellness services for employee
populations of all sizes.
·
Innovative, life-enhancing online and on-site fitness and wellness
programs.
·
Degreed, certified fitness and wellness staff.
·
Programs that create positive, permanent change in employees’ lives.
·
Financial feasibility assessments for on-site activity centers and
programming.
Take the first step toward a healthier employee base – and bottom line.
**Wellness
Council of America
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Here
are what is offered in the Cooper Wellness Program:
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Cooper Wellness Program is the lifestyle
modification and medical spa program developed by famed physician and
author Dr. Kenneth Cooper.**
Revitalizing four-, six-, and 13-day programs are held at the
magnificent 30-acre Dallas campus of The Cooper Aerobics Center.
Since 1985, thousands of men and women have reduced their risk of heart
disease and stress-related illness by using the life enhancement
strategies they learned at Cooper Wellness Program. Outstanding
preventive medicine specialists evaluate your health, prescribe your
optimum plan of action, and motivate you through a practical,
results-oriented program designed to last a lifetime.
Program Overview
Cooper Wellness Program will tailor your lifestyle program to meet your
personal goals, health needs, and time availability. Whether you spend
four, six, or 13 days, your customized plan is built around these
life-enhancing components:
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Fitness assessment
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Personalized strength training
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Diversified exercise classes
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Stress management workshops
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Relaxation training
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Delicious gourmet heart-healthy meals
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Dining out without sabotaging goals
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Personal nutrition counseling
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Goal setting/behavior modification
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Preventive medicine workshops
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Cooper Clinic medical evaluation
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Luxurious on-site accommodations
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Use of Cooper Spa and other facilities on the campus
Food/Nutrition Education
Three gourmet heart-healthy meals are prepared daily during Cooper
Wellness Program. Food preferences or allergies can be accommodated. The
fat and calorie contents are carefully monitored by Kathy Duran-Thal,
registered dietitian and director of nutrition, who also shows you how
to prepare healthy meals at home and incorporate a balanced diet into
any lifestyle. Kathy also provides insight on dining out wisely.
Workshops/Lectures
Tap into cutting-edge health and fitness research and practical how-to
discussions. Topics presented at Cooper Wellness Programs include:
Achieving Total Well-Being, Maintaining Behavior Changes, Motivation and
Goal Setting, Avoiding Back Injuries, Fitness Walking, Nutrition Facts,
Living Well and Eating Right, Healthy Dining Out, Shopping Smart,
Strength Training, Demonstration of Relaxation Techniques, and Managing
Stress.
**More Information
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In many cases the services being provided
are not optimized to individual requirements. They simply are a
potpourri of services from which individuals can pick and choose. We do
not believe that SOME exercise and SOME improved nutrition is the
answer. We believe that the best employee wellness program will aim to
foster lifelong wellness for every employee.
To do this we feel that
employee wellness programs must aim well beyond the
workplace and target both employee families and the communities in which
they live. To us wellness should be promoted and available
anyplace/anytime.
Because everyone benefits from such
employee wellness programs, we encourage companies to work with their
local communities, and spiritual and political leaders to promote
totally wellness-oriented communities.
If you might be interested in finding out
more about what we might do for your company, or would like to be our
representative in your community -- or just want to find out more --
please complete the following form.
PS: you can find out how to start your own personal wellness
program here. PPS:
Interested in starting your own home based wellness business?
Click here to learn how.
PPPS: Tell others what is happening in
your community with the form below. Review what others are doing (after
the form).
Please Share Your Wellness Program Success Story With Others.
Let's learn what others are do to build wellness awarness in their communities. Please share yours here.
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