Posts from — November 2008

Dr. Moore of Nationwide maintains that immunization is the most cost-effective treatment in medicine. By way of example, vaccinating children against the influenza virus averages a savings (including health care costs, parents’ missed work, etc.) of up to $35 per vaccine recipient. And experts predict that estimate is low, because it doesn’t take into account the rapid spread of the flu.

The American Association of Family Physicians’ Web site, www.aafp.org, offers a recommended adult immunization schedule created by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. This schedule, tiered by age and chances of exposure, recommends diphtheria, tetanus, influenza, pneumonococcal, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, measles, mumps and rubella, varicella and meningococcal vaccinations.

Ideas to incorporate prevention and early detection:

• Hold a wellness fair and invite businesses that provide screening services for such conditions as blood pressure, blood iron, cholesterol, body mass index (BMI) and diabetes.
• Offer educational materials about well-baby care and immunizations.
• Choose health care coverage plans that include wellness check-ups and immunizations.
• Offer on-site mammograms for workers.
• Sponsor on-site flu shots to coincide with flu season.

Advantages of Stress Reduction Programs

While stress cannot be eliminated from life, or even from the worksite, coping skills can be developed with relative ease. Stress management skills lead to reduced rates of absence and more effective, more productive workers. Because stress has been shown to contribute to such physical conditions as ulcers, high blood pressure and stroke, stress reduction has a direct impact on improving physical health.

Studies have shown that heart patients who attend stress management initiatives have 42 percent lower health care costs. Other research studies have documented a 50 percent reduction in medical services use when stress management initiatives are employed. Further, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) experts estimate that 20 percent of any workforce is affected by personal problems that can influence work performance.

Stress reduction tactics to consider:

• Offer on-site yoga or meditation classes.
• Organize support groups among workers.
• Sponsor stress management classes during the workday.
• Offer an employee assistance program that includes both counseling and referral.
• Offer on-site counseling for workers in the case of a work-related trauma, such as the death of a co-worker.

Advantages of Prenatal Care and Breastfeeding

The old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is particularly relevant to when applied to preventive measures taken during pregnancy, when a few extra ounces of birth weight can save a child’s life. During pregnancy, simple precautions can help avoid catastrophic results; giving up smoking, for instance, drastically reduces the risk of miscarriage and pre-term labor.

The March of Dimes reports that if all women took adequate folic acid before conception and during pregnancy, the number of babies born with a neural tube defect could drop by as much as 70 percent. The physical and emotional benefits of proper prenatal care to a mother and child are underscored by a strong corporation case for offering prenatal wellness benefits. Nationwide’s Chief Medical Director, Dr. Michael Moore, estimates costs to care for one baby delivered prematurely could approach $500,000.

First steps in fostering a prenatal program:
• Invite the March of Dimes to present information about prenatal health at an staff member brownbag lunch or breakfast meeting.
• Hold prenatal care information classes for interested workers at lunchtime.
• Offer educational materials about the effects of alcohol, drugs and smoking on an unborn child.
• Offer incentives for adopting healthy lifestyles during pregnancy.
• Offer prenatal initiatives and education as part of the corporation health care package.

Advantages of smoking Cessation Programs

Instances of respiratory diseases, cancer and other illnesses can be reduced through smoking cessation efforts. smoking cessation initiatives can provide huge opportunities for enhanced health.

The American Cancer Society reports that smoking workers cost organizations an average of $1,429 per smoker per year in increased health care costs over non-smoking workers. Implementing a smoking cessation program costs an average of $45 per staff member per year, saving organizations an average of $1,383 per year for each staff member who quits smoking. Additionally, the American Cancer Society reports that smokers are absent from work 50 percent more frequently than nonsmokers. They are also 50 percent more likely to be hospitalized and have 15 percent higher disability rates. smoking decreases onthe- job productivity as well. Employees who take four 10- minute smoking breaks a day work more than a month less per year than workers who don’t take smoke breaks.

Places to start with smoking cessation initiatives:

1.    Establish a corporation policy prohibiting tobacco use anywhere on the property.
2.    Offer prompts/posters to support no tobacco use policy.
3.    Policy supporting participation in smoking cessation activities during duty time (flex-time).
4.    Offer counseling through an individual, group, or telephone counseling program onsite.
5.    Offer counseling through a healthcare plan sponsored individual, group, or telephone counseling program.
6.    Offer cessation medications through health insurance.

Advantages of Nutrition Programs

Nutrition directly impacts nearly every aspect of physical and mental health. A healthy diet can help protect against such conditions as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, stroke, certain cancers and depression. Obesity, which is among the most common conditions linked to diet, affects a record number of Americans.

The American Journal of Health Promotion estimates the cost of obesity to U.S. corporation to exceed $12.5 billion in health care, sick leave, and life and disability insurance. Further, one study reports that obesity raises health care costs by 36 percent and medication costs by 77 percent. To offset the health risks of obesity and poor diet, many organizations have committed to helping workers ensure proper nutrition and undertake weight control initiatives.

Popular nutrition initiatives:

Fruit and Vegetable Consumption
1.    Offer healthy eating reminders and prompts to workers via multiple means (i.e. e-mail, posters, payroll stuffers, etc.).
2.    Offer appealing, low-cost fruits and vegetables in snack machines and in the cafeteria.
3.    Offer cookbooks, food preparation, and cooking classes for workers’ families.
4.    Ensure onsite cafeterias follow healthy cooking practices and set nutritional standards for foods served that align with the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
5.    Offer healthy foods at meetings, conferences, and catered events.
6.    Use point-of-decision prompts as a marketing technique to promote healthier choices.
7.    Offer healthy cooking demonstrations that teach skills (i.e. fruit and vegetable selection and preparation).
8.    Offer taste-testing opportunities at the worksite.
9.    Offer staff member-led campaigns, demonstrations or programs.
10.    Offer local fruits and vegetables at the worksite (i.e. worksite farmer’s market or community-supported agriculture drop-off point).
11.    Use competitive pricing (price non-nutritious foods in snack machines and cafeterias at higher prices).
12.    Offer protected time and dedicated space away from the work area for breaks and lunch.
13.    Make kitchen equipment available to workers.
14.    Offer an opportunity for onsite gardening if possible.

Sweetened Beverage Consumption
1.    Make water available throughout the day.
2.    Offer appealing, low-cost healthful drink options in snack machines and the cafeteria.
3.    Modify worksite snack contracts to increase the number of healthy options.

4.    Price non-nutritious beverages at a higher cost.
5.    Use point-of-decision prompts to promote healthier choices.

Portion Control
1.    Label foods to show serving size and/or nutritional content.
2.    Offer food models, food scales for weighing and pictures to help workers assess portion size.
3.    Offer appropriate portion sizes at meetings, worksite events and in the cafeteria.

Nutrition initiatives in action

While many organizations address weight management through fitness programs, organizations are increasingly focusing on nutrition through separate programming. Recognizing the productivity boost and lowered medical expenditures that come with maintaining a healthy weight, many organizations may help pay for obesity treatments for workers. By way of example, to improve the health of dangerously obese workers, drug maker Wyeth reportedly pays for stomach-shrinking surgeries that carry price tags of up to $40,000.

A 2003 Society of Human Resource Management study shows that 24 percent of organizations offer weight loss initiatives. In Ohio, Honda offers an onsite, registered dietitian who provides individual or group consultations on weight management. Body fat assessment and body mass index (BMI) measurements are available to workers at any time.

At Grange Insurance’s Columbus headquarters, the cafeteria chef analyzes meals and provides workers basic nutrition information, including Weight Watchers points. Many organizations partner with the American Cancer Society to offer nutrition information through the ”5-ADay” program, which provides organizations free signage and educational materials about the importance of eating five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. The program also offers a fruit and vegetable ”frequency card” that gives workers a free portion of fruit or vegetables after he or she has purchased a preset number.

Advantages of Fitness Initiatives

Exercise reduces weight, lowers risks of heart attack and stroke, helps to control blood pressure and diabetes, and improves mood. Studies increasingly show that physical fitness may also help reduce the occurrence of certain types of cancer. Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently documented another major advantage: physical fitness improves the health of the nation’s medical care expenditures.3 According to the CDC, physically active individuals incur $865 less per year in medical costs than inactive workers.

Dr. Michael Moore, vice president and chief medical director at Nationwide Insurance in Columbus, maintains that physical fitness is the most effective tool in health maintenance. “If you could prescribe exercise in a pill, it would be the number-one prescribed treatment in the world,” he said. In step with Dr. Moore’s prescription, nearly one-third of U.S. organizations help workers pay for gym memberships, according to an Associated Press report. Subsidizing gym memberships is just one way organizations promote active lifestyles.

Popular Fitness Initiatives:

1.    Allow access to on- and off- worksite gyms and recreational activities before, during, and after work hours.
2.    Offer and promote participation in after work recreation or leagues.
3.    Offer cash incentives or reduced insurance costs for participation in physical activity and/or weight management or maintenance activities.
4.    Offer shower and/or changing facilities onsite.
5.    Offer outdoor physical fitness areas such as fields and trails for staff member use.
6.    Offer bicycle racks in safe, convenient, and accessible locations.
7.    Offer onsite fitness opportunities, such as group classes or personal training.
8.    Offer an onsite physical fitness facility.
9.    Start initiatives that have strong social support systems and incentives, such as:
• Buddy or team physical activity goals
• Initiatives that involve workers and family
• Initiatives to promote physical activity, such as pedometer walking challenges
• Explore discounted or subsidized memberships at local health clubs, recreation centers, or YMCAs
10.     Offer flexible work hours to allow for physical activity during the day.
11.    Support physical activity breaks during the workday, such as stretching or walking.
12.    Host walk-and-talk meetings.
13. Map out onsite trails or nearby walking routes and destinations.
14. Have workers map out their own biking or walking route to and from work.
15. Post motivational signs at elevators and escalators to promote stair usage.
16. Offer exercise/physical fitness messages and information to workers.
17. Offer or support recreation leagues and other physical activity events onsite or in the community.
18. Start staff member activity clubs such as walking or bicycling clubs.
19. Offer onsite child care facilities to facilitate physical activity.
20. Sponsor a bike to work day and reward workers who participate.
21. Start a box and solicit fitness and health tips.

There are a number of reasons why a Workplace Health and Wellness Plan is beneficial.

1. Enhanced Morale - When the organizational culture begins to change as a result the Workplace Wellness Program, you and your workers may actually begin to see and feel a new level of energy within the organization.  Ultimately, one of the most ambitious goals of any broad-based Workplace Health and Wellness Plan is to attempt to sway the attitudes and actions of the organization’s most valuable resource — its workers.

2. Reduced Turnover - As we all know, worker replacement costs can be quite high for any kind of business.  The effort and expense associated with running employment ads, reading applications, checking references, interviewing qualified candidates, hiring and training a new employee can be a serious burden on any business.  In light of the challenges that high worker turnover pose, many companies are looking to Workplace Wellness Initiatives as an additional perk that can help to prevent workers from jumping ship.

3. Improved Recruitment Potential - In the midst of a very tight labor market, companies are forced to pull out the stops in order to recruit new talent.  In some instances, Workplace Wellness Initiatives can prove to be a very valuable tool in sealing the deal.

4. Reduced Absenteeism - When an employee misses work in a business setting, the entire organization is forced to absorb his/her responsibilities.  Even in the event of the occasional absence caused by things like colds and the flu, work can back-up and tensions can build.

Even worse is a long-term absence caused by a major health event that requires hospitalization and/or rehabilitation.  By preventing certain types of illness caused by poor lifestyle habits, Workplace Wellness Initiatives can play an important role in reducing absenteeism.

5. Health Care Cost Containment - Most companies don’t begin a Workplace Health and Wellness Plan with cost containment in mind.  However, cost containment for certain health problems should be considered a viable goal by many companies.

6. Enhanced Worker Health Status - One of the greatest advantages of a well-designed Workplace Health and Wellness Plan is the promise of enhanced health.  There is a growing body of evidence that suggests well-designed Workplace Wellness Initiatives can successfully impact such behaviors as smoking, high-risk alcohol use, seatbelt use and more.