Corporate Wellness Programs; Examples

Corporate wellness programs have gained significantly in acceptance over the past 20 years. Pioneers implementing corporate wellness programs include such household names as Motorola, Caterpillar, Toyota, Lands' End, and Daimler-Chrysler. Smaller companies implementing highly successful corporate wellness programs include the City of Asheville, NC and Highsmith, Inc.

Despite these, and other, successful examples of controlling health care costs, the nationwide average cost is increasing at an unsustainable rate. In 2003, the US spent about $5000 per citizen on health care, and still had 43.7 million citizens uninsured. In 2007, the annual cost had jumped to $7321 and the number of uninsured citizens had jumped to 47 million. What we don't need is more health care. What we need is better health. And that has to do with empowering and motivating people to assume greater responsibility for a health-affirming lifestyle.

Here is a recap of some of the good news on the corporate wellness programs scene.

Motorola – Global Wellness Initiatives

Motorola's wellness programs have been extremely successful, affecting more than 56,000 U.S. employees, their family members, and Motorola retirees. The programs focus on prevention, employee awareness, disease management, screenings, and risk appraisals, as well as other preventive techniques. According to a study of U.S. employees completed by the Motorola Wellness Initiatives, for every $1 Motorola invests in Wellness benefits, $3.93 is saved, giving participating employees and Motorola approximately $6.5 million annual savings in medical expenses for lifestyle-related diagnoses (e.g., obesity, hypertension, stress). Motorola was a winner of the C. Everett Koop National Health Award in 2002. Learn more >>

Source: Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease

The City of Asheville, N.C. and the APhA Foundation - The Asheville Project

The Asheville Project began in 1996 as an effort by the City of Asheville, North Carolina, a self-insured employer, to provide education and personal oversight for employees with chronic health problems such as diabetes, asthma, hypertension, and high cholesterol. Today, the Asheville Project has inspired a new health care model for individuals with chronic conditions. Unlike other experiments, the Asheville model is payer-driven and patient-centered. Employers are adopting this approach as an additional health care benefit to empower their employees to control their chronic diseases, reduce their health risks, and ultimately lower their health care costs. Learn more >>

Source: Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease

STAYING WELL; A Place Where They Don't Dread Coming to Work
Highsmith, Inc. Ft. Atkinson, WI

AFTER Sharon Maynard's husband of 20 years decided he did not want to be married anymore, she felt her life slipping out of control -- and felt herself slipping into depression. As a single mother of a teenage son, she did not know what to think and what to do and, least of all, where to turn for help.

A year after her ordeal, Ms. Maynard, a 42-year-old purchasing agent, says she found solace from a source that may sound unlikely but is increasingly available to American workers: her employer.

About 90 percent of companies with at least 50 employees have a program to promote healthy living that is aimed at decreasing health care costs and increasing employee productivity. Many of the programs can provide savings to the employer, according to newly released research.

Source to Learn more >> New York Times

In an effort to contain health care spending, Toyota Motor will construct a $9 million medical clinic for employees and their families at its new San Antonio truck factory, the Detroit News reports.

The clinic will "provide a wider array of treatments and services than a typical factory medical office," including eye care, dental services, pediatrics, laboratory tests and physical therapy, according to the News. Toyota's U.S. health care costs have doubled over the past five years to more than $11,000 annually per plant worker, according to Ford Brewer, assistant general manager for health and wellness at Toyota's North American manufacturing headquarters.

Source to Learn more >> Healthcare News

Lands' End employs onsite health facility in its battle against diabetes. Employee wellness, the program's top goal, also reduces costs.

DODGEVILLE, Wis.-Elizabeth Wiebe often jokes that she-along with the indoor running track, basketball court and Olympic-size swimming pool-came with the onsite health facility at Lands' End .... ..... Since then, the company has gained national attention in the workforce health care arena for implementing a diabetes prevention and control program-one of a number of...

Source to Learn more >> Goliath Business Knowledge

.... recently interviewed D. Randy Adolphs, Manager, Lands' End Comer Center and the long-time leader of the company wellness program. The Comer (Wellness) Center is available for all employees, their spouses and dependent children. An on-site health and fitness staff educates employees on a variety of wellness skill areas, and provides health screenings along with fitness assessments and personal training.

Source to Learn more >> Seekwellness.com

How does a business move from seeing its health care costs rise year after year to corporate wellness programs that help control and manage costs? The first step might be to acquire the background knowledge and then the leadership skills. The next step might be to find a health promotion program suitable for the size and culture of the organization.

For more information, contact Welcoa (Wellness Council of America) at 402-827-3590. Ask about and obtain the special report "The CHIP Prescription for Health". Published articles, some with clinical results, are available on the Absolute Advantage Magazine page.

Contact CHIP NOW to learn more about how to launch corporate wellness programs. You can estimate the impact of a wellness program using the CHIP ROI Wellness Calculator. Motivate your employees to "Be Healthy by Choice, Not by Chance!".