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Corporate Wellness Blog : Corporation Wellness: Bottom Line Strat

It is clear to most American citizens (especially those of us in business) that healthcare costs are skyrocketing out of control. No one doubts that either the market will solve the problem OR the government will impose one on us. Managed care has failed from either a cost containment or quality of care...

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Corporate Wellness : Investing In A Health Wellness Program.

Posted by Corporate Wellness | Posted in Corporate Wellness, Wellness Programs | Posted on 25-11-2010

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What staff member wellness programs do hospitals offer?

Almost all hospitals offer some type of health wellness program to their workforce. These programs are often more extensive and easier to access in a hospital rather than any other place of work.

Since hospitals have the technology and equipment available to promote wellness, their employees have great wellness programs to participate in.

Most hospitals provide their eligible staff members with free basic preventive and diagnostic care. A lot of of the total hospitals reporting in a company health promotion survey cited these screenings as a big part of their health promotion program.

Hospitals often offer free or almost free flu shots, vaccinations, blood pressure (BP) screenings, and mammograms for women, prostate blood screenings for men and diet and nutrition classes to their personnel.

These medical procedures that would ordinarily cost someone hundreds when not thousands of dollars to receive are free or discounted through their company. This is one big advantage to working in a hospital.

Why do hospitals go to great lengths to implement such robust wellness programs? They do so for several reasons. First, like all organizations, hospital administrators recognize the importance of healthful personnel.

Not only do healthy personnel work harder but they cost less too. Secondly, hospitals have access to the medical equipment necessary to offer such a extensive health promotion program. It doesn’t cost them almost as much money as an average corporation to pay for blood draws and vaccinations.

It is extremelyimportant that hospitals have healthy staff members. Individuals  who work in patient care need to stay healthy for the safety of their patients. This is namely important in units like Intensive Care and Labor and Delivery.

The personnel also need to be protected by being current on their vaccinations and safeguarding themselves against the many illnesses brought into the workplace by their patients. A hospital with an staff member health wellness program is most definitely a safer one.

Corporate Wellness : Why Are Health Risk Appraisals (HRAs) Necessary?

Posted by Corporate Wellness | Posted in Corporate Wellness, Wellness Programs | Posted on 24-11-2010

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A health risk appraisal estimates how current or future chemical exposures could affect a particular population, such as a workplace or community. Health risk appraisal tools, such as questionnaires, help officials diagnose a health hazard and know how to eliminate or reduce the hazard.

If you work in a hazardous workplace you could wonder why a simple health risk assessment form is valuable information. Nevertheless, these simple questionnaires can and do save lives by educating the leaders of the industries producing the hazards.

A human health risk appraisal could be conducted by either a governmental or private agency. One government agency that routinely uses a health risk appraisal tool to gain valuable information is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Pesticide regulation is robustly researched using health risk assessments.  The regulation of such a public hazard like pesticides is very closely monitored by the EPA with the help of these risk assessments.

Using an web-based health risk appraisal, you are able to gain a better feel for whether your job is a perilous one. When the health risk appraisal questionnaire brings to light any potential hazards it is a good idea to seek a specialist to carry out an official workplace assessment.

A lot of corporations have hazards and risks in the workplace like asbestos, smoke or pesticides.  An assessment can determine whether the hazard is within a reasonable range or whether changes may be made in the workplace to reduce the amount of exposure.

A health risk appraisal is not just a worksite tool. These assessments are frequently carried out by government agencies as a matter of public safety. Some of the risks frequently analyzed include levels of toxic run off, chemical pollutants in the air, and exposure to hazardous residues in food.

Health risk appraisals are crucial to the health and safety of our communities and worksites. When you’re asked to fill out a questionnaire, please take the time to do so. It may save your life.

Corporate Wellness : Increasing Profits With a Wellness Program.

Posted by Corporate Wellness | Posted in Corporate Wellness, Wellness Programs | Posted on 23-11-2010

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It’s absolutely essential for organizations to start a health promotion program for their personnel.  As health care prices soar, every time an staff member becomes ill, this costs the business even more.

While not all health care issues and illnesses can be prevented, it is common knowledge that risk factors like obesity can increase illness. So it’d be in any organization’s best interest to encourage workers to adopt healthier life choices.

An worker wellness program benefits the worker by teaching and stimulating a healthier lifestyle. It also benefits the company by creating educated workforce who understand that diet and exercise aren’t simply about losing weight and looking slim, but they are related to physical abilities and mental wellness.

An staff member who feels better is more likely to be a productive part of the organization.

According to the CDC, the total hospitals reporting reported that in 1996, 31 billion dollars were spent on cardiovascular illness that was directly related to adults who were overweight or obese.

And for those adults with staff member health benefits, their companys also suffered from a loss in productivity, time compensated for sick days and the overall costs because of rising health care prices for companys.

Unfortunately in the United States, wellness attitudes often discourage workforce from taking healthier measures. Rather than providing quick, healthy snacks such as fresh fruit or vegetables with dip, places of employment seem to be only providing vending machine snacks such as sugary soft drinks and non-nutritious snacks like potato chips and cookies.

A lot of individuals don’t even realize that it’s just as easy as and more filling to eat a banana than a bag of cookies.

With the current state of the economy and businesses closing daily, it is important for businesses to search for methods to cut costs and to assist their staff in becoming healthier and more productive.

A wellness program is a first step in building long term physical and mental health goals for all corporations.

Corporate Wellness : Coordinating A Health Promotion Program.

Posted by Corporate Wellness | Posted in Corporate Wellness, Wellness Programs | Posted on 22-11-2010

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Corporations around the country are continuously making adjustments to accommodate for a diverse workforce, changing markets, and the increased awareness of business operations.

As a result, a few organizations are introducing some sort of corporate wellness program. Introducing a wellness program is an economically sound decision that businesss are recognizing rapidly.

A health promotion program provides profitable benefit to a company by reducing absenteeism, lowering worker injuries, cutting worker compensation costs, and reducing the demand for medical services. Among the most significant benefits to an company of executing a health promotion program is increased profitability.

This type of wellness program is also an affordable way to boost worker morale and self-image. It’s an effortless way of demonstrating that the corporation has an interest in its worker’s health.

The key to an effective wellness program is to encourage medical screenings. These screenings can then be assessed to determine which type of ongoing follow up must be put into place.

These can range from strategies to lower blood pressure (BP) to weight loss management. Other interventions can include managing diabetes, managing heart problems, healthful consuming and help with quitting smoking.

A health promotion program is a massive positive for a business to offer. It attracts the kind or staff members that care about themselves and hence promote staff member retention of good staff members.

The health of a organization’s workers will have a large impact on productivity, absenteeism, job satisfaction and the bottom line profit. There is a direct link between the health and happiness of a organization’s workers and the organization’s financial profitability.

A health promotion program is practically guaranteed to help an organization run more smoothly and increase profitability.

Corporate Wellness : Safe Staff Member Health Promotion Programs.

Posted by Corporate Wellness | Posted in Corporate Wellness, Wellness Programs | Posted on 21-11-2010

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An employee health promotion program doesn’t have to exclusively promote fitness and health. Employee health promotion could be promoted through training on how to correctly handle workplace hazards.

Properly training staff members to lift correctly, use power tools safely, and handle emergency situations definitely promotes company wellness.

Improper lifting is the number one cause of back injuries. While lifting may seem like common sense, most individuals do not know how to do so properly.

Providing training to staff members will decrease the risk of workplace injuries and workman’s compensation claims. This type of training is inexpensive, takes little time and can be extremelyvaluable.

Power tool safety is another widely overlooked source of worksite injury. Providing training on how to properly use power tools in addition to the importance of using safety gear such as gloves and goggles will promote corporate safety and wellness.

Power tool safety is in particular important for corporations working in an industry that commonly uses such equipment; like construction, firefighting and workshops.

Fire and cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) safety training are essential components to corporate wellness programs. First aid and CPR are valuable training tools for any worksite.

It is necessary for every staff member in the workforce to know how to administer CPR. Not only are these trainings good for the workplace, but they also help keep employees and their families safe at home. Simply put- fire safety and first aid saves lives.

An worker health promotion program can include much more than exercise classes and healthful lunch options. Including safety programs in your corporate wellness program can be extremelybeneficial, in particular if you work in an industry with common worksite hazards.

Take a moment to think about the day to day activities of your staff members. Do they do a lot of lifting? Use ladders often? Make sure to work with flammable materials?

If so, providing your staff with the appropriate training and resources will benefit both the staff and the organization in the long run.

Corporate Wellness : Corporate Wellness Programs – Advantages and Disadvantages.

Posted by Corporate Wellness | Posted in Corporate Wellness, Wellness Programs | Posted on 20-11-2010

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Around the United States, corporations everywhere are starting corporate wellness programs. There are a few advantages to offering an corporate wellness program.

The health of a corporation’s workforce will have a large impact on productivity, absenteeism, job satisfaction and the bottom line profit. Beginning a wellness program is an excellent place to begin.

An worker health promotion program can be as intricate or as simple as you desire. Once senior level management has expressed interest in a shared wellness vision they should appoint a wellness committee to oversee the health promotion programs.

This committee should develop a plan, and set objectives. They should conduct an worker health promotion survey and after evaluating  conclusions from the survey they should introduce a few wellness activities.

An easy way to get began is by offering biometric screenings and health risk assessments for free at work once a year. for those who aren’t healthful enough to workout you should provide them with literature on disability management so that they can participate in the health promotion program as well.

There are a few barriers to promoting a healthful lifestyle at work. Aligning cultural touch points will aid in the effort to promote overall wellness. From resource commitment to rewards and recognition, it’s the job of the employer to support a healthful lifestyle as much as possible.

The Fairview Alive program is a good example of a total health management program. It introduces staff member wellness and in the end produces wellness benefits. It was designed to create an environment and opportunities for personal health management.

Employees are a company’s most valuable assets and it is vital that you develop opportunities for personal health management, with an emphasis on shared responsibility.

Corporate Wellness : Cheap Corporate Wellness Programs.

Posted by Corporate Wellness | Posted in Corporate Wellness, Wellness Programs | Posted on 19-11-2010

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The problem of increasing health care costs for companies has recently become more prominent and more challenging to deal with. Over the past twenty years many companies have encountered close to fifty% raises in corporation health-insurance premiums.

This is due to poor work environments, increasing stress, and lowering health of staff members. A excellent way for a business to change these things and consequently decrease health insurance costs and increase the quality of work done by staff members is to develop an employee health promotion program.

Health promotion programs help the mental and physical health of staff members while also creating a less stressful and sometimes more fun work environment. In general, wellness programs create a higher sense of well being in the staff members of the business.

Businesses have many choices on how to develop a successful staff member wellness program. One option is to have an on-site health and fitness center that personnel can use before and after work.

By building a health and fitness center where a company’s staff members work every day, the corporation is showing that they are concerned with their employees’ health, while also promoting losing weight and giving a good strategy for individuals to stay healthful.

Another benefit of having an on-site health club is that it makes the workplace a more fun environment which therefore decreases the stress of the employees while actually increasing their productivity.

In order to have a successful health and fitness center, a company must’ve good health and fitness center management and must employ person that have been properly trained and certified for keep the workforce of their company safe and exercising properly.

Other than building a gym, there are lots of other options that a corporation has to create a successful staff member health promotion program.

The business can hold courses that teach either general health education, different ways to cook healthily, or ways to eat and exercise healthily, or they are able to hold specific exercise courses like spinning, running, or yoga.

Businesses can also give staff the opportunity to participate in meditation/relaxation programs, or massage therapy to decrease the stress involved with working.

Other ways to decrease stress in workers is to have support groups in certain areas such as cancer, weight reduction, diabetes, or alcohol abuse.

With a combination of all these health promotion programs and ideas mentioned, the overall health of the corporation’s workers goes up and the corporation’s health-insurance premiums, goes down.

Corporate Wellness : Health Promotion Program Concerns.

Posted by Corporate Wellness | Posted in Corporate Wellness, Wellness Programs | Posted on 18-11-2010

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With the typical American working 50 hours in a typical work week, as opposed to the 40 hour week established in the 60’s, a health promotion program is more important now than ever before.

This type of health promotion program is designed to meet the needs of each worker individually, while promoting a healthy cohesive work unit in each company.

A wellness program is not designed as a substitute for regular medical checkups, but also to the existing relationship between an individual and their doctor.

Three of the most presenting health problems facing individuals in the workforce today are obesity, smoking and stress. With the support and encouragement from a wellness program these issues can easily be addressed.

Obesity is so prevalent and relates to so many other diseases.  The workplace cafeteria is a great place to offer heart healthy, low-fat meals. In addition to diet, exercising regularly will improve health and energy levels.

Workplace health and fitness centers and choose exercise courses are a excellent way to promote regular exercise with a group of stimulating colleagues.

Tobacco is highly addictive. A health promotion program can offer ways to break the addictive cycle of smoking by offering alternative ways to relieve stress or by replacing unhealthy habits with new healthier activities.

Again, when any activity is done as a group, it may make the whole process easier and psychologically it may make the participant feel more accountable to the group.

Stress is a prominent quality in most work places. More often than not, being able to cope with the day-to-day demands in a healthier way will ease the self-induced stress. Exercise, discussion or utilizing simple relaxation techniques can help diffuse worksite stress.

Having a health promotion program in place is the most important task. Each health promotion program will look different depending on the business, the workplace and its workforce.

Promoting wellness and offering a balanced work environment are essential to an overall successful corporation.

Corporate Wellness : Corporation Health Promotion Programs.

Posted by Corporate Wellness | Posted in Corporate Wellness, Wellness Programs | Posted on 17-11-2010

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It is not uncommon to see the typical workplace offer a business health promotion program. These health promotion programs can look quite different workplace to workplace, but the objectives are normally the same – to promote wellness.

Some organizations will offer a few services that promote wellness. Some worksites have a gym onsite to use during the work week, while others will go so far as to not only have a gym, but also offer showers.

The goal with employee health promotion is to not only make it possible for staff to be healthier, but give them every benefit of being healthy up front.

Wellness fairs where wellness ideas are shared are becoming more popular as well. This would be a less informal wellness program, where the community ordinarily plays a role in the promotion as well as the corporation holding the event.

Some wellness ideas may be as simple as handing out wellness guides with advised dietary charts on them. Other practical ideas may  be ways the employees could burn a few calories at the workplace.

Listing the mileage of walking the diameter of the workplace building may encourage workforce to exercise while on break in lieu of catching up on phone calls.

Health Promotion ideas do not have to be limited to diet and exercise; they could cover stress relief techniques as well. Some organizations offer a yoga class once a month or an worker sponsored activity or discussion group each week. These are all ways to promote wellness in the worksite.

Some health promotion programs could  be more complex and involve a customized plan for each worker, but some corporations may not be willing to cover the costs of such health promotion programs. There are a multitude of ideas and resources available web-based as well.

A company wellness program doesn’t have to be expensive or limited. It can combine cost effectiveness with a wide range of services. Offering a healthful and balanced worksite is the ultimate goal for each worker.

Corporate Wellness : Health Promotion Program Trends.

Posted by Corporate Wellness | Posted in Corporate Wellness, Wellness Programs | Posted on 16-11-2010

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A health promotion program and career health wellness can go hand in hand. A health promotion program in the worksite can be designed to help manage an worker’s healthcare needs in addition to ensure that career objectives are healthy and in balance.

Now a health promotion program can’t fix something as severe as fallopian tube obstruction, but it can help the worker manage the stress and physical needs that may accompany such an ailment.

A lot of women who suffer premenstrual headaches find themselves switching from one birth control pill to another, but oftentimes, an corporate wellness program can help identify ways to manage such headaches without modifying medication.

Wellness products are not normally promoted in a wellness program, although they are not discouraged. Worker wellness programs are most frequently used to help staff identify basic ways to improve their health and wellness, through bettering diet and adding regular exercise.

A good health promotion program will also tailor specific activities, meals or recommendations to each person depending on their specific needs.  The activity level for a personal recovering from knee replacement surgery will look much different than the routine for a normal functioning adult.

Worker health promotion are going to be unique

Many companys find that offering an occasional worksite massage is enough to promote a good spirit of workmanship in the worksite.

It is indisputable that a massage feels refreshing, but studies have shown that a good deep tissue massage promotes good circulation, increased brain activity and enhances alertness for several hours, all good factors in the worksite.

A wellness program isn’t a surefire way to get all staff on the same page as far as their health and wellness, but it’s a step in the right direction.

When more corporations promote wellness in the workplace it becomes the norm and personnel are more likely to follow suit by taking responsibility for their health making good long-term options.