Corporate Wellness : Picking the Right Type of Wellness Program.
Posted by Corporate Wellness | Posted in Corporate Wellness, Wellness Programs | Posted on 25-08-2010
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Research studies show that untargeted health-promotion campaigns have little long-term impact.
Chronic illnesss, which rob person and families of their health and happiness, represent major costs to businesss in the form of healthcare and disability costs, lost productivity, and absenteeism.
Health Promotion Programs should address risky behaviors that can help your staff members eat healthier, increase their level of physical activity, help reduce stress, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and quit use of tobacco. Wellness programs should focus on helping staff members achieve and maintain their optimal health status.
Comprehensive wellness programs focused on changing lifestyle behavior have been proven to yield a $3 to $6 return on investment for each dollar invested. It takes about three to five years after the initial wellness program investment to realize these savings.
Ninety-three percent of USA businesses offer some type of health promotion program for their staff, but is it the right type?
Main Types of Health Promotion Programs
Programs focusing on illness management. These wellness programs monitor and treat specific illnesses. Disease management follows the 80/20 rule – 80 percent of healthcare costs are spent on 20 percent of workers.
Illness management is announced to have a $7 to $10 return on investment within a year. The 20% of staff requiring the greatest medical expenditures today are generally different 20% who’ll cause the greatest healthcare costs a year or two down the road.
Programs focusing on health enhancement and risk management. These health promotion programs focus on lifestyle behavior change, and offer a $3 to $6 return on investment within two to five years, according to a 2004 report issued by the National Business Group on Health.
It’s vital that you note that a $3 to $6 return on an entire employee population produces a higher sum savings than does illness management.
Good Data Drives Good Business Decisions
• Based on more than 120 research, the National Business Group on Health stated that, within five years of health promotion program implementation, overall benefit-to-cost ratios (return on investment) of –
• $3.48 in decreased health care costs per dollar invested.
• $5.82 in decrease rates of absenteeism per dollar invested.