Workplace Wellness : Choosing the Right Type of Wellness Program.

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 corporations in the form of healthcare and disability costs, lost productivity, and absenteeism.
Wellness Programs should address risky behaviors that can help your workforce eat healthier, increase their level of physical activity, help reduce stress, lower blood pressure (BP) and cholesterol, and quit use of tobacco. Health promotion programs should focus on assisting workforce achieve and maintain their optimal health status.

Robust 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 companies offer some kind of health promotion program for their personnel, but is it the right type?

Primary Kinds of Wellness Programs

Programs focusing on illness management. These wellness programs monitor and treat specific diseases. Disease management follows the 80/20 rule -  80% of health care costs are spent on 20% of staff.

Disease management is reported to have a $7 to $10 return on investment within a year.  The 20% of personnel requiring the greatest medical expenditures today are typically not the same 20% who’ll cause the greatest health care expenses a year or two down the road.

Programs focusing on health enhancement and risk management. These wellness 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 is imperative 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 Company Decisions

• Based on more than 120 scientific research studies, the National Corporation 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 lowered health care costs per dollar invested.

• $5.82 in lower absenteeism per dollar invested.