Objective: We sought to estimate the impact of corporate health-management and risk-reduction programs for The Dow Chemical Company by using a prospective return-on-investment (ROI) model. Methods: ...The risk and expenditure estimates were derived from multiple regression analyses showing relationships between worker demographics, health risks, and medical expenditures. Results: A "break-even" scenario would require Dow to reduce each of 10 population health risks by 0.17% points per year over the course of 10 years. More successful efforts at reducing health risks in the population would produce a more significant ROI for the company. Conclusions: Findings from this study were incorporated into other components of a business case for health and productivity management, and these supported continued investments in health improvement programs designed to achieve risk reduction and cost savings.
This report was prepared by the Center for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion in the Institute for Health and Productivity Management as part of an effort to improve understanding of the ...connection between employee health and performance and to begin to identify new strategies through which treating health as an investment in human capital can lead to greater business success. Computer database searches of peer-reviewed literature published between 1993 and 1998 and manual reviews of 20 journals were used to identify research on the link between employee health and performance. Data was extracted to summarize the overall findings on the magnitude of health problems addressed by health promotion and disease prevention programs, and the impact of interventions on improving health risk, reducing medical care cost, and improving worker performance. From this summary, major conclusions on early detection of disease, the impact of behavior change programs, and appropriate care-seeking were drawn. This systematic review is supplemented with summaries of 15 seminal articles and descriptions of five leading-practices programs. The influence of developments in work/family issues, complementary and alternative medicine, and quality of care and health outcomes research are briefly discussed. Finally, a conceptual framework for studying the impact of health and productivity is described.
The workplace is an important setting for promoting cardiovascular health and cardiovascular disease and stroke prevention in the United States. Well-designed, comprehensive workplace wellness ...programs have the potential to improve cardiovascular health and to reduce mortality, morbidity, and disability resulting from cardiovascular disease and stroke. Nevertheless, widespread implementation of comprehensive workplace wellness programs is lacking, and program composition and quality vary. Several organizations provide worksite wellness recognition programs; however, there is variation in recognition criteria, and they do not specifically focus on cardiovascular disease and stroke prevention. Although there is limited evidence to suggest that company performance on employer health management scorecards is associated with favorable healthcare cost trends, these data are not currently robust, and further evaluation is needed. As a recognized national leader in evidence-based guidelines, care systems, and quality programs, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association is uniquely positioned and committed to promoting the adoption of comprehensive workplace wellness programs, as well as improving program quality and workforce health outcomes. As part of its commitment to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association will promote science-based best practices for comprehensive workplace wellness programs and establish benchmarks for a national workplace wellness recognition program to assist employers in applying the best systems and strategies for optimal programming. The recognition program will integrate identification of a workplace culture of health and achievement of rigorous standards for cardiovascular health based on Life's Simple 7 metrics. In addition, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association will develop resources that assist employers in meeting these rigorous standards, facilitating access to high-quality comprehensive workplace wellness programs for both employees and dependents, and fostering innovation and additional research.
OBJECTIVE:To explore factors that matter to business in making decisions regarding engagement in community health improvement efforts.
METHODS:Using qualitative methods, domains of interest were ...identified through literature reviews and expert interviews. Relevance of the domains in terms of potential priorities for action was tested through employer and community stakeholder interviews.
RESULTS:Factors that employers considered important to sustained community collaboration as a business priority included (1) credibility of the convener, (2) broad representation of the community, (3) strong mission and goals, (4) individual commitment to health, (5) organizational commitment to health, and (6) demonstrated commitment from leadership.
CONCLUSIONS:Priorities have been identified for engaging business in community health efforts. Implications for research, practice, and policy include the need for measurement, transparency in reporting, and agreement on principles for public-private partnership in this area.
Corporate America and Community Health Pronk, Nicolaas P.; Baase, Catherine; Noyce, Jerry ...
Journal of occupational and environmental medicine
57, Številka:
5
Journal Article
Recenzirano
OBJECTIVES:The principal aim of this project was to learn from corporate executives about the most important components of a business case for employer leadership in improving community health.
...METHODS:We used dialogue sessions to gain insight into this issue.
RESULTS:The strongest elements included metrics and measurement, return on investment, communications, shared values, shared vision, shared definitions, and leadership. Important barriers included lack of understanding, lack of clear strategy, complexity of the problem, trust, lack of resources and leadership, policies and regulations, and leadership philosophy. Substantial variability was observed in the degree of understanding of the relationship between corporate health and community health.
CONCLUSIONS:The business case for intentional and strategic corporate investment in community health occurs along a continuum has a set of clearly defined elements that address why investment may make sense, but also asks questions about the “what-to-do” and the “how-to-do-it.”
Many employers in the US are investing in new programmes to improve the quality of medical care and simultaneously shifting more of the healthcare costs to their employees without understanding the ...implications on the amount and type of care their employees will receive. These seemingly contradictory actions reflect an inability by employers to accurately assess how their health benefit decisions affect their profits. This paper proposes a practical method that employers can use to determine how much they should invest in the health of their workers and to identify the best benefit designs to encourage appropriate healthcare delivery and use. This method could also be of value to employers in other countries who are considering implementing programmes to improve employee health. The method allows a programme that improves workers' health to generate four financial benefits for an employer - reduced medical costs, reduced absences, improved on-the-job productivity, and reduced turnover - and uses accurate estimates of the benefits of reducing absences and improving productivity.
A Wake-Up Call for Corporate America Whitmer, R. William; Pelletier, Kenneth R.; Anderson, David R. ...
Journal of occupational and environmental medicine,
09/2003, Letnik:
45, Številka:
9
Journal Article
Recenzirano
The opinion that today's health care system cannot survive without fundamental changes is growing with a number of first-time and recurring events converging that have the potential to accelerate ...medical expenditures beyond what employers, employees, and governments are willing and able to pay including the aging work force, rising hospital costs, and rising obesity. However, when corporations, health care plans, governments, and employees collectively embrace the concept and get serious about the provision, acceptance and utilization of health enhancement and disease prevention programs, it will be a quantum leap forward in resolving the health care cost dilemma. A new approach will develop with the potential to optimize health, reduce illness, absenteeism, lower use, moderate cost increases, and enhance productivity.
OBJECTIVE:To better understand how integrating health and safety strategies in the workplace has evolved and establish a replicable, scalable framework for advancing the concept with a system of ...health and safety metrics, modeled after the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.
METHODS:Seven leading national and international programs aimed at creating a culture of health and safety in the workplace were compared and contrasted.
RESULTS:A list of forty variables was selected, making it clear there is a wide variety of approaches to integration of health and safety in the workplace.
CONCLUSION:Depending on how well developed the culture of health and safety is within a company, there are unique routes to operationalize and institutionalize the integration of health and safety strategies to achieve measurable benefits to enhance the overall health and well-being of workers, their families, and the community.
Communicating epidemiology study results to subjects, affected workers, and community members is an important part of compliance and alignment with our company's policies, industry's Responsible Care ...Principles, and the doctrines of Good Epidemiology Practices. It is the responsibility of the investigators to interpret their research appropriately for each audience, and to assure that all who have a need or right to know get information in a form meaningful to them. We discuss study communication with examples from a recent evaluation of communication efforts within Dow and our experience with occupational and community studies on dioxin. We also discuss how we currently structure worker and community communication based on this experience. Since each Dow protocol must include a communication plan, when we agree to undertake a study, we are also agreeing to communicate study results. Depending upon the nature and type of the study, there may also be some prestudy communication. We encourage all investigators to share the results of their studies more broadly than just scientific publication and plan for the study communication before the study is initiated.
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