Health and Nutrition Wellness - Preventive Health Solutions for Kids and Adults

Worksite Health Management Programs: Improving the Bottom Line
Stephanie Richards, R.D.,M.P.A Registered Dietitian Master of Public Administration
	The food your employees consume on a regular basis can produce two different results; improve their health or increase their risk of disease. Currently in the United States poor dietary habits and poor nutrient intake have a direct impact on 5 of the 10 leading causes of death. These include heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
In an effort to address the ever increasing rise of health care costs many employers are turning to registered dietitians to provide worksite health management programs. These programs include a needs assessment of the organization and a proactive wellness education plan. The wellness education plan includes goals & outcomes, implementation, evaluation, and options for follow up services and support.
Research demonstrates the cost effectiveness of utilizing nutrition and lifestyle interventions to prevent and treat chronic disease. The Diabetes Prevention Program showed that diet and exercise can effectively delay diabetes of overweight persons and improve insulin response by 58% Pfizer Corporation projected $728,772 in annual savings from reduced cardiac claims of their employees from an on-site nutrition/exercise program. In a 1999 article in the Journal of the American Medical Association the authors concluded that “health payers seeking to minimize health care charges may wish to consider strategic investments in interventions that effectively modify adverse health risks {such as diet and obesity}.” The Lewin Group, a highly respected health policies research firm, documented an 9.5% reduction in hospital utilization and 23.5% reduction in physician visits when medical nutrition therapy was provided to patients with diabetes mellitus and a corresponding 8.6% & 16.9% reduction with cardiovascular patients.
		Employer sponsored preventive health programs could provide similar cost savings to your organization. Based on the results from the Lewin study mentioned above, calculate the return on investment for your organization. Figure the savings not only for your employees, but for your entire insured population. The following equations can provide an idea of your cost savings using your data:
Claims for hospitalizations for diabetes mellitus: __________ x 9.5% = ___________ Estimated savings Claims for medical doctor visits for diabetes mellitus: __________x 23.5% = ___________ Estimated savings Claims for hospitalizations for cardiovascular disease: __________ x 8.6% = ___________ Estimated savings Claims for medical doctor visits for cardiovascular disease: __________x 16.9% = __________Estimated savings
Employees spend almost half their waking hours at the workplace. By providing a workplace for your employees that promotes a healthy lifestyle your company will be rewarded with: Lower health care costs Decreased absenteeism Improved productivity Reduced on-the-job injuries and workers’ compensation costs Improved employee morale An improved ability to attract and retain prime employees. A workplace that is supportive of preventive health will influence its employees to make positive changes at work, and this will also carry over into the home and the community. Worksite wellness programs have the potential of improving the health of our entire country!