Workplace Wellness Programs - Level 3
| Typical Program Steps | Level 3 is a comprehensive approach to health promotion and wellness. It builds on the Traditional Program in Level 2 and incorporates a definitive plan to achieve specific goals and Return on Investment – a very well planned “Results Oriented Approach” to health cost management supported throughout all levels of the company. |
| Collect Data and Set Benchmarks |
Benchmarking is essential at this level. Groups collect very good baseline data for both individuals and the group as a whole for several key areas, then use these data points as benchmarks to establish clear goals for their program. The important point here is to gather accurate, measurable data to effectively gauge success in the future. |
| Identify Areas of Need and Set Goals |
Health assessments are a key part of this process, as they help determine such items as total number of risk factors, likelihood of disease onset and modifiable lifestyle traits that can be improved. Other items like annual health care claims costs and disease related expenses are also documented and targeted for improvement. |
| Programming and Lifestyle Management |
Success here is two-fold. First, create an environment that is both safe and fun to promote a happy, friendly place that people enjoy. Then, personalize health and wellness initiatives to foster personal growth and responsibility among all employees and their spouses. This is achieved thru a variety of offerings, a comprehensive personal education program the highlights current health risk factors and an emphasis on modifiable lifestyle issues. |
| Interventions and Disease Management Services |
This is one of the most important areas of a well-designed and integrated wellness program. At this point, companies serious about cost containment allocate adequate resources to aggressively manage those who have the greatest impact on overall health care costs. Programs need to be administered by trained professionals, dedicated to assisting participants in the areas of: Weight Loss, Stress Reduction, Smoking Cessation, Heart Disease, and Diabetes Management. |
| Incentive and Reward Programs |
Incentives and rewards become increasingly important in order to foster the kind of participation rates necessary to see significant change within a population. Incentives that are well defined and very meaningful will promote participation and create a culture focused on improvement at the individual level and in the reduction of overall group health claim costs. Tangible benefits like gift cards and cash rewards for completing specific program milestones are excellent examples for this level of programming. |
| Outcome Review and ROI Calculations |
Several tools are used here to measure outcomes, progress and status of individuals and the overall population, from health management reports that identify progress, to annual claims analysis comparisons to identify cost trends. The key here is to utilize well-trained personnel and consistent measurement methods to perform the outcome reviews. Successful programs will yield a very healthy ROI of 5:1 or more! |