Internal Wellness Programs in the Corporate Environment: Success and - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Internal Wellness Programs in the Corporate Environment: Success and Failures Elizabeth Campbell, MPH, ATC Wellness/Fitness Supervisor BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina

Objectives  Introduce several worksite wellness resources, focusing on WELCOA’s Seven Benchmarks for Success  Share programming ideas for employee wellness and corporate fitness  Discuss several challenges that many employee wellness programs face

WELCOA (Wellness Councils of America)  Established as not-for- profit organization in the 1980’s  Strives to improve the health and well-being of all working Americans  WELCOA believes: » Healthcare costs are an issue of significant concern. » A healthy workforce is essential to America's continued growth and prosperity. » Much of the illness in the U.S. is directly preventable. » The workplace is an ideal setting to address health and well-being. » Workplace wellness programs can transform corporate culture and change lives.

WELCOA- Free Resources  Free 14-day trail available  Expert Interviews  Case studies  Presentations  Incentive Campaigns  Helpful websites  E-newsletter  Posters, newsletters, books, brochures available for purchase

WELCOA- Subscriber Resources  Subscriber resources » Membership- $365/year » $125/year additional for additional memberships within the same company

WELCOA- Subscriber Resources  Well Workplace University  Wellness Training Webinars  SWELL- Social Networking for Wellness Professionals  Comprehensive incentive campaigns  Absolute Advantage online  Monthly expert interviews  Reproducible health bulletins  Annual Buyer’s Guide  Discounted pricing  Presentations  Tools and Surveys  Well Workplace Checklist

WELCOA Seven Benchmarks of Success  Benchmark #1: Capturing CEO Support  When the CEO gets behind wellness initiatives, things begin to change. » 4 Characteristics of Capturing Senior Level Support • CEO’s communication practices regarding wellness • CEO’s resource allocation practices • CEO’s delegation practices • CEO’s personal health promotion practices  Be prepared to provide information about the benefits of employee wellness.

WELCOA Seven Benchmarks of Success  Benchmark #2: Creating Cohesive Wellness Teams  Programs cannot be successful when only one person is responsible for the organization’s wellness initiatives » 2 Characteristics of Creating a Cohesive Wellness Team • The wellness team’s history and composition • The wellness team’s method of operation  Keep different locations, job functions, shifts and company tenure in mind when creating a Wellness Team.

WELCOA Seven Benchmarks of Success  Benchmark #3: Collecting Data to Drive Health Efforts  You can’t change what you can’t measure  4 Steps to Collecting Data to Drive A Results-Oriented Wellness Initiative » Organizational data (modifiable health care claims and demographics) » Employee health data (health interest, health risk appraisal information and health screening data, health knowledge) » Physical environment data (workstation ergonomics, cafeteria set up, and heating/ventilation) » Employee protection and productivity data (absenteeism, disability, workers’ compensation)

WELCOA Seven Benchmarks of Success  Benchmark #4: Carefully Crafting an Operating Plan  7 Components of an Exceptional Operating Plan » Vision/Mission Statement for the Wellness Program that incorporates the organization’s core philosophies » Specific goals and measureable objectives that are linked to the company’s strategic priorities » Timelines for implementation » Roles and responsibilities for completion of objectives » Itemized budget sufficient to carry out the Wellness Plan » Appropriate marketing strategies to effectively promote the Wellness Plan » Evaluation procedures to measure the goals and objectives

WELCOA Seven Benchmarks of Success  Benchmark #5: Choosing Appropriate Interventions  5 Issues to Consider When Choosing Appropriate Health Interventions » What programs will be offered » How intensive the intervention will be (awareness, education, behavior change, cultural enhancement) » How often the programs will be offered » Who they will be offered to (spouses, dependents, retirees) » What incentives will be used to increase participation

WELCOA Seven Benchmarks of Success  Benchmark #6: Creating a Supporting Environment  9 Steps to Creating a Supportive, Health-Promoting Environment » Increase physical activity » Reduce tobacco use » Promote better nutrition » Improve workstation ergonomics » Reduce unintended on-the-job injuries » Extinguish the use of alcohol and other drugs » Better manage and reduce job-related stress » Increase participation among all employees » Maintain organization benefits that protect and promote good health among all employees

WELCOA Seven Benchmarks of Success  Benchmark #7: Carefully Evaluating Outcomes  8 Targets to Monitor When Carefully Evaluating Outcomes » Participation » Participant Satisfaction » Improvements in Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors » Changes in Biometric Measures » Risk Factors » Physical Environment and Corporate Culture » Productivity » Return on Investment

National Wellness Institute  Comprehensive vision of wellness  Six Dimensions of Wellness Model

National Wellness Institute- Free Resources  Wellness news feed  Press Releases  Health Observances Calendar  Free Holistic Lifestyle Questionnaires through TestWell.org » Teen, College, Adult, Older Adult  Academic wellness program information

National Wellness Institute- Subscriber Resources  Subscriber Resources » Organizational Core Membership- $275/year » Organizational Core Membership Plus- $375/year  Online publications: » Health Promotion Practitioner (bi-monthly) » Wellness Management (archived) » Wellness News You Can Use (monthly) » Ask the expert (archived)  Free monthly webinars (CEUs available)  Current research abstracts  Job Connection  Discounts » National Wellness Conference registration. » NWI Certified Worksite Wellness Specialist and Certified Worksite Wellness Program Manager Certification Programs.

Free Resources US Department of Health and Human Services – HHS.gov  HHS HealthBeat- Recorded tips with audio

Free Resources US Department of Health and Human Services – HHS.gov  Today’s Headlines - healthfinder.gov

Free Resources US Department of Health and Human Services – HHS.gov  HHS Newsroom- Press Releases

Free Resources  MedlinePlus » Topic-specific e-mails • Heart Disease • Nutrition • Physical Activity • Obesity • Sports Injuries • Many others

Free Resources- AHIP Wellness SmartBrief  Daily e-mail with up-to- date wellness trends and program ideas  Excellent for new wellness programs or established programs looking for fresh ideas

CDC LeanWorks

Free Resources  Eat Smart, Move More South Carolina » Options for Action- Workplace  LiveWell Greenville  South Carolina Hospital Association  North Carolina Prevention Partners  American Heart Association  WorkWell NC

Corporate Wellness Challenges  Lack of Senior-Level Support » Key to changing policy, environment and culture  Large businesses  Multiple locations  Multiple shifts  Limited staff  “We want…”  “But the company down the street does it”

Increase Opportunities for Program Success  Take the time to plan » Long-term » Short-term  Define success during planning phase  Carefully determine which programs have the most potential impact  Forecast potential challenges  Utilize your passionate employees  Get the “requesters” involved  Use programs that can affect several aspects of health rather than one specific condition

Limit Opportunities for Program Failure  Trying to do it all » Internal “experts” » Vendors  Policing unhealthy behaviors  Moving on to the next program before evaluating the current program. » After-action review is key  Assuming an incentive will guarantee program success  Not allotting time for “test phase” » Technology » Products » Communications

Our Wellness Initiatives   Health Risk Assessments Onsite Farmer’s Market   Health Screenings Discounted Fitness Center Memberships to off-site  Flu shots employees  Newsletters  Onsite Fitness Centers  Blood Drives » Group Exercise  Weight Watchers » Fitness Assessments and  Lunch and Learn presentations Curriculums  Onsite Massage » Special events and clinics  Mobile Mammography » Online wellness platform  Healthy Eating Programs » Usage incentive