Tobacco Resources and Best Practices for Employers
By Kristin Lamb, CHWC The Indiana State Department of Health reports that employers are greatly impacted by the burden of tobacco use. The average annual healthcare cost associated with tobacco use in Indiana is $2.2 billion. Plus the average annual cost burden due to lost productivity related to smoking in Indiana is $2.6 billion. Luckily, […]
Wellness Screenings: Why They Matter to Employees and Why They Should Matter to You
By Brittany Wonnell, RD, CHWC After completing a biometric screening and taking a health assessment, your employees are now aware of their health. Awareness and receiving education is an important initial step in making healthy lifestyle changes. Carlo DiClemente’s Transtheoretical Model suggests that cognitive processes such as obtaining information and finding the benefits of changing […]
Why Data Matters
By Mark Smith, Director of Population Health PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) estimates that in 2016 total healthcare spending will increase by 6.5 percent from 2015. Even though this estimate greatly exceeds the overall consumer price index, the rate of growth in healthcare spending has steadily declined from 11.9 percent in 2007. Still, healthcare insurance premiums are a […]
Integrating Technology with Wellness Programs
By Mindi Matthews, MBA, CHWC Smartphones, laptops and other devices are heavily used in today’s workplace. Well-configured applications can provide 24/7 engagement with employees on their health and wellness issues/goals. For example, reminders to go for a 20-minute walk, to drink 64 ounces of water, take a prescribed medication or schedule a follow-up visit with […]