* Hospitals increasingly offer comprehensive corporate wellness programs
* NJBIZ spoke with local health care institutions about individual activities
* Offerings include cardiac screenings, webinars, prevention services and more
In a bid to foster healthier work environments, along with enhancing employee well-being and encouraging preventive health care, many hospitals are increasingly offering comprehensive corporate wellness programs. These forward-thinking initiatives are designed to address a wide range of health concerns, from cardiovascular health to mental well-being, and are tailored to meet the specific needs of each organization. NJBIZ spoke with some local health care institutions about their individual activities.
When a self-insured employer client came to Atlantic Corporate Health, a division of Atlantic Health, after seeing an increase in cardiac incidents among employees, "They initially requested cardiac screenings customized around their employees with on-site biometric screenings," according to Catherine McCarthy, director, Atlantic Corporate Health at Atlantic Health. "ACH answered the call and then took the program to the next level by adding health navigation for their employees identified to be at risk or trending toward risk. This not only enabled us to provide wellness education and health coaching, but also automatically connected employees directly with the right cardiology and primary care practices nearest to them. Health care is local, and ACH is there, providing local health care services that meet patients where they are, directly to high-quality care."
ACH provides innovative employee health and wellness solutions to more than 1,200 organizations, added McCarthy. "Empowering employees to become healthy and to remain healthy, Atlantic Corporate Health's doctors, advanced practice nurses, registered nurses, health educators, nutritionists, exercise physiologists, and other care givers are able to deliver a full suite of services that preserves and promotes health and wellness," she said.
McCarthy acknowledged the challenges that self-insured employers and their health care brokers face, noting they need "new, innovative ways to access higher quality care," while reducing overall cost, which is expected to rise about 8% this year alone.
She said ACH meets this challenge by focusing on improving productivity, employee retention and providing easy access to high-quality, affordable health care. "ACH tailors programs that fit the needs of its clients with benefits design, vaccine programs, educational seminars, employer-based clinicians, as well as Travel MD, executive health, occupational health, workers' compensation care and many other services throughout New Jersey," she said. "For clients focused on cardiovascular health, ACH programs can focus on identifying, addressing and treating the top drivers of good cardiac health, including managing high cholesterol, blood pressure, and diabetes as well as good diet, exercise and mental health."
At Valley Health, a "Workplace Connection" initiative offers "corporate wellness programs designed to help companies improve the health of their employees through prevention, early detection and information sharing," according to a spokesperson. "A well-tailored program that focuses on the needs and interests of your employees and corporation can reduce health care costs, lower turnover rates, improve morale and increase productivity. Our professional staff provide webinars that educate your employees on a variety of health topics. The topics for these 30-45-minute health education sessions are based upon the needs and interests of each employer and typically are in a lunch-and-learn format held midday."
Enrolling in Valley Health Corporate Wellness Services lets employees view a list of webinars and register for the upcoming events of their choice, including live webinar presentations by leading professionals. Following each presentation, a moderated question and answer session is held with the presenter and/or medical professional, where participants can type questions with the option to submit them anonymously. All webinars are available on-demand once aired. Employees also have the option of signing up for a health screening.
A healthy ROI
An increasing number of companies recognize the value of preventative health care programs and are signing up for them, noted Bergen NewBridge Medical Center's Dr. Efia James, medical director, Occupational Health. "Many employers understand the importance of the overall health of their workforce," she said. "Many wellness initiatives encompass financial education, mental health, and physical fitness, among other areas. Employers are starting to see the disadvantages of an unhealthy workforce and how it impacts on their profits and return on investment. Studies have shown that employees with chronic medical conditions are more likely to experience work-related injuries or illnesses, which raises workers' compensation costs and health insurance premiums."
Employees spend most of their waking hours at work, so "The workplace is typically a structured environment with built-in communication channels that are ideal for disseminating health information," she added. "Employers can contribute to health and wellbeing by promoting activity at work by providing a gym, walking paths and encouraging employees to use their breaks for 'movement' activities. More jobs are becoming sedentary - including remote work and computer-computer-based work - and we know that a sedentary lifestyle increases your risk of developing chronic health conditions."
Workplace policies that promote health and well-being, "can provide support and accessibility for employees who want to maintain a healthy lifestyle both at work and outside of work," James explained. "They reduce employee stress by offering flexible schedules. Many employers through these programs provide healthy food options and nutrition education at work during workshops and some offer health screenings.
Meeting companies', employees' needs
Saint Peter's Healthcare System offers a variety of corporate wellness programs, with services that include educational lectures - with or without a lunch-and-learn format - and heart health, breast health awareness and other programs. The University Hospital's Community Health Services offers employer-sponsored corporate wellness programs, according to Lisa DiGiovanni, director of community health services at the health care institution.
"These programs are designed to meet the company's needs and support the health and well-being of its employees. The aim in working collaboratively with the company's occupational health department is to reduce health care costs, increase employee productivity, and morale." Companies serviced by Saint Peter's programs include Bristol Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson and American Standard.
Saint Peter's Community Health Services team offers "wellness seminars on various topics, including heart health," DiGiovanni explained. "The team provides biometric screenings to employees, including measurements of total cholesterol, A1c [which measures an individual's risk of developing diabetes], blood sugar, blood pressure and bone density. We also provide preventive care by offering influenza vaccinations in the fall season."
And at a time when employee well-being and productivity are emphasized, Virtua understands "how important work is to your personal and professional well-being," according to a spokesperson. "For both employees and employers alike, missing work, for any number of reasons, can add an immense amount of stress, anxiety and financial strain. That's why our occupational health program aims to get you or your team back to work or guide you through the employment process as quickly and efficiently as possible. By connecting with our occupational health specialists, you can expect board-certified occupational medicine providers who deliver expert care tailored to your workplace health. You'll also connect with dedicated case managers committed to your well-being and safety."
Among other features, Virtua is equipped to create and coordinate customized programs that meet employer's screening requirements, along with cardio-pulmonary rehab, "which is a terrific service for helping people restore/regain cardiovascular health," the spokesperson noted. "We offer our own employees a range of health and wellness offerings, which we present under the umbrella term 'WE Thrive,' which addresses six areas of well-being: emotional, financial, intellectual, physical, spiritual and belonging/connection."
Promoting lifelong wellness
Other New Jersey institutions have their own specialized programs. Hunterdon Health, for example, offers a variety of cardiac and other services tailored to employees, local communities and businesses, according to Dr. Rupen Parikh, a cardiologist who leads Hunterdon Health's Cardiac Rehab. "Hunterdon Health promotes lifelong wellness with resources to help individuals stay healthy at every age," he detailed. "Our Hunterdon Health & Wellness Centers, located in Clinton and Whitehouse Station, are medically-based facilities focused on disease management and health enhancement."
A medical director oversees program activities at all centers, he added, with a variety of exercise and other programs, state-of-the-art equipment, and "fun and challenging group exercise classes. Our staff can assist members with everyday fitness, personal training, weight management, health education and more. All members receive a personalized fitness assessment and exercise equipment orientations prior to beginning an individually tailored program. Periodic reassessments and coaching sessions are offered as well to evaluate progress. Our centers offer spa-like amenities including steam rooms, saunas and professional massages."
The health care organization offers "a variety of services for businesses -- we are open to discussing customized options to meet an organization's wellness needs and interests," Parikh detailed. Programs include corporate fitness memberships, on-site group classes, team building and wellness challenges, corporate retreats, and educational lunch-and-learn programs.
"[O]ur services are designed to meet the needs of your employees at any place in their wellness journey," according to Parikh. "The Hunterdon Health & Wellness Centers will work with you every step of the way in developing your company's customized wellness plan and help your employees become happier, healthier and more productive." The Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy departments also have offices within the centers, Parikh said. "This way, patients can seamlessly transition into a Hunterdon Health & Wellness Center as a member when they are discharged from their therapeutic program.