Wellness That Works: Employee Wellness Program Making Financial, Heart Health Impacts
A new study in Healthcare shows that the UR Medicine Center for Employee Wellness generated a significant return on investment for employers and helped program participants reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease.
Across all levels of cardiovascular disease risk, cost-savings for individuals participating in Employee Wellness programming were $1,224 per person, or a $4.90 return on investment for every $1 spent. Among employees with a moderate to high cardiovascular disease risk who participated in Employee Wellness, 48 percent improved their risk compared to the predicted risk, and 33 percent improved by a full category.
That’s good news for both employees and employers, given that about one-sixth of annual healthcare spending is attributed to the treatment of cardiovascular disease, and nearly half of adults in the U.S. have it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
UR Medicine Employee Wellness currently serves 85 organizations throughout Western New York, ranging from school districts to manufacturers, impacting nearly 70,000 individuals.
“Being able to quantify the impact of Employee Wellness through a peer-reviewed journal is a reaffirmation that we are effectively meeting the needs of the populations we work with,” said Renu Singh, MS, CEO of UR Medicine Employee Wellness. “There is no cookie-cutter approach when it comes to wellness. We are embedded in the communities we serve and passionate about making wellness work through personalized, tailored programming.”
Employee Wellness programming continues to evolve to proactively address Western New Yorkers’ various healthcare needs. New programs introduced over the past year focus on menopause, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and osteoarthritis.
Founded in 2012, Employee Wellness is distinguished by its high-engagement, successful programming, which includes personal health assessments, an online wellness portal with tailored content, and lifestyle and chronic condition management coaching.
Unlike typical for-profit wellness companies, UR Medicine Employee Wellness is housed in the University of Rochester School of Nursing and is part of URMC, which makes it unique among wellness organizations. As part of the University, the program has access to resources that keep the programs and practitioners responsive, current, and innovative.
Cheryl Ellenwood, a nurse in the Department of Anesthesiology at Strong Memorial Hospital, has benefited from the Employee Wellness program’s biometric screenings for several years. One year, when her numbers rose to concerning levels despite what she considered to be a decent diet and exercise regimen, she turned to one-on-one coaching with clinical nutritionist Catherine Pluta, MSACN. Together, they worked on a plan to help Ellenwood make changes to her diet.
“Just knowing that I had someone to be accountable to helped motivate me,” said Ellenwood. “I wanted to do a good job — not only for myself but for her too.”
Ellenwood lost 18 pounds since working with Employee Wellness and has been able to maintain her weight for several months. “I am happier, healthier, and back to a weight that much more fits my frame,” she said. “This was a really great, really enlightening experience.”
Find out more about Employee Wellness programming. Employers can also request a demo.
