The Business Case for Community Health Improvement:
Why should the business community become involved in community health improvement?
Many community health advocates struggle with this question. It seems logical that chronic illness would have a bottom line impact on business productivity. But how can you quantify that impact -- overall, and for specific disease states? Also, what makes prevention and control of chronic illness a community health concern rather than simply an internal business concern? Below are a selection of resources, articles and community based models related to employer-based health promotion programs.
Cost Calculators
Employers who understand the costs of physical inactivity and low quality health care are more likely to become actively engaged in health promotion. Here are two cost calculators to help employers explore the costs and benefits of proactive health promotion. Although CHRC cannot guarantee the methodological accuracy of these calculators, they are useful for stimulating discussion about employee and community health.
- The Active Living Leadership Cost of Physical Inactivity Calculator provides an estimate of the financial cost of physically inactive people to a particular community, city, state or business. Active Living Leadership also provides companion resources and information for healthier workplaces and communities that are more supportive of physical activity.
- The NCQA Quality Dividend Calculator (TM). The National Committee for Quality Assurance has developed a free, on-line tool that allows the user to estimate the impact of health care quality on worker productivity and absenteeism. The site also provides research documentation to support the model assumptions about the impact of asthma, hypertension, heart disease, children's care, depression, diabetes, and smoking.
Resources:
- GetFit.SAMHSA.Gov,an interactive workplace Web site that contains information about physical health, mental health, drugs, and alcohol. The goal is to improve the health, safety, and quality of life for employees and their families across the Nation. GetFit.SAMHSA.Gov provides the information and resources that can help reach that goal by creating a healthy environment at work and at home.
- Healthy Workforce 2010. Designed to educate employers, this publication addresses worksite-specific objectives of Healthy People 2010. Provides information on worksite health promotion.
- Wellness Councils of America (WELCOA) is a national non-profit membership organization dedicated to promoting healthier life styles for all Americans, especially through health promotion initiatives at the worksite. Website includes articles on “Building a Well Workplace” and “Seven Benchmarks of Success” as well as examples of employer based health promotion programs.
Articles: A selection of related abstracts and articles
- The Business Case for Active Living at Work. This template has been provided by the Health Canada Active Living at Work Program to help people prepare documentation for their own organization health promotion programs. It is for reference only and will have to be expanded and adapted to suit the needs of each organization.
Community Based Models of Workplace Wellness Programs
- Active Living at Work is the third major initiative undertaken by Health Canada to improve the physical activity levels of Canadians since 1998. The first two initiatives were the launch in 1998 of Canada's Physical Activity Guide to Healthy, Active Living followed by Canada's Physical Activity Guide for Older Adults in 1999.
- LIFECHECK, Coors Wellness Center, Golden, Colorado. LIFECHECK is a voluntary, in-plant cardiovascular risk identification and modification program, developed to complement Coors Wellness Center-based programs. Coors, also utilizes a web-based risk assessment and education program. Coors worked with Mayo Clinic Health Management Resources Program for program development and evaluation.
- Maine Cardiovascular Health Program (MCVHP) The worksite component of the MCVHP aims to increase the presence of policies and environmental supports for heart health at businesses across Maine. MCVHP interventions target physical inactivity, poor nutrition, and tobacco use. A training manual with a readable and comprehensive plan, including examples from the pilot sites, has been developed and is available to any business or group. Information about this program can be found by selecting the link for Maine Cardiovascular Health Program (MCVHP) on the website for the Maine Cardiovascular Health Council.
- Southern Maine Wellness Council is a non-profit organization within the USM Lifeline’s Center, developed in the late 1980’s by Greater Portland United Way. The primary purpose of the Southern Maine Wellness Council is to provide advocacy, leadership and support for worksite health improvement through activities including continuing education, resource development and networking. These efforts are directed toward employers, employees/family members and health care providers in the Southern Maine area.
- Utah Council for Worksite Health Promotion This resource provides information for worksite health promotion and wellness information in the state of Utah. The UCWHP provides an annual worksite health promotion conference, a worksite awards program, resources for implementing wellness programs, as well as links to the best worksite wellness web sites.
- Worksite Health Promotion Program, NIH. This program offers NIH employees opportunities to learn and practice healthful behaviors and to integrate health promotion and disease prevention activities into all aspects of work life. http://odp.od.nih.gov/whpp/default.html
Related Information can also be found within the CHRN website at:
