Linda K. Riddell
Chief data scientistLinda K. Riddell, MS, is chief data scientist at the Validation Institute.
Linda K. Riddell, MS, is chief data scientist at the Validation Institute.
Comparing wellness program participants to nonparticipants is a widely repeated mistake. It continues because employers are not schooled in research study design.
The obituary for traditional wellness programs has been widely published, though perhaps not universally acknowledged. What, indeed, went wrong?
The Validation Institute certifies individuals as competent to review, analyze, and produce health program measures. Given the high stakes millions of dollars in savings its comforting that not just any 11-year-old could pass.
Commentary: Your new wellness vendors presentation showed impressive results from their work with other clients risk factors reduced, cost curves bent, and ROI blossomed. It all sounds terrific.
Commentary: The closer you look, the lower the return on investment for wellness programs. Thats the take-home message from a thorough, scientific review published by the American Journal of Health Promotion.
Opinion: While some thought that expensive, broad-based health screening programs were a thing of the past, the AHA's policies may support practices that should have been abandoned long ago.
Wondering if your wellness program is delivering the goods or just delivering good profits to your vendor? Intel and GEs joint venture Validation Institute will tell you. Think of it as a new sheriff in the wild west of wellness ROI, armed with science and a calculator.