Fitness trackers that record data such as heart rate, activity, calories, water and even sleep are an opportunity for employers to make it easier to engage employees in health and wellness programs. Just sync and go! Used in conjunction with a broad-based wellness strategy, fitness trackers can raise awareness of factors contributing to health issues, including: high resting heart rate, obesity, too little sleep, daily inactivity and daily food intake.
But are trackers the be-all, end-all in employee wellness?
Some recent surveys have shown that fitness trackers are not helping users realize a measurable impact on their health and well-being. For example, a 2016 survey by HealthMine found that 46% of people who use fitness trackers say the data collected is not incorporated into their healthcare.
It’s important to recognize that fitness trackers are not a standalone solution. They are one tool of a holistic health and wellness strategy. And, like any tool, participants require education in order to realize significant rewards. Therefore, an employer-provided education process should include:
· An overall program that integrates fitness tracker data
· A wellness platform (through the health insurance carrier or a third-party vendor) that can track, collect and aggregate fitness tracker data
· Information on how fitness tracker data can positively impact the participant’s ability to maintain their current level of health or manage existing health risks (the WIIFM, or “what’s in it for me”)
· Assuring participants that their personal health data is protected under HIPAA and is only reported to the employer on an aggregate level (not individually)
· Rewards, incentives and recognition delivered annually and throughout the year (another WIIFM)
· Access to trackers through raffle drawings or offering a partial discount or reimbursement to participants who successfully complete the wellness program
o Some carriers provide wellness dollars that can offset the cost of qualified wellness-related expenses, including fitness trackers
· The ability for people who don’t use fitness trackers to participate in the health and wellness program anyway
See also:
Preventing and managing health risks
The HealthMine survey also found that 44% of consumers enrolled in health and wellness programs reported having a diagnosed chronic condition, such as high cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure. However, just 14% of respondents said that their wellness program helped them to better manage their health issues.
Well, that’s one opinion. In my experience, fitness trackers help participants manage chronic conditions and stay healthy. According to a study by the University of Michigan Health Management Research Center, an organization saved $350 per employee when a low-risk participant remained low risk and $153 per employee when a high-risk participant’s health risks were reduced. This is an often-overlooked benefit of wellness: keeping healthy employees healthy.
A percentage of participants with chronic health risks will need to engage with a physician and perhaps take prescription medications to manage their conditions. Others will find it possible to manage health risks by embracing a healthy lifestyle, including diet, activity and stress management. That goes for already healthy participants. Regardless of how a participant manages their health risks, the key takeaway is that they are managing their health risks. An increased focus on health and personal responsibility directly impacts an employer’s year-over-year healthcare costs.
Beyond ensuring that participants complete their annual physical, biometric screenings and health risk assessment, fitness trackers can provide a daily reminder to get active, stay healthy and be well. Remember, a fitness tracker shouldn’t comprise the whole health and wellness approach, but it can be a key element to a successful wellness program.
