Wellness

Have you ever wondered, "Can we really measure the improvement in health that comes from wellness programs?" Most companies are using biometric screenings as their key tool for measuring health, on the assumption that it accurately measures the kind of health that matters most. Think again.

Lately, it seems as though a week doesn't go by without a survey inquiry from a neighboring city or county about how Palm Beach County is encouraging or mandating employees to quit smoking.

What would you say if you had the opportunity to benefit from a full-blown wellness program, including a health coach — for free? Here’s your chance — we’re in the process of launching the 2011 EBA Wellness Challenge, starting with recruiting a benefit broker or adviser to participate in it.

More than 80% of the nation’s businesses with 50 or more employees have some form of health promotion program, according to the Wellness Council of America, and this trend is growing.

In the voluntary benefits business for more than a decade, Nashville's Karen Quigley knows a tidal change when she sees one. With carriers increasingly entering the core voluntary market, and health care reform looming large, Quigley knew it was time to adapt.

This article is the second in EBN's year-long BeneFIT Success series, which will chronicle employers and employees in their individual and organizational wellness triumphs. The first installment, "Uphill battle, downhill momentum," was featured in the March EBN and is available at ebn.benefitnews.com. Learn more about how to submit your company as a candidate for the series at the end of this article.

In today's digitized and mobile culture, most people rarely leave home without their cellphone, and "crackberry" is a commonplace term in the national lexicon. Indeed, with more than 300 million smartphone units sold in the last two years alone and accompanying mobile applications surging in use, it's no surprise benefits providers are getting in on the action, creating smartphone apps to help employers encourage healthy behaviors and sound savings techniques among their workers.

Big bucks are at stake in a new wellness program for employers.

Today, it's not uncommon for an employer to offer more than 10 independent employee benefit packages. The problem is that engagement in ancillary benefits tends to be low. Employees may not know how to access them or even that they exist, due to the complexity and inconvenience of having to access each benefit separately.

The clinical evidence is clear: While medical imaging can be an effective diagnostic tool, millions of Americans annually receive X-rays that are not medically necessary and can potentially harm their health.

A program including regular follow-ups with nurses and focused attempts to cut back on TV, fast food, and sodas appears to keep some overweight and obese kids from gaining more weight, according to a new study.

DRIVE4COPD, a public health initiative sponsored by pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim, is aiming to put the brakes on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD.

In a six-week challenge last summer, more than 300 employees at Simonton Windows, a manufacturer of energy-efficient vinyl windows and doors, lost 1,470 pounds.

Health officials announced a new effort to curb America's obesity epidemic by moving science from the lab into clinical trials to find practical ways for prevention and treatment.

Employers everywhere are launching wellness programs in the hope that this focus will lower their medical costs and keep their employees healthy. The challenge, however, is getting employees to participate and be engaged in the process of wellness so they actually take a stake in their own health.

My teenager is never separated from his cell phone. Never. Yet, sometimes when I dial his number, he doesn't answer.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 70% of all health claims are lifestyle or behavior related. What's more, most individuals with chronic conditions have several comorbid conditions.

Workplace clinics give literal meaning to the phrase "Taking care of our employees." However, savvy-thinking employers are taking strategic steps to determine what's in and what's out when it comes to health services rendered onsite.

Even with the virtual touch of social media, one very human element remains: the need for community. We search online and in our neighborhoods for people who share our same interests. No matter where our work or daily activities take us, we return to the community. The community has a strong influence on culture and behavior patterns. If your clients want a successful corporate wellness program, they should open the door to the community outside the workplace walls. The far-reaching benefits of community volunteer work may surprise everyone.

Older adults who eat greater amounts of fish end up preserving their bone density better than people who don't eat as much fish, a new study finds.