The Business Case of Comprehensive Workplace Health
description
Transcript of The Business Case of Comprehensive Workplace Health
Atlantic Health and Wellness Institute, Research Affiliate
1
The Business Case of
Comprehensive Workplace Health
Lydia Makrides, PhD
President, Creative Wellness SolutionsEditor-in-Chief, International Journal of Workplace Health Management
ECOSH/ROWER ConferenceSeptember 17-18, 2009
Amsterdam
Atlantic Health and Wellness Institute, Research Affiliate
Greetings from HalifaxNova Scotia!
Atlantic Health and Wellness Institute, Research Affiliate
3
Agenda
•Health Risks for Chronic Disease
•10 Compelling Reasons
•Return on Investment
Atlantic Health and Wellness Institute, Research Affiliate
4
Health Risks for Chronic Disease
Atlantic Health and Wellness Institute, Research Affiliate
5
• Chronic disease related deaths account for 56% of all deaths in the working-age population in the world (World Health Organization).
• High prevalence of major modifiable health risks contributes to the epidemic of chronic disease.
Elevated BMI (BMI ≥25kg/m2) Obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2)
Inactivity Smoking
Stress Elevated blood pressure
Elevated cholesterol High blood sugar
Alcohol
• Places an increasing burden on employers: decreased productivity, increased absenteeism, increased health and worker’s compensation claims.
Health Risks for Chronic Disease
Atlantic Health and Wellness Institute, Research Affiliate
6
• N=6067: 2665 Males & 3402 Females
• 51 Organizations: Private companies (N=2859). Pulblic Companies (N=1425), Health Care Facilities (N=1783)
• Average age 41.3 years
• 70% overweight (BMI ≥ 25) - 31% obese (BMI ≥ 30)
• 49% inactive (less than 3 times per week)
• 38% elevated cholesterol (greater than 5.2 mmol/L)
• 20% daily cigarette smokers
• 16% elevated blood pressure (greater than 140/90 mmHG)
• 18% elevated stress scores
Health Risks for Chronic Disease:Profile of Atlantic Canadian Employees
Atlantic Health and Wellness Institute, Research Affiliate
7
• Multiple health risks compounding the health issues
• Average 2.4 health risks/employee• Average Wellness Score - 46%• Need to improve Wellness Score - 72% (scored
49% or lower)• Chronological age - 41.3 yrs • Achievable Health Age - 35.8 yrs• Coronary risk moderate to high - 46%
Health Risks for Chronic Disease:Profile of Atlantic Canadian Employees
Atlantic Health and Wellness Institute, Research Affiliate
8
Health Risks for Chronic Disease:Profile of Atlantic Canadian Employees*
16
21
37
18
7
0
10
20
30
40
50
0 1 2 to 3 4 to 5 6+
Atlantic Canadian EmployeesAHWI data (n=6067)
Number of Risk Factors*** AHWI Database**Inactivity, overweight, elevated cholesterol, blood pressure, smoking, high stress, illness days, alcohol use, life satisfaction, existing medical condition.
Atlantic Health and Wellness Institute, Research Affiliate
9
Atlantic Canadian vs. Healthy Company Profile
Shift in risk factors after 4 years of workplace wellness program
16
43
2125
37
24
18
77
1
0
10
20
30
40
50
0 1 2 to 3 4 to 5 6+
Atlantic Canadian EmployeesAHWI Data (n = 6,067)
Healthy Company*
Number of Risk Factors
*(Steelcase study: Amer. J. of Health Promotion, Vol. 6, No. 1:46-54, 1991)
Atlantic Health and Wellness Institute, Research Affiliate
10
10 Compelling Reasons
1. The do-nothing strategy of waiting for sickness and then paying for treatment is a failed strategy.
2. Lifestyle related risk factors and behaviours of employees as well as unhealthy work environments and practices drive costs.
• High risk employees incur high costs whatever the outcome measure: pharmaceutical, absenteeism, compensation costs
or productivity.
Atlantic Health and Wellness Institute, Research Affiliate
11
10 Compelling Reasons
Productivity Decreases with Number of Health RisksExcess
Productivity Loss
Productivity Loss (%)
Base Cost
Number of Health Risks
(Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2005;47:769-77 (n = 28,375))
Atlantic Health and Wellness Institute, Research Affiliate
12
10 Compelling Reasons
Absenteeism Increases with Number of Health Risks
Excess
Work Loss Days / Year
Work Loss Days (#/yr)
Base Work
Loss Days / Year
Number of Health Risks
( Summary of 10 Mid-sized U.S. Corporations (n=5,142 employees))
Atlantic Health and Wellness Institute, Research Affiliate
10 Compelling Reasons
Healthcare Costs Rise with Number of Health Risks
Excess
Cost
Health Claims (RR)
Base Cost
Number of Health Risks
( University of Michigan Study (n = 205,216)
13
Atlantic Health and Wellness Institute, Research Affiliate
10 Compelling Reasons
3. One of the root causes of unsustainable increases in costs is natural flow of individuals from low risk → high risk →disease →higher employer costs – natural flow estimated at 2% - 4% per year. (Edington et al, 2009).
3. The Health Risk Assessment (HRA) is the tool used in Comprehensive Workplace Wellness to raise awareness and determine employee health risk status.
14
Atlantic Health and Wellness Institute, Research Affiliate
10 Compelling Reasons
5. An effective Workplace Wellness strategy is to stop migration of people to higher risk and keep low risk people at low risk.
• Employers costs go up as people age, regardless of their
health risk status and as health risk status gets worse, costs go up regardless of age.
15
Atlantic Health and Wellness Institute, Research Affiliate
10 Compelling Reasons
16
6. Risk clusters likely to be associated with high healthcare costs within a 2-3 year period:
• Metabolic syndrome: combinations of high blood pressure
cholesterol, blood glucose and waist circumference/ BMI associated with higher risk for diabetes or heart disease.
• Pre-metabolic syndrome: combinations of one or two risk factors.( Edington, 2009)
Atlantic Health and Wellness Institute, Research Affiliate
10 Compelling Reasons
17
Relationship of Biometric Cluster to Diabetes and Heart Disease
( Edington, Zero Trends, 2009)
Risks: Waist Circumference,Hypertension,Glucose Intolerance,Cholesterol
Pre-Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic Syndrome
Diabetes
Heart Disease
RetinopathyNeuropathyNephropathy
Costs to Employers:Health Care CostsProductivity Costs
Cost to Individual:Quality of LifeMorbidityMortality
Atlantic Health and Wellness Institute, Research Affiliate
10 Compelling Reasons
7. Changes in healthcare costs follow changes in health risk: • As number of risks goes up, costs go up.• As number of risks goes down, costs go down.
(Wright et al, 2002)
8. Established relationship between lifestyle related risk factors (smoking, inactivity, obesity) and productivity absenteeism and health claims. (Buron et al,2005, Wellsource, 2006 & University of Michigan, 2006)
18
Atlantic Health and Wellness Institute, Research Affiliate
10 Compelling Reasons
19
Absenteeism, Productivity Loss, Health Claims and Number of Risk Factors
(Buron et al, 2005, Wellsource, 2006 & University of Michigan, 2006)
Number of Risks
Excess work loss days (%)
Excess Productivity
Loss (%)
Increase Health Claims Cost
0 Risks 0 0 0
1 Risk 0.6 1.9 0.317
2 Risks 1.2 4.4 0.667
3 Risks 1.9 7.5 1.032
4 Risks 2.2 9.1 1.498
5 Risks 2.5 13 1.956
6+ Risks 3.1+ 14.5+ 2.520+
Atlantic Health and Wellness Institute, Research Affiliate
10 Compelling Reasons
9. Inverse relationship between health care costs and wellness score.
20
Relationship between Health Costs and Wellness Score
(Yen et al, 2005)
Atlantic Health and Wellness Institute, Research Affiliate
10 Compelling Reasons
21
10.Changes in employer costs follow participation in HRA and Workplace Wellness activities.
• Employees who participate in Health Risk Assessment at least twice have annual cost increases of 4.2% while employees who never participated or took HRA only once
have annual increases of 12.6%. ( Edington, 2009)
• Participation in Workplace Wellness resulted in decreased annual absenteeism of 2.4% for participants vs 3.6% for non-participants.
Atlantic Health and Wellness Institute, Research Affiliate
Return on Investment
22
From a review of 73 published studies:• Average $3.50 saved per $1 invested in reduced absenteeism and
health care costs.
From a meta review of 42 published studies:• Average 28% reduction in sick leave• Average 26% reduction in health costs• Average 30% reduction in WCB and disability claims• Average $5.93 saved per dollar invested
(The Art of Health Promotion, 2003)
Comprehensive Workplace Health Program at Citibank:• $4.56 – 4.73 saved per $1 invested in reduced health care costs
(Amer. Journal Health Promotion, 1999)
Atlantic Health and Wellness Institute, Research Affiliate
Return on Investment
23
Organization Dollars Saved/ Dollars Spent
Bank of America $5.95/ $1
PacBell $3.10/ $1
Wisconsin School District Insurance Group $4.47/ $1
Prudential Insurance U.S. $2.90/ $1
Bank of America $4.73/ $1
General Mills $3.50/ $1
DuPont $2.05/ $1
Citibank $4.56-4.73/$1
BC Hydro $2.74/ $1
Review of 13 studies $3.45-$5.82/$1
(Chapman L., 1996.; Wellness Councils of America, May 1995.; Blair S., Pacific Bell 1996).
Atlantic Health and Wellness Institute, Research Affiliate
Thank YouCreative Wellness Solutions Inc.
Atlantic Health and Wellness Institute, Research Affiliate
Phone: +902 820-3096Email: [email protected]
www.wellnesssolutions.ca