The impact of an integrated population health enhancement and disease management program on employee health risk, health conditions, and productivity.
This study evaluated the impact of an integrated population health enhancement program on employee health risks, health conditions, and productivity. Specifically, we analyzed changes in these measures among a cohort of 543 employees who completed a health risk assessment in both 2003 and 2005. We compared these findings with 2 different sets of employees who were not offered health enhancement programming. We found that the DIRECTV cohort showed a significant reduction in health risks after exposure to the program. Relative to a matched comparison group, the proportion of low-risk employees at DIRECTV in 2005 was 8.2 percentage points higher; the proportion of medium-risk employees was 7.1 percentage points lower; and the proportion of high-risk employees was 1.1 percentage points lower (p < 0.001). The most noticeable changes in health risk were a reduction in the proportion of employees with high cholesterol; an improvement in diet; a reduction of heavy drinking; management of high blood pressure; improved stress management; increased exercise; fewer smokers; and a drop in obesity rates. We also found that a majority of employees who improved their risk levels from 2003 to 2005 maintained their gains in 2006. Employees who improved their risks levels also demonstrated relative improvement in absenteeism. Overall, this study provides additional evidence that integrated population health enhancement positively impacts employees' health risk and productivity; it also reinforces the view that "good health is good business."
Loeppke
Ron
R
Alere, Marietta, Georgia, USA.
Nicholson
Sean
S
Taitel
Michael
M
Sweeney
Matthew
M
Haufle
Vince
V
Kessler
Ronald C
RC
D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000517:prevention & control; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019468:Disease Management; D004526:Efficiency; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000517:prevention & control; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires