title: Workplace wellness recognition for optimizing workplace health: a presidential advisory from the American Heart Association.
abstract: The workplace is an important setting for promoting cardiovascular health and cardiovascular disease and stroke prevention in the United States. Well-designed, comprehensive workplace wellness programs have the potential to improve cardiovascular health and to reduce mortality, morbidity, and disability resulting from cardiovascular disease and stroke. Nevertheless, widespread implementation of comprehensive workplace wellness programs is lacking, and program composition and quality vary. Several organizations provide worksite wellness recognition programs; however, there is variation in recognition criteria, and they do not specifically focus on cardiovascular disease and stroke prevention. Although there is limited evidence to suggest that company performance on employer health management scorecards is associated with favorable healthcare cost trends, these data are not currently robust, and further evaluation is needed. As a recognized national leader in evidence-based guidelines, care systems, and quality programs, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association is uniquely positioned and committed to promoting the adoption of comprehensive workplace wellness programs, as well as improving program quality and workforce health outcomes. As part of its commitment to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association will promote science-based best practices for comprehensive workplace wellness programs and establish benchmarks for a national workplace wellness recognition program to assist employers in applying the best systems and strategies for optimal programming. The recognition program will integrate identification of a workplace culture of health and achievement of rigorous standards for cardiovascular health based on Life's Simple 7 metrics. In addition, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association will develop resources that assist employers in meeting these rigorous standards, facilitating access to high-quality comprehensive workplace wellness programs for both employees and dependents, and fostering innovation and additional research.
authors: Gregg C
authors: GC
authors: Fonarow
authors: Chris
authors: C
authors: Calitz
authors: Ross
authors: R
authors: Arena
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Baase
authors: Fikry W
authors: FW
authors: Isaac
authors: Donald
authors: D
authors: Lloyd-Jones
authors: Eric D
authors: ED
authors: Peterson
authors: Nico
authors: N
authors: Pronk
authors: Eduardo
authors: E
authors: Sanchez
authors: Paul E
authors: PE
authors: Terry
authors: Kevin G
authors: KG
authors: Volpp
authors: Elliott M
authors: EM
authors: Antman
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation; D000124:Achievement; D000572:American Heart Association; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D057189:Checklist; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006040:Goals; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009042:Motivation; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D015279:Organizational Culture; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D058991:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States
keywords: AHA Scientific Statements; cardiovascular system; exercise; health; nutritional status; prevention and control; quality assurance, health care; smoking cessation; weight loss