November 16, 2007

‘GoWell!’ health care summit offers cost-saving initiatives for employers

By Kymberli W. Brady
Special to the Times

Health care industry professionals throughout Silicon Valley gathered to take a bite out of the $180 billion annual tab attributed to lost productivity and common health conditions at the Nov. 8 “Go Well!” health care summit at the San Jose Marriott.

California State Sen. Tom Torlakson told those attending the “GoWell” summit that employers can promote healthier lifestyles leading to higher productivity and better performance. Various speakers showed that his statements are true while discussing how their companies had taken the reins to initiate healthier eating and more exercise leading to fewer sick days.

The summit, sponsored by the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, offered tips for promoting wellness in the workplace and reducing bottom-line costs through real-world savings from companies forging the trail in fostering employee wellness. Experts in the health care field also discussed effective ways for employers to promote a healthy lifestyle in the workplace, while reducing health-related costs.

County Supervisor Ken Yeager moderated the event, which included a keynote speech from Sen. Tom Torlakson. Both Yeager and Torlakson are prominent health care advocates—and tri-athletes.

As supervisor, Yeager maintained his commitment to the county’s safety net of quality health care and social services. 

“I’m very encouraged with what the chamber is doing with ‘GoWell,’” Yeager said. “I look forward to working with them and growing this effort on a citywide and countywide level.”

“We are here because we are concerned about the health of our employees and the financial health of our businesses and state,” said Torlakson, who is also the founder and chair of the California Task Force on Youth and Workplace Wellness, a group seeking to raise the profile of health and fitness in the public schools and in the workplace. “We believe that employers can be valuable partners in the promotion of healthier lifestyles for their employees, who in turn, will be more apt to be on the job and performing well when they are in optimal health.”

René Mollow, associate director for the Department of Health Care Services, spoke on behalf of the Governor’s office on the importance of wellness and prevention in achieving the overall health objectives in the state of California. She detailed her responsibilities, which include the supervision, development, coordination and implementation of state and national health care reform initiatives for publicly funded health programs, along with the California’s Diabetes Prevention and Management Initiative, Healthy Incentives and Rewards Program and School-Based Health Center Expansion Project, under the Medi-Cal Program.

Proven real-world scenarios
Stephen Dixon, vice president of human resources and administrative services for CAMICO Mutual Insurance Company, said that his company has progressed from a 25 percent turnover with 52 employees in 2000 to a 6 percent turnover in 2007 with 101 employees. The national average is 15 percent.

It accomplished this through a gradual integration of workout and walking groups, an on-site workout room, weekly fresh fruit deliveries, healthier vending machine choices with labeling, on-site Pilates classes, a subsidized Weight Watchers program, on-site chair massages and brown bag lunches. They are currently considering the addition of on-site chiropractic services.

“This has resulted in reduced absenteeism, increased employee engagement, fewer sick calls, fewer workman’s comp injuries, improved productivity and improved morale,” he said. “This has given us the potential to negotiate lower health and wellness premiums and puts us in a better position with the insurance carriers.”

In an effort to improve health among its employees, Sandia National Laboratories implemented a program, which includes health risk assessments, fitness and nutrition consultation, group exercise classes, health promotion programs and accountability. The effort has resulted in reduced health care costs, increased productivity and enhanced quality of life within its workforce, while creating an atmosphere that has helped the company attract and retain highly talented employees.

According to Morgan Edwinson, health educator for Sandia, the outcome of its heath care cost analysis—based on stress, blood glucose, weight, tobacco use, blood pressure, exercise and cholesterol--puts it on track to save more than $600,000 in health care costs over a four-year period, along with an estimated $1.7 million savings in lost productivity.

“We’re looking at a projected return on investment of $970,000 per year,”

Attendees left the summit with bright gold insulated lunch bags and hand sanitizers, compliments of Blue Cross of California and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, as well as a number of cost-saving tips for implementing company wellness plans.

“It was a great gathering with delicious healthy food,” said Suellen Haggerty, R.D., Bay Area worksite coordinator for Santa Clara County Health and Human Services. “Thank you for creating synergy for evolutionary change in health of humanity.” 

Haggerty issued a challenge for employers to seek out better practices and vie for the California Fit Business Award, sponsored by Torlakson. 

“A low-income worksite with our assistance won a 2007 award for innovative incorporation of daily physical activity in the work place,” she said. “Imagine what the capability could be within chamber members and the community at large.”

“I also like the idea of expanding on our concept,” said Dr. William Updyke, clinical professor of chiropractic at Palmer College of Chiropractic West and Chamber Health Care Committee chair. “Health care is certainly one area we can go to deal with budgetary issues, and I’m very interested in taking this discussion to the city and county officials to further meet our goals. I do believe it met all of our objectives, but the true test will be if some of these companies adopt wellness practices and return next year to tell us about them.”

The health care forum was sponsored by The Health Trust, Blue Cross of California, Filice Insurance, Five Branches University, Hospital Corporation of America, Kaiser Permanente, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Palmer College of Chiropractic, Marriott San Jose and Strategic Employee Benefit Services.

For more information on the SJSV Chamber of Commerce Health Care Committee, visit www.sjchamber.com. For more information on the California Task Force on Youth and WorkplaceWellness, visit www.wellnesstaskforce. org.

Kymberli Brady is the director of Community Relations and Public Affairs for the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce.