Groundbreaking at the time for offering access to a small exercise room in addition to monthly blood pressure checks and annual flu shots, the ASHA wellness program has thrived because of bold goals backed by a commitment at the organizational culture level.
With organizational support and staff’s motivation to continually improve their health and wellness, the program quickly branched out by providing a wide range of educational programs in the form of Lunch and Learn events, brown bag discussions, all-staff meeting presentations, and online resource libraries. This foundation helped foster awareness and inspiration among staff, leading to greater participation in offerings such as Weight Watchers at work, team-based activities, and a broad array of e-health screenings.
As the program continued to take shape and grow in prominence, it also added a showcase event called the Wellness Fair—an annual gathering of staff and exhibitors (including health professionals from local hospitals) aimed at raising awareness, boosting participation, and highlighting new programs and events. The Wellness Fair is a very hands-on event, with a number of screenings, demonstrations, and opportunities to try new therapies and products, as well as an opportunity for staff to casually interact and learn from each other about wellness.
Underpinning the development of the Wellness Program has been the Wellness Advisory Team. Established in 2007, its role is to help develop a pipeline of activities and programs designed to sustain the program and continue to inspire ASHA staff to take their wellness to new levels.
In 2007, ASHA took advantage of its relocation to a new building to enhance its wellness program. Employees now have well-outfitted fitness and group activity rooms. Three hours of exercise classes take place daily and a quarter of ASHA employees participate in at least one class weekly.
As ASHA has diversified and grown its wellness program, it has also become more organized and focused. This important development allows resources and measures to be used far more effectively.
Four branches of wellness—fitness of body, soundness of mind, sense of purpose, and a mindset of sustainability—serve as a guiding, holistic framework where goals are defined and efforts are measured. The program’s current goals are as follows:
1. Reduce drug costs associated with health conditions that can be reversed non-pharmaceutically.
2. Increase number of staff and family members who complete preventive screenings recommended in Healthy People 2020.
3. Support staff’s smoking cessation and weight loss efforts.
4. Reduce sick days taken by staff.
5. Help ASHA staff practice health-conscious consumerism.
6. Offer ASHA staff an easier path to active living.
7. Enhance staff camaraderie and teamwork.
Campaigns are regularly introduced to spark staff interest and foster engagement, and also just to let staff know that instilling a commitment to wellness is a continual effort by ASHA. We believe that staff should view ASHA as a partner in their own commitment to wellness, and we believe that instilling that mindset has paid off in the form of participation rates for new initiatives. Over the years, there have been weight loss campaigns, a heart health initiative, a diabetes education program, and activity-based challenges, and all have been well-received. Staff have been active in providing feedback as well, so that future programs are continually tailored to best meet their needs while still achieving the program’s goals.
The outreach of the ASHA wellness program is regularly reinforced and complemented by areas of ASHA that are focused on the environment and sustainability. Courtesy of ASHA’s gold LEED certified National Office building, staff enjoy a healthy work environment. Often, our staff Green Team will partner with the Wellness Advisory Team to educate employees about health and sustainability.
Going forward, ASHA is concentrating on measuring results. Rate increases under ASHA’s health plan have been consistently lower than the general trend. Also, many success stories have emerged where staff have improved their health, eliminating their need for medications and saving themselves and ASHA significant costs.
One participant in a heart health initiative eliminated her need for a statin, annually saving herself $280 and ASHA $3,600. It was a similar story during another campaign, where an employee and her husband also eliminated medications, annually saving themselves $800 and ASHA $2,700.
One reason family members get engaged is because ASHA makes it a point to reach out and include them in its wellness program. They have online access to information about ASHA health and benefits information. In addition, ASHA has a wellness Facebook page and uses Twitter and this blog to share information. Broadening the program to include family members is one of the many ways ASHA demonstrates its commitment to wellness. When staff see that commitment—whether it’s through family member participation or the monthly screenings, the annual Wellness Fair, or the annual free flu shot for all staff and retirees—they are motivated to participate and be the best they can be.
We put together this fun little video about our program for the Healthiest Employers' Award event in 2012.
We put together this fun little video about our program for the Healthiest Employers' Award event in 2012.
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