Corporate Wellness

Benefits of Corporate Wellness Programming:

Studies have repeatedly demonstrated that comprehensive workplace health promotion programs can lower health care and insurance costs, decrease absenteeism, and improve performance, productivity, and company loyalty. Further, the presence of wellness programming is a strong factor in employee recruitment, retention, and morale.

What is Corporate Wellness?

Corporate Wellness typically involves programs, products, and services that provide comprehensive health assessments, injury and illness risk reduction, exercise and weight management programs, and lifestyle modification coaching and support. All with clear outcome measures regarding improvements in employee health.

Why Do We Need a Corporate Approach to Wellness?

The statistics regarding the health status of Americans are alarming. This has resulted in higher costs to the employer due to workdays lost, physician office visits, restricted activity days, and bed rest days, in addition to higher insurance premiums. According to recent research, the cost of low productivity related to overweight and obesity alone are as high as $3.9 billion annually. Consider the following statistics:

Current Health Status of Americans:

Obesity:

2/3 of the American population is overweight or obese.
69.7 Million Overweight, 63.6 Million Obese
Equally distributed between men and women
Less than 1/3 of the American population is of healthy weight
“WIN – Weight Control Information Network” www.annecollins.com

Disease Rates:

65 Million Americans have High Blood Pressure
5.5 Million Americans have had a Stroke
“American Heart Association” www.americanheart.org
24.7 Million adults are diagnosed with Heart Disease
“National Center for Health Statistics” www.cdc.gov
Heart Disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women
41 Million Americans have pre-diabetes.
“President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports” US Department of Health & Human Services
Half of all Americans suffer from chronic illness.
“Institute for Integrative Nutrition” www.integrativenutrition.com

Exercise:

78% of Americans are not meeting basic activity level recommendations
25% of Americans are completely sedentary
“Obesity Statistics” www.annecollins.com

Exercise & Disease:

Of the 41 Million Americans who have pre-diabetes, most will develop Type II Diabetes within 10 years unless they make significant changes in their diet and physical activity which results in a loss of about 5 – 7% of their body weight.
Those who do not engage in moderate daily activity are at a substantially higher risk of developing Cardiovascular Disease, Type II Diabetes, certain Cancers (i.e. Colon Cancer), High Blood Pressure, Osteoporosis, Obesity, symptoms of Anxiety & Depression, and symptoms of Arthritis.
“President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports” US Department of Health & Human Services

Benefits of Exercise:

As reported by the Mayo Clinic, there are eight major benefits regular physical activity:

Strengthens your cardiovascular and respiratory systems
1. Increases “good cholesterol” or HDL
2. Lowers “bad cholesterol” or LDL
3. Prevents high blood pressure
4. Lowers high blood pressure if you already have high blood pressure
5. Increases lung capacity so you’re better able to take in oxygen to nourish your cells.
Keeps bones and muscles strong
1. Prevents Osteoporosis
2. Preserves bone mass
3. Increases bone density
4. Keeps bones and muscles strong
Manages weight
1. Critical to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight
2. Less weight eases pressure on bones and joints, thus preventing arthritis
Prevent & manage diabetes
1. Lowers blood sugar
2. Increases insulin sensitivity
Eases depression and manages pain
1. Activates serotonin and norepinephrine – neurotransmitters associated with mood and sense of well-being
2. Stimulates production of endorphins which provide “natural” pain relief and help you relax
Reduces risk of certain types of cancers – colon, prostate, uterine lining, and breast
Better sleep
1. Moderate exercise at least three hours prior to bedtime can help you relax and sleep better at night
Feel better and live longer
1. Exercise has psychological benefits – Exercise has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression and improve self-esteem.
2. On average, those that burn 2000 calories or more a week by exercising live one to two years longer than those who burned less than 500 calories a week
3. Your later years will be marked by more independence and a better quality of life if you are not burdened with the disease processes and painful syndromes associated with obesity and a sedentary lifestyle

“Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research 1998 - 2006

The Age Management Medical Center – Evaluation Options

Age Management has numerous evaluation options in order to meet the specific needs of your corporation and your employees. We offer health evaluations from the very basic to incredibly comprehensive. Your corporation may choose a particular evaluation for all of your employees or we can tailor the evaluations to the needs of the particular employee. Through the basic risk stratification process, our clinical staff can identify those employees who may require more in-depth testing and evaluation. For all evaluations, results are documented in easy to understand reports which are discussed in great depth with each individual. We can provide basic evaluations without the employee becoming a patient, however, these evaluations are then not eligible for any health insurance reimbursement. For those that seek or require more in-depth evaluations, they will become a patient and are eligible for health insurance reimbursement so long as they have a qualifying condition or diagnosis. These individuals will receive detailed treatment recommendations in addition to their evaluation results and may choose to seek such treatment from a physician of their choosing or allow Dr. Cavender to initiate the treatment suggested. In the latter case, Dr. Cavender will serve only as a specialist in age management medicine working in consultation with their primary care physician and/or other health care specialists.

For the corporation, Age Management will provide comprehensive statistics on the baseline overall health status of the staff which can be compared at periodic intervals of the corporation’s choosing to determine the changes which have resulted from any interventions that have taken place.

Insurance Coverage for Services Provided

In order to provide medical care in the manner in which we believe is most beneficial, we have chosen to remain out-of-network with all insurance carriers. We accept all forms of insurance and process the claims through our office. Most insurance plans provide for out-of-network benefits. Some have a different deductible and/or copays/coinsurance. In following our philosophy of customized medical care, we will work with each insurance company, each corporation, and each individual to obtain the best reimbursement possible with the least out-of-pocket costs.