Johnson & Johnson: A Wellness Success Story

Thanks to skyrocketing health care costs, employee wellness has been in the news a lot these days. But according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, Johnson & Johnson has understood the importance of wellness since 1978! That's when the company launched its first employee health initiative.

Johnson & Johnson's current program is called "Live for Life," and it contains all the elements of a successful program--a health risk assessment, biometric screenings, free health counseling (.pdf) for high-risk employees, and a financial incentive for participating.

I especially like the way the plan's director, Dr. Fikry Isacc, describes the incentive. Employees who take the health risk assessment get a $500 discount up front. "If, in the risk assessment, you are found to have some of those risk factors and you participate in the program, you maintain the discount," Dr. Isaac explains. "If you're healthy, you still get the discount. All employees are treated the same."

Johnson & Johnson has recently been lobbying Congress for legislation that encourages employers of all sizes to offer wellness programs to their employees--an effort we wholeheartedly support. We think employee wellness is central to long-term health care reform.

What do you think? How can we encourage businesses to join the wellness bandwagon?

New Rules for Health Risk Assessments

If your company has a wellness program, chances are you've asked your employees to complete a Health Risk Assessment. The HRA is an in-depth questionnaire that evaluates each employee's health status; results are almost always reported to the company in an aggregate format only, which keeps privileged health information private.

The Wall Street Journal reported last month that the federal government has issued new guidelines in this area. If an HRA questionnaire contains questions about family medical history--and most currently do--then companies are not allowed offer a financial reward for completing it. According to the Journal article, the new rules apply to group health insurance with plan years beginning on or after December 7th.

For wellness professionals, there are ways to avoid running afoul of the new guidelines. Family health history questions can be removed from the HRA entirely, or companies can split their HRAs into two parts. Incentives would only be offered for completing the section without any family health history questions.

Insurance companies and employers have until January 5th to comment on the new rules, which suggests that they may not be set in stone. In the meantime, what do you think? Let us know in the comments section.

H1N1 Vaccine Misconceptions

After a month-long absence, Corporate Wellness Insights is back--and there is much to talk about in the world of health and wellness. Today, we're offering an brief flu update.

H1N1 (formerly known as swine flu) has advanced at an alarming rate since we last blogged. The virus is now widespread in 46 states, according to the latest government statistics. And although H1N1 has proved to be relatively mild for most people, it has still caused over 1,000 deaths in the U.S.

A recent Newsweek article reports that officials are combating more than just the disease--it's also turning into a public-relations nightmare. More than one study has demonstrated the safety of H1N1 vaccine, but stubborn rumors persist. That's why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched Flu.gov, a source for reputable information.

If you think your employees need a flu-shot refresher course, take a look at the Myths and Facts page of the CDC's influenza site. It'll help set them straight!

The Latest Health Wonk Review

It's time for another edition of the Health Wonk Review, a rundown of the best recent health care blogging. This edition is hosted by Brady Augustine of the medicaidfirstaid blog. If you're interested in health care news, there's bound to be something of interest. Check it out!

The Challenge of Smoking Cessation

As wellness professionals, we spend a lot of time talking about the long-term cost of obesity. It's not surprising to learn that most workplace wellness programs focus on diet and exercise in an effort to curb medical costs. But as the Workers' Comp Insider blog argues, it's important to address the other elephant in the room--tobacco use.

We've already blogged about some companies that have actually given their employees an ultimatum: join a smoking cessation program, or find other digs. The military has also toyed with the idea of banning tobacco use over time.

The Workers' Comp Insider blog highlights the insidious way that nicotine activates pleasure centers in the brain, making it extremely difficult to quit. They cite one expert who says that it takes between 7 and 11 attempts for the average smoker to quit successfully.

The lesson for wellness professionals is clear: smoking cessation is an important goal for workplace wellness, but success won't happen overnight. As with other lifestyle changes, your employees will need the right support over the long haul. The American Lung Association has a variety of information on its website geared toward helping people kick the habit.

Have you quit smoking successfully? If so, congratulations! But what made the difference? How did you do it?

Preventing Illness at the Workplace

Last week, we blogged that the vaccine for H1N1 has been approved by officials and will likely be distributed first to those who need it most: children and health workers, among others. Although the vaccine may not be available on a widespread basis for some time, we can all take common-sense precautions to avoid transmitting the virus.

Most of you probably know that it's important to cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, wash your hands frequently, and avoid contact with those who are ill. But there's one precaution you may forget: Try not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth. An article in today's USA Today explores the importance of following this advice.

Researchers have observed that we touch our faces constantly--far more than we think. It's unclear to what extent influenza can be transmitted from hands to face, but as we do our best to stay healthy this flu season, I think it pays to break the face-touching habit.

In our own office building, we've placed informational flyers in public places (especially restrooms) to remind everyone to wash their hands frequently. What have you done to help your employees stay healthy?

Do Successful Dieters Have Different Brains?

If you haven't visited healthfinder.gov, a website from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I suggest you do so. It's a great source of information on a variety of health topics. This week, they profiled an interesting study that focused on weight loss.

Participants in the study were shown pictures of food, both healthy and unhealthy, while undergoing a brain scan. Those who had previously lost weight and kept it off "showed more activity in the parts of the brain that are associated with inhibition and in dealing with complex tasks."

Interestingly, researchers didn't find the same pattern in people of normal weight. It's only the successful dieters who demonstrated this particular brain activity.

I think this study should remind wellness professionals that making healthy choices requires constant effort. Although it can become second-nature over time, making lifestyle changes can be difficult at first. That's one of the many reasons that wellness coaching (.pdf) can be so beneficial to some people.

So how do you deal with temptation? Why is it that some people can resist the siren call of unhealthy food and others can't? I'd love to hear what you think.

Healthy Eating on the Go

Today's blog is about maintaining a healthy diet while traveling--an especially relevant topic for one of our busy program managers. Her latest project will take her from our home in the D.C. area all the way to Alabama, Pennsylvania, and even Quebec!

When you're stuck in an airport (as she was for several hours yesterday), how do you maintain a healthy diet? Eating healthy at the airport may seem like a challenge, but the Harvard Business Review blog has some common-sense tips for doing just that.

Americans spent $3.2 billion on food and drink at airports in 2008, the Harvard blog reports, and I bet most of those dollars were spent on unhealthy fast food. But it doesn't have to be that way. Here are three of the Harvard blog's recommendations:

• Choose your airports carefully. Some have better restaurant options than others.
• If you have time, eat at sit-down restaurants that will give you more healthy choices.
• Bring your own food. TSA guidelines allow passengers to bring certain food items from home, so by all means do it!

For more details, check out the full Harvard Business blog post. In the meantime, why not leave a comment and share your own tips for eating healthy on the go?

The Long-Term Importance of Wellness

As wellness professionals, we know how closely corporate executives focus on ROI--the return on investment of a wellness program. While numerous studies have shown that employee wellness programs yield a strong return on investment, it's equally important to acknowledge their long-term impact on people's lives.

A recent study published in the British Medical Journal showed that men with three critical risk factors for heart disease--high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and tobacco use--shortened their lives by an average of a decade.

One of the ways we can address risk factors like these is to perform biometric screenings at corporate health fairs. At one of our recent events, we discovered an individual with a blood sugar of 350--more than twice the normal level--who had absolutely no idea that he may have diabetes. This story repeats itself at just about every screening we organize.

If you're thinking about brining wellness to your employees, drop us a line. We'll work with you to find a plan that fits the needs of your organization.

Swine Flu Update

Good news on the H1N1 front this week: the vaccine has been approved by health officials, and U.S. Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius assures the public that there will be enough for everyone. The first doses should be out within a month, the FDA says.

As we reported previously, one shot appears to do the trick. You'll still need to receive the regular seasonal flu vaccine as well, though. Both are required if you want full protection against both seasonal flu and H1N1.

Even if you don't opt for the vaccine, there are common-sense steps you can take to protect yourself and your employees:

• Follow your mom's advice and wash your hands with soap and water frequently
• Use antibacterial hand sanitizers if you're not able to wash your hands
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth

Influenza is spread person-to-person through coughing and sneezing, so to avoid spreading the virus, cover your mouth (preferably with your sleeve) when you cough or sneeze, and wash your hands afterward.

If you get sick and suspect it may be flu, see your doctor right away. Antiviral medications can shorten the duration dramatically if administered early.