The way that employers and employees conceptualize health and wellness is changing. In the past, most people thought of wellness as simply a reflection of one’s physical health—the presence or absence of disease.
These days, there is an increased focus on total wellness, or the idea that wellness is a holistic concept that encompasses many aspects, including physical health, mental health, social health, and purpose. Accordingly, employers should consider expanding onsite clinic services to meet this growing trend in healthcare.
Here are the newest health and wellness program offerings to expect in 2017 and beyond.
Sleep Health
Sleep is an incredibly important component of total wellness, but many American workers aren’t getting the sleep they need each night. In fact, 56% of employed Americans report symptoms of insomnia on a regular basis. Poor sleep habits can exacerbate many mental health conditions and chronic diseases, and they also lead to decreased productivity and increased employee absenteeism. Because sleep health is such a major employee health issue, many onsite health clinics are beginning to offer services designed to improve employee sleep habits.
Financial Health
Employees rank finances as a significant source of stress in their daily lives, and financial stress can even impact work performance and result in reduced employee retention. In an attempt to mitigate this stressor, many employers are beginning to offer financial advising and financial literacy courses as part of their comprehensive health and wellness programs.
Social Well–Being
According to experts, people are more likely to choose healthy behaviors when it benefits other people instead of themselves. Employers are now harnessing this concept and offering their employees the opportunity to participate in charitable giving in exchange for adopting healthy lifestyle practices. For example, one Chicago-based organization encourages their employees to take part in an annual marathon, and donates money to a local non-profit for each employee that chooses to compete.
Preventing Chronic Disease
With healthcare costs rising every year, employers are looking at ways to improve employee health and keep costs down. Chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, can be devastating to a person’s health in the long run, as well as extremely costly to manage. These conditions are also largely preventable, so many organizations are now further expanding onsite clinic services to take a more engaging approach to preventing and managing these chronic conditions. Chronic disease management programs, health coaches, and onsite screenings can all keep healthcare costs down and employees in good health. Programs focused on promoting wellness, vitality, and healthier habits aim to change lifestyle factors through greater engagement.
Value on Investment
Until recently, most employers have strictly considered return on investment (ROI) when assessing the effectiveness of their onsite clinics and health and wellness programs. But in 2017 and beyond, many of these organizations will instead begin considering value on investment (VOI). VOI includes measuring factors like employee engagement, utilization of services, and overall satisfaction with wellness program services.
The aim of any onsite clinic or health and wellness program should be to provide effective total population health management. Because healthcare is moving towards a more holistic model, employee wellness services will need to expand to keep up with this trend.
At Healthstat, we deliver wellness services, preventive health services and disease management services, along with proactive outreach. For more information on onsite clinics and how to get started, download our guide to onsite, nearsite, and shared clinics.
