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ENHANCED WELLNESS PROGRAMS
Greendale School District
Erin Gauthier-Green
Director of Business Services
Health care system in US is “disease care” NOT health care
How to convince unions and Boards to do a lifestyle
management/wellness program??
The US: home of the Whopper and Super Gulp
Two out every three Americans are overweight
OBESITY
• Adds 20 years of aging comparable to chronic disease
• Adds 30 years in terms of quality of life
• 90% includes diabetes
10% of the population incurs 70% of the health care costs
In the US the major drivers of cost are:
• Depression
• Hypertension (blood pressure)
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Asthma
Major drivers of disease
• Tobacco use
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Poor nutrition
• Stress
“Negotiating changes in health care benefits are not for the faint
of heart”
Get past the entitlement mentality!
• Insurance committee- with union
• Statement of benefits and letters of state of the health insurance world
• Stress the partnership – we’re in this together!
Most staff have no idea what true benefits cost !!
• At Greendale SD, health insurance up 50% in 3 yrs
• Up 357% in ten years, from $306/mo to $1400/mo family plan
• South east Wisconsin has highest health costs in nation!
Labor smackdown will not be the best strategy to solve health care
TRY THESE:• Educate them that up to 70% of disease is
lifestyle- caused
• “Incent” staff into programs
• $3-$6 payback for every $1 invested in worksite wellness
• Consumer driven plans with more upfront cost (don’t cut out preventive care)
• Educate that programs will reduce sick leave, worker comp, disability AND add energy!
Most promising in addressing health costs today:
• Individual followup- disease or care management
• Health risk appraisals and screens
• Wellness communications
• Offer programs on site
• Weight loss offered on site with groups
• Offering incentives to those who DO IT
Don’t forget “mental health” !
• Important to educators• Drugs to regulate mood
are in high use among educators, such as Prozac, Paxil, etc.
• Use EAP programs• Offer speakers on mental
health topics• Much overeating is
emotional based
Local manufacturer has a two hour mandatory session for all
new staff that covers:• Domestic
violence
• Depression
• Alcoholism
Health risk assessments show Greendale’s major issues are:
• Weight
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Hypertension issues
GSD worksite wellness programRX: Health!
Employee commits to:
• No tobacco use
• Exercise 3 x/week and log it with us
• Take on site blood/health screen for lipids, weight, blood pressure and health risk asses.
• Take age appropriate health screens
• Follow-up disease management for chronic diseases
Greendale’s program
• Teachers pay 12% of total health premium, or about $2000/year
• If they join Rx: Health! they get a 1% reduction, about $160/year savings
• 99% of teachers joined
Average employee contribution in US is $4500/year
Rx: Health’s offerings
• Program adddresses mind/body/health connection with offerings on site and discounts negotiated with village (massage)
• Weight watchers on site
• Life issue sessions: caregiving, type 2 diabetes, depression, retirement, women/men’s health issues
Rx:Health!
• Fitness center open for staff and many park/rec offerings on site
• Ergonomic program and evaluations
• Pedometer’s available to staff for $10.50
• On-site health screens for blood lipid, blood pressure, weight
• Negotiated discounts at local health clubs
• Food service dept is a PLAYER in health
District runs Park and Rec for Village of Greendale
Added classes for staff at schools after hours
Increased offerings
One year results= risk reduced !
• 7% less sick leave used
• 690 pounds lost by staff (300 insureds)
• 99% of staff signed on to program with incentive of 1% ($160/yr)
Why the success?
• Program started collaboratively with union• Stated goal is to give staff “permission” to
take care of themselves-- TAKE TIME• Easy access on site• Cost has been $6000 for year one, including
pedometers, health screens, speakers• Involved school nurse, park/rec, phy ed, food
service, worker comp coordinator
NEXT STEPS???• Convene a group in southeast Wisc and in
Greendale community to partner with WEA and Aurora on maximizing our resources from these groups re WELLNESS!!
• Review baseline data from U. of Michigan from Health Risk Assessment to drive programming
• Look at hiring a (part time)nurse practioner to deal with on-going disease monitoring and education, and minor health issues
