As a doctor, I often have the opportunity to visit businesses that are piloting new health care approaches to see their best practices in action. I’m always impressed by the innovation and dedication of these organizations, but I’ve never seen anything quite like what I witnessed last week on my trip up north.
Too often it seems that workplace wellness discussions devolve into which company has the fanciest gym equipment, or which offers the most cooking classes. While those are nice perks, they shouldn’t be the sole focus of workplace wellness.
Rather, the true goal of workplace wellness is to keep employees healthy. That means emphasizing early intervention and prevention, such as annual physicals, cancer screenings and flu vaccinations. The byproduct of these efforts is increased number of days working, creativity and productivity in the workplace – all measures management should be keenly focused on, and that can’t be bought simply by putting new exercise bands on everyone’s desk.
The manufacturer I visited takes in custom orders – usually in a very narrow window of time toward the end of the year – and delivers the fully assembled product to each customer’s home by December 25. Despite those pressures, their morale is extremely high, productivity is off the charts, and the company has never missed a delivery.
I asked their CEO, Kris, about how they sustain both their culture and their workplace wellness program and he replied:
“Michael, you’re a good, smart boy. Take a look around. Isn’t it clear?
“We provide on-site nurses and health resources so our employees have access to the care they need when they need it. In addition to that, we urge our employees to develop a relationship with a primary care doctor who can coordinate their care, making sure they get those annual checkups you talk so much about. Our employees also get plenty of exercise running around the shop floor, no one smokes, and our cafeteria only serves healthy, well-balanced meals.
“Sure, we can do more. I, for one, need to reduce my calorie intake and not spend so much time sitting around in big fluffy chairs. That said, although our approach to wellness is relatively simple, it’s served us well for roughly 2,000 years.”
At first I was dumbfounded by this response, but on my trip home it dawned on me – what they have at the S. Claus Manufacturing Co. is exactly what we’re building in Wisconsin!
Today, our health care system is fragmented – meaning that information about our care doesn’t always travel with us and integrate with the different health care services we’re using. This can lead to duplication, medical errors and unnecessary expenses. In fact, a recent report by the Institute of Medicine says the U.S. spends $750 billion each year on wasteful medicine.
The good news is things are changing for the better. Locally, doctors and hospitals throughout Wisconsin are working with businesses and insurers to improve care coordination and drive payment innovations that should lead to improved, more cost-effective health care. Advances such as electronic medical records, bundled payments and Accountable Care Organizations are already here, and are important first steps toward a more personalized health experience.
Admittedly, our health care system has a long way to go, but if your company wants to enjoy the kind of success I witnessed at S. Claus, I recommend you start off by making sure you’re working with an insurer that is partnering with doctors and hospitals to drive innovation and produce results. A successful wellness program is all about capturing the full potential of your human capital – something the folks at S. Claus figured out long ago.
(Kris tells me their other secret is maintaining a global focus and continuously updated order list, but I think achieving even a small fraction of their results could bring real joy to your work world).
Dr. Michael Jaeger is the managing medical director for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin. He wishes that all your days are merry and bright, and that you would schedule the routine physical you’ve been putting off.
