StayWell Health Management

Best Practices in Evaluating Worksite Health Promotion Programs

avirnig — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:13:00 GMT

Jessica Grossmeier and the research team at StayWell authored the manuscript published in The Art of Health Promotion: Best Practices in Evaluating Worksite Health Promotion Programs, January/February 2010 issue - article JV24I314. Contact your StayWell strategic account manager or visit our research page for a copy.

StayWell Health Management Acquires LifeMasters Supported SelfCare

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:20:00 GMT

NEWS RELEASE For more information: StayWell Health Management Barbara Tabor, APR 651.450.1342 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE StayWell Health Management Acquires LifeMasters Supported SelfCare First acquisition of a disease management firm by a wellness company signals a new day in total health management for employers and the health care industry ST. PAUL (Dec. 18, 2009) - StayWell Health Management announced today that it has completed a definitive agreement to purchase LifeMasters Supported SelfCare, Inc., of Brisbane, Calif., making StayWell the first health management company to purchase a disease management firm. St. Paul-based StayWell, part of the privately owned MediMedia family of companies, has been partnering with LifeMasters to deliver integrated solutions to multiple complex customers for the past two years. According to Paul Terry, president and CEO of StayWell, the acquisition will enable StayWell to continue offering best-in-class programming, while delivering greater value at a lower cost to customers. “We intend to use this acquisition as an opportunity to take health management to the next level. StayWell’s program and research expertise, coupled with LifeMasters’ expertise in improving chronic conditions, will enable us to deliver even greater value to our employer customers,” said Terry. “Our combined expertise will enable StayWell to get the right people into the right programs, to deliver higher engagement rates through a smarter use of incentives and health assessment data, and to help people live and work well with chronic conditions.” According to Terry, StayWell’s acquisition of LifeMasters gives the wellness provider expertise across the health spectrum. StayWell, an industry leader in workplace wellness programs that help people change behaviors, reduce health risk factors, and manage existing conditions, will add disease management programs to its menu of capabilities as a result of the LifeMasters acquisition. Its newly acquired disease management capabilities will enable StayWell to target people with chronic conditions such as asthma, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, hypertension, cancer, depression and low back pain. StayWell and LifeMasters are NCQA accredited in their respective service offerings and immediately will bring their direct and mutual customers the benefits of the combined companies’ capabilities through enhanced integrated solutions. ### About StayWell Health Management: StayWell Health Management is a recognized leader in delivering comprehensive health management programs and services that help organizations maximize business results by improving employee health and productivity. Founded in 1978, StayWell Health Management is a MediMedia USA Company headquartered in St. Paul. The company has 350 employees. StayWell’s programs and publications help improve the lives of more than 50 million people each year. StayWell customers have received the C. Everett Koop National Health Award and more than 40 WELCOA Gold Awards for health management programs StayWell has developed. StayWell is accredited by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). To learn more about the company, visit www.staywellhealthmanagement.com. About LifeMasters Supported SelfCare: LifeMasters Supported SelfCare is a disease management and health improvement company with more than 15 years of experience working with employers, insurers, hospitals and physicians to lower costs and improve patient satisfaction with the health care system. LifeMasters is accredited by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and URAC. More information can be found at http://lifemasters.com.

Auto-parts maker puts brakes on runaway health costs

avirnig — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:56:00 GMT

Employee Benefit News featured a case study of the Affinia Group authored by Melissa Vaughn, strategic account manager at StayWell Health Management and Bob Soroosh, director of benefits for Affinia Group. Click here to download the PDF version and read the story on page 40.

StayWell Health Management Earns Accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:47:00 GMT

NEWS RELEASE For more information: StayWell Health Management Barbara Tabor, APR 651.450.1342 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE StayWell Health Management Earns Accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Long-time industry leader joins 10 Early Adopters to receive Wellness and Health Promotion Accreditation ST. PAUL, Minn. (November 20, 2009) – StayWell Health Management announced today that it has achieved Wellness and Health Promotion Accreditation as an “Early Adopter” from the NCQA. The “Accredited” status is granted to those wellness and health promotion organizations that demonstrate excellence in the delivery and improvement of wellness and health promotion programs, and that meet or exceed NCQA’s rigorous standards. As one of the first health management companies to enter the market, StayWell has been an innovator and leader in health promotion research, program development and participant engagement since 1978. The company is also responsible for groundbreaking industry research that identified the link between health behaviors or risk factors and future health care cost trends and, more recently, between health risk factors and worker productivity. The NCQA’s Wellness & Health Promotion Accreditation assesses companies that provide wellness services using an evidence-based set of requirements to distinguish quality services. According to Paul Terry, Ph.D., president and CEO of StayWell Health Management, this standardized approach will enable employers to choose a wellness partner with the capabilities to meet their workplace health needs, and a proven track record of achieving real results. “Approximately 77 percent of leading American companies offer formal health and wellness programs to their employees, and they do so because there is proof that these programs work,” said Terry. “Through both formal research and client case studies, the health management industry has shown that companies can improve employee health and achieve a positive ROI for their investment with a comprehensive, best practice wellness program. That’s something StayWell has advocated for years, and the NCQA accreditation further validates our approach.” Terry added that findings from StayWell’s 2008 research on health management best practices align closely with the NCQA accreditation standards and with industry benchmarks like the HERO Best Practice Scorecard. StayWell’s NCQA accreditation is effective for two years and applies to all of the company’s programs and services including health assessments; NextSteps® health coaching; a full spectrum of onsite health promotion programs to address lifestyle choices; StayWell Online® programs and tools; incentive design; onsite staff; and consultative services. “NCQA’s Wellness & Health Promotion Accreditation requires organizations to demonstrate their compliance with well-defined standards and quality measures,” said Margaret E. O’Kane, president of NCQA. “The NCQA seal will provide employers and consumers with the information they need to choose the best program in their markets.” To learn more about the new accreditation process and standards, visit www.ncqa.org. For more information about StayWell Health Management, visit www.staywellhealthmanagement.com. ### About StayWell Health Management StayWell Health Management is a recognized leader in delivering comprehensive population health management programs and services that help organizations maximize business results by improving employee health and productivity. Founded in 1978, StayWell Health Management is a MediMedia USA Company headquartered in St. Paul. The company has 350 employees. StayWell’s programs and publications help improve the lives of more than 50 million people each year.

StayWell Health Management receives awards for health care communications and online tools

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 21:08:00 GMT

NEWS RELEASE For more information: StayWell Health Management Barbara Tabor, APR 651.450.1342 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE StayWell Health Management receives awards for health care communications and online tools ST. PAUL, Minn. (August 28, 2009) – StayWell Health Management announced today that it has received awards for excellence in employee total health management programming and online resources from two leading industry award programs. StayWell received two National Health Information awards: a Gold Award for StayWell’s Time Out for Health campaign and a Bronze Award for its new and improved Healthy Changes for You booklet, which is part of the company’s NextSteps® health coaching program. In addition, the Worldwide Web Health Awards bestowed an Award of Merit in the category of Health Promotion/Disease & Injury Prevention to StayWell for its StayWell Online® interactive participant portal. “Effective programming and communication is what we’re about,” said Paul Terry, president and CEO of StayWell Health Management. “We counsel clients about the importance of following best practices when designing their employee health management programs, and consistent employee communication is one of those best practices. To be recognized for excellence in this area is very gratifying.” The National Health Awards and the Worldwide Web Health Awards are both sponsored by the Health Information Resource Center, a national clearinghouse for consumer health information programs and materials. More than 1,000 entries were received, with winners chosen for their ability to set an industry standard for consumer health materials. ### About StayWell Health Management StayWell Health Management is a recognized leader in delivering comprehensive population health management programs and services that help organizations maximize business results by improving employee health and productivity. Founded in 1978, StayWell Health Management is a MediMedia USA Company headquartered in St. Paul. The company has 350 employees. StayWell’s programs and publications help improve the lives of more than 50 million people each year. To learn more, visit www.staywellhealthmanagement.com.

Winners of the C. Everett Koop Health Project Award Announced

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:41:00 GMT

NEWS RELEASE For more information: Ron Z. Goetzel, Ph.D., President and CEO The Health Project 1341 22nd Street NW Washington ,DC 20037 202-223-7670 ext 103 thehealthproject@emory.edu FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Winners of the C. Everett Koop Health Project Award Announced Organizations are recognized for improving health and saving money through health promotion and disease prevention WASHINGTON, DC (July 21, 2009) – The Health Project announced this week that it has awarded the prestigious C. Everett Koop National Health Award to three organizations with documented evidence that their health promotion and disease prevention programs have improved the health of employees while saving money for their organizations. The 2009 winners include L.L. Bean, Inc. Alliance Data, and Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. “These companies have demonstrated that they can improve their employees’ health and save money,” said Dr. Ron Goetzel, president and CEO for The Health Project. “They do this by providing comprehensive and evidence-based health promotion programs designed to help employees adopt and maintain health behaviors such as a healthy weight, being physically active, eating health foods, and not smoking.” This year’s winners join a growing list of previous Koop Award winners that include The Dow Chemical Company, Energy Corporation of America, IBM Corporation, Lincoln Industries, Vanderbilt University and USAA. Organizations applying for the award are judged by an independent panel of experts who decide whether there is sufficient proof that improved health and cost savings have been achieved. Additional information about past award recipients is available at http://thehealthproject.com. “Rather than stand by and do nothing while watching their health care costs escalate out of control, these companies are getting to the very heart of the problem: unhealthy behaviors,” said Carson Beadle, chairman and co-founder of The Health Project. “Individuals who have healthy behaviors also have fewer chronic diseases, reduced demand for health care services, and lower health care costs.” Dr. Jim Fries, chief science officer for The Health Project and professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine adds, “As debate continues over the necessary ingredients for health system reform, we need to take notice of successful efforts by small and large employers who have introduced sustainable health promotion and disease prevention programs. Not only do they work, but they improve health and save money. And in the end, you can’t argue with the data.” To learn more about The Health Project, visit http://thehealthproject.com.

StayWell Health Management hires Sue Willette as senior vice president and chief growth officer

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:00:00 GMT

NEWS RELEASE For more information: StayWell Health Management Barbara Tabor, APR 651.450.1342 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE StayWell Health Management hires Sue Willette as senior vice president and chief growth officer Former Mercer executive to lead strategic business growth efforts ST. PAUL, Minn. (July 7, 2009) — The health management industry is evolving and rapidly expanding as employers around the world realize the numerous benefits of a healthy workforce. StayWell Health Management announced today that it has hired Sue Willette as senior vice president and chief growth officer to help guide the 30-year-old company through this ever-changing landscape toward continued growth and leadership. Willette has been a mainstay in the health care industry for over 25 years, serving most recently as Worldwide Partner and National Practice Leader of the Health & Productivity Management specialty consulting team at Mercer. In this capacity, Sue led a diverse team of more than 50 industry professionals and generalist consultants in the design, development, implementation, management and evaluation of integrated health and productivity management programs for the employer market. “Sue is a well-respected voice in the health management and larger health care industry and we’re thrilled that she’s joining the StayWell team,” said Paul Terry, president and CEO of StayWell Health Management. “Her track record includes helping some of Mercer’s key clients achieve impressive program results and coveted industry awards including the C. Everett Koop award and National Business Group on Health award. As an added bonus, Sue has a deep knowledge of StayWell, which will give her the perspective to guide our efforts to strategically grow our business and partner in the evolution of our company.” Willette worked for StayWell from September 1989 to July 1996 in sales, national accounts and special projects. Willette spent the early part of her career with Sandoz Nutrition, Control Data Corporation and Olson Graphic Products. She serves on the board of directors for the DMAA and has judged the URAC Best Practices Award program. Willette frequently speaks at national and international venues, has published in industry trade journals and is often quoted by the press as a health and productivity management expert. She holds a bachelor’s degree in interdepartmental communications with a concentration in business and health from St. Cloud State University. ### StayWell Health Management is a recognized leader in delivering comprehensive health management programs and services that help organizations maximize business results by improving employee health and productivity. Founded in 1978, StayWell Health Management is a MediMedia USA Company headquartered in St. Paul. The company has 350 employees. StayWell’s programs and publications help improve the lives of more than 50 million people each year. To learn more about the company, visit www.staywellhealthmanagement.com.

StayWell Health Management announces new business wins as employers continue to invest in prevention

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:33:00 GMT

NEWS RELEASE For more information: StayWell Health Management Barbara Tabor, APR 651.450.1342 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE StayWell Health Management announces new business wins as employers continue to invest in prevention Commitment to employee health strong as companies realize positive financial results from worksite wellness programs ST. PAUL, Minn. (July 1, 2009) — An increasing number of employers are realizing the benefits of prevention and the impact that good employee health can have on the bottom line, according to executives from StayWell Health Management. And, while the economy is causing many employers to evaluate spending, by and large, their commitment to workplace wellness programs remains solid. In fact, the St. Paul-based company announced today that it has been awarded nine new accounts since the beginning of the year, with the four most recent clients coming on board in April and May. According to Kris Zitzmann, vice president of national accounts for StayWell Health Management, the five new accounts represent companies in finance and insurance, higher education, and manufacturing. New business wins represent approximately 100,000 eligible program participants for StayWell since the beginning of the year. “Recent StayWell research has proven that a healthy workforce is a more productive workforce, and that’s particularly important to employers in today’s economy,” said Zitzmann. “When you consider that an employee with low health risks costs $1,472 per year in lost productivity as compared to an employee with just three health risks who costs $5,952 per year in lost productivity, it’s easy to see why companies continue to invest in wellness.” StayWell Health Management provides workplace wellness programs, such as health assessments and biometric screenings, personalized health coaching, employee health promotion programs, and interactive online health and wellness tools. StayWell also has extensive research capabilities, which have contributed to the identification of industry best practices for workplace wellness programs, the use of incentives to encourage participation in wellness programs, and the effects of employee health on workplace productivity. ### About StayWell Health Management: StayWell Health Management is a recognized leader in delivering comprehensive health management programs and services that help organizations maximize business results by improving employee health and productivity. Founded in 1978, StayWell Health Management is a MediMedia USA Company headquartered in St. Paul. The company has 350 employees. StayWell’s programs and publications help improve the lives of more than 50 million people each year. StayWell customers have received the C. Everett Koop National Health Award and more than 40 WELCOA Gold Awards for health management programs StayWell has developed. To learn more about the company, visit www.staywellhealthmanagement.com.

StayWell Health Management introduces international health assessment

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:00:00 GMT

NEWS RELEASE For more information: StayWell Health Management Barbara Tabor, APR 651.450.1342 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE StayWell Health Management introduces international health assessment ST. PAUL, Minn. (June 12, 2009) – StayWell Health Management announced today that it will begin offering an international health assessment through a partnership with InfoTech, Inc., a Canadian developer of web-based tools for identifying health, performance and productivity risks within a company. The partnership will meld StayWell's population health management capabilities with InfoTech's international health assessment, Wellness Checkpoint®. According to Michael Staufacker, director of population health strategies for StayWell, about half of the company's clients currently have international employees. This increased globalization is driving a need for a more culturally relevant health assessment experience, Staufacker added. "The health assessment is an essential tool in workplace wellness and health promotion efforts because it allows employers to effectively identify and stratify risks so they can help employees live healthier lives,” said Staufacker. “This in turn, has numerous long-range benefits, including lower health care costs, decreased absenteeism and increased workplace productivity. By leveraging InfoTech’s international capabilities, StayWell is able to offer a consistent health assessment platform to participants in a number of different languages. " Staufacker adds that research has shown 50 percent of all health care costs stem from behaviors or lifestyle choices, which means they are preventable with behavior change. Health management, or workplace wellness programs, have become increasingly popular because of their ability to identify such behaviors and to produce long-term, positive change. “Our experience working globally to support performance-driven companies has helped us refine Wellness Checkpoint to support business decisions at the corporate and local level,” said Zorianna Hyworon, CEO of InfoTech. “Measuring and reporting risk within an organizational and business context, and comparing measures across regions and businesses, as well as against global and industry benchmarks, allows companies to develop health and productivity risk management strategies that align global corporate objectives and local priorities.” InfoTech’s online, interactive Wellness Checkpoint platform has been used internationally for over 15 years and is currently used in more than 50 countries and in 15 languages. StayWell Health Management was the first wellness company to offer a computerized health assessment and the first to offer a behavior-based health assessment. "A comprehensive health management program, starting with a health assessment, can reduce health care claims costs, improve absenteeism and productivity, and yield a positive ROI," said Staufacker. "More importantly, the assessment generates a greater awareness among employees for their health and well being, and is an important first step to building a long-lasting culture of health within an organization." ### About StayWell Health Management StayWell Health Management is a recognized leader in delivering comprehensive population health management programs and services that help organizations maximize business results by improving employee health and productivity. Founded in 1978, StayWell Health Management is a MediMedia USA Company headquartered in St. Paul. The company has 350 employees. StayWell’s programs and publications help improve the lives of more than 50 million people each year. To learn more, visit www.staywellhealthmanagement.com. About InfoTech Info Tech, Inc., which launched Wellness Checkpoint in 1990, offers a comprehensive international health risk assessment with sound theoretical underpinnings and models validated by some of the world’s foremost occupational health researchers and global benchmarks. Building on the assessment data is a powerful suite of decision support tools that link health, productivity and business impact. Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Wellness Checkpoint has been deployed to more than 50 countries and is available in 15 languages. To learn more, visit http://www.wellnesscheckpoint.com/.

Putting a price on worker wellness

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 19:51:00 GMT

Putting a price on worker wellness A study by an Eagan firm lays out just how much lost productivity companies stand to regain by nudging employees into health-friendly lifestyles. Published in the St. Paul Pioneer Press on 04/18/2009 Section: Business Page: C1 Byline: By Julie Forster jforster@pioneerpress.com Do healthy workers get more work done? Employers have bulked up their wellness programs assuming that the answer is yes. Hard evidence has been lacking. Now an Eagan-based company that runs wellness programs for companies has put a dollar figure on the issue. In a study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the firm asserts that helping workers get healthier can whittle away the cost of lost productivity. The study, conducted by StayWell Health Management and wellness expert John Riedel, found a strong association between unhealthy people and productivity loss. Companies see a 3.4 percent productivity loss for even the healthiest employees, but that balloons to 24 percent for people who have a number of unhealthy behaviors, such as a high use of alcohol and unmanaged stress. Employers see a $1,472 productivity loss from a healthy employee, while a more typical employee averages $5,952 in lost productivity. Back pain, stress and depression were the three main drivers of lost productivity cited in the study. Back pain accounted for 5.7 weeks of lost productivity each year. Mental well-being and stress accounted for 2.4 and 1.1 weeks of lost productivity respectively. The researchers argue that bolstering health among employees can save business big money: If 100 people were to eliminate three unhealthy conditions or behaviors, an employer could see annual savings of $448,000. Lost productivity was measured on the job, not by the number of absences. To measure productivity, individuals were asked how much their health problems limited them during the workday. Researchers compared those responses to "health risks" such as smoking or unmanaged stress through health assessment and wellness screenings. The research included data from 106 companies across five industry sectors and represented responses from 772,000 individual employees. Intuitively, it's known that keeping employees healthy is the best way to reduce health care costs, Riedel said. But there hasn't been much data showing that people with healthy lifestyles are significantly more productive than unhealthy people. Until now, much of the research has been around the impact of chronic health care conditions on total health care spending, not on how lifestyle influences productivity on the job. "If you have a healthy employee versus one who is not, how do you put a dollar sign on the difference between the two? That has been difficult," said Bill Whitmer, chief executive of the Health Enhancement Research Organization, a Birmingham, Ala.-based employee health-management research group. Employers increasingly want to know about the cost of unhealthy employees. StayWell's clients include companies in the ailing auto industry, which have timed down to the second the amount of labor time it takes to produce a car or truck. "We want to be able to quantify it at a level of sophistication that these lean production specialists understand," said Paul Terry, StayWell's CEO and one of the study's authors. Volvo North America has had a program for about five years to help its 10,500 employees live healthier lives. The company has onsite fitness coordinators at its plants, fitness centers, weight-loss competitions, and screenings for blood pressure and cholesterol. Food in the cafeterias has become more nutritious. People who meet health standards get insurance discounts. The company's own studies found that for people who do even one thing in the wellness program, medical costs are decreasing, said Jeffrey Burtaine, Volvo's corporate medical director. For everyone else, they're going up. The research from StayWell simply confirms what Burtaine already suspected. Having data makes the results real for the engineers who run the company. "The good news is, in the worst economy my company has ever seen, wellness survived."

Productivity loss linked to health risk factors

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 19:30:00 GMT

NEWS RELEASE For more information: StayWell Health Management Barbara Tabor, APR 651.450.1342 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Productivity loss linked to health risk factors New study reveals health risk factors responsible for up to 24 percent productivity loss ST. PAUL, Minn. (March 26, 2009) — Until now, efforts to quantify the link between health and productivity have focused largely on chronic conditions and the impact they have on worker productivity. Health management, or workplace wellness programs have been shown to reduce health care costs, but the research linking prevention to productivity has not been so robust. That’s beginning to change, thanks in part to a new study published recently in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. The study, conducted by StayWell Health Management researchers in partnership with John Riedel, a nationally recognized authority on health and productivity, shows a definitive link between health risks and impaired employee productivity. According to the researchers, the study is significant for employers because it clearly quantifies the impact of healthy lifestyle on a company’s bottom line. “Intuitively, we know that keeping employees healthy is the best way to reduce health care costs, and there’s a large body of research in the industry demonstrating this is true,” said Riedel. “But until now, we haven’t had as much data showing that people who have healthy lifestyles with few risk factors are significantly more productive in the workplace than people with high numbers of health risk factors.” The study included data from 106 companies across five industry sectors and represented responses from 772,750 individual employees. Survey questions were incorporated into each company’s annual health assessment, asking individuals to self report their health risks and the impact their health had on their work performance. “By asking people how much health problems limited their ability to perform their job duties, and then comparing those responses to the number of health risks identified through the health assessment and biometric screening, we can get a reasonable estimate of the impact that a healthy or unhealthy lifestyle has on productivity,” said Jessica Grossmeier, director of research for StayWell Health Management. According to Grossmeier, this study controlled for a number of other factors that may also be associated with productivity loss such as age, gender, industry type, job type, and company size. It expanded the current research by introducing the Normal Impairment Factor (NIF), a measure of productivity lost by the healthiest of employees that provides a more realistic estimate of achievable productivity gain through intervention. Highlights from the study A strong association was found between the number of health risks and productivity loss, ranging from 3.4 percent for those with none of the eight assessed health risks to a 24 percent productivity loss for people with all eight health risks. This means people with the most health risks had fully seven times more lost productivity while at work than those with no health risks. Differences in productivity loss for those at risk and not at risk for each of the eight assessed health risks were calculated, and significant differences were detected for each specific health risk. Researchers found that ongoing back pain was responsible for 5.7 weeks of lost productivity each year, representing a 10.9 percent differential between employees at risk and those not at risk for back pain. Mental well-being and stress accounted for 2.4 and 1.1 weeks of lost productivity, respectively. The difference in lost productivity between those at elevated risk and those at low risk for mental well-being and stress were 4.6 percent and 2.2 percent, respectively. Researchers identified a NIF, which represents the amount of on-the-job productivity loss experienced by individuals at low risk for all of the health risk areas measured in the study. The NIF is the amount of on-the-job productivity loss that cannot be mitigated through health management interventions that address the eight health risks measured in the study. An employee in the NIF group with low health risks experiences an average of $1,472 per year in lost productivity, while a more typical employee with three health risks averages $5,952. The researchers estimate that if 100 people with three health risks were to eliminate just one health risk, this would translate to productivity gains worth $149,400 for the employer. “During a time when health care costs continue to soar and everyone from the small employer on Main Street to leaders in Washington are looking for answers, this study provides additional evidence that prevention generates opportunities for savings - not just in lower health care costs, but in substantial employee productivity gains as well,” said David Anderson, Ph.D., senior vice president and chief health officer at StayWell Health Management. “Now more than ever, employers can’t afford not to invest in the health of their employees by making employee health a core business value. That starts with senior leadership being committed to creating a culture of health in the workplace and extends to the benefits a company offers and to its efforts to be supportive of long-lasting employee health behavior change.” To view the complete manuscript of this study, visit http://www.joem.org/. The following authors contributed to this study: John Riedel, M.P.H., M.B.A.; Jessica Grossmeier, M.P.H.; Laura Haglund-Howieson, M.B.A.; Cherie Buraglio, B.A., B.A.S.; David R. Anderson, Ph.D.; Paul E. Terry, Ph.D. The authors wish to acknowledge and thank David Mangen, Ph.D., of Mangen Research Associates, Inc. for consultation and review of statistical content; and Stefan Gingerich, M.P.H., of StayWell Health Management for his technical support and assistance with literature reviews, citation management and application of content from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to the analytic dataset. ### StayWell Health Management is a recognized leader in delivering comprehensive health management programs and services that help organizations maximize business results by improving employee health and productivity. Founded in 1978, StayWell Health Management is a MediMedia USA Company headquartered in St. Paul. The company has 350 employees. StayWell’s programs and publications help improve the lives of more than 50 million people each year. StayWell customers have received the C. Everett Koop National Health Award and more than 40 WELCOA Gold Awards for health management programs StayWell has developed. To learn more about the company, visit www.staywellhealthmanagement.com.

StayWell Health Management announces new business wins

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:25:00 GMT

NEWS RELEASE For more information: StayWell Health Management Barbara Tabor, APR 651.450.1342 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE StayWell Health Management announces new business wins Employers continue to invest in prevention to reduce health risks and health care costs ST. PAUL, Minn. (March 6, 2009) — Despite tough economic times, employers remain committed to offering health management programs in the workplace, according to executives from StayWell Health Management. The St. Paul-based company announced today that it has been awarded five new accounts since the beginning of 2009. According to Kris Zitzmann, vice president of national accounts for StayWell Health Management, the new accounts represent companies in construction engineering, energy and natural gas, health care, and a large national restaurant corporation. “Keeping employees healthy is a proven way to save money on health care costs and to improve productivity, and that’s become a high priority for businesses in today’s economy,” said Zitzmann. “Companies that remain committed to creating a culture of health in the workplace, including those that offer health management or workplace wellness programs will realize greater long-term gains in these areas.” The new business wins represent approximately 50 thousand additional eligible program participants for StayWell, which provides workplace wellness programs, such as health assessments and biometric screenings, personalized health coaching, employee health promotion programs, and interactive online health and wellness tools. StayWell also has extensive research capabilities, which has contributed to the identification of industry best practices for workplace wellness programs and the use of incentives to encourage participation in wellness programs. “Research indicates that, compared to workers with healthy habits, the average worker has two to three times as much lost productivity due to health problems. That means an average employer with 1,000 employees needs 30 to 50 workers just to perform work lost to preventable health problems,” said David Anderson, senior vice president and chief health officer at StayWell Health Management. “Now, more than ever, employers can’t afford not to invest in the health of their employees.” ### About StayWell Health Management: StayWell Health Management is a recognized leader in delivering comprehensive health management programs and services that help organizations maximize business results by improving employee health and productivity. Founded in 1978, StayWell Health Management is a MediMedia USA Company headquartered in St. Paul. The company has 350 employees. StayWell’s programs and publications help improve the lives of more than 50 million people each year. StayWell customers have received the C. Everett Koop National Health Award and more than 40 WELCOA Gold Awards for health management programs StayWell has developed. To learn more about the company, visit www.staywellhealthmanagement.com.

StayWell Health Management launches HealthVault™-compatible health portal

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:20:00 GMT

NEWS RELEASE For more information: StayWell Health Management Barbara Tabor, APR (651) 450-1342 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE StayWell Health Management launches HealthVault™ - compatible health portal ST. PAUL, Minn. (Jan. 14, 2009) – StayWell Health Management announced today that it has launched a HealthVault-compatible health portal that gives wellness program participants greater access to electronic personal health information through a secure web site, StayWell Online. The StayWell Health Management solution enables people who have access to StayWell’s programs through their employer-sponsored health management program to complete an online health assessment (HA) and enjoy online access to their results and to any health improvement program information for which they qualify. According to Michael Staufacker, director of population health strategies for StayWell Health Management, a growing number of employers are looking for HealthVault-compatible capabilities as part of their workplace health management programs. “Health management programs have proven to be an effective cost-containment strategy when it comes to health care costs. When people manage their health and adapt healthy behaviors, many health risks and related costs can be avoided or minimized,” said Staufacker. “Robust health portals, such as StayWell Online make information more accessible for health care consumers, which in turn makes it easier for them to engage in better health.” This new capability allows program participants to use the StayWell Online portal to store their personal health information in HealthVault. This connection also gives them access to other programs and services that may be personally relevant to each participant. StayWell Online provides access to their company’s HA and a wide variety of resources to better manage their own personal health and the health of their family members. ### About StayWell Health Management StayWell Health Management is a recognized leader in delivering comprehensive population health management programs and services that help organizations maximize business results by improving employee health and productivity. Founded in 1978, StayWell Health Management is a MediMedia USA Company headquartered in St. Paul. The company has 350 employees. StayWell’s programs and publications help improve the lives of more than 50 million people each year. To learn more, visit www.staywellhealthmanagement.com.

StayWell Health Management expands worksite smoking cessation programs through partnership with American Lung Association

avirnig — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 21:57:00 GMT

NEWS RELEASE For more information: StayWell Health Management Barbara Tabor, APR 651.450.1342 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE StayWell Health Management expands worksite smoking cessation programs through partnership with American Lung Association ST. PAUL, Minn. (Aug. 11, 2008) — StayWell Health Management announced today that it will expand its portfolio of worksite health management programs to include the Freedom From Smoking® cessation program through an ongoing partnership with the American Lung Association (ALA). The ALA partnership will allow StayWell to offer additional health management and behavior change programs at client worksites. Beginning in third quarter 2008, StayWell will offer the ALA’s Freedom From Smoking program to its customers. The program will be conducted at the workplace by health professionals from StayWell who will receive training from the ALA. The Freedom From Smoking group clinic consists of eight group sessions designed to offer individuals a step-by-step plan for quitting smoking. Because a majority of people know that smoking is unhealthy, the program focuses on how to quit, not why to quit. Each session uses effective and proven behavior change principles and methods designed to help individuals quit. The group format encourages participants to work on the process, challenges and solutions for quitting not only as individuals, but also as a group. This ongoing social support is one key aspect to the success of this program. According to Michael Staufacker, director of program development for StayWell Health Management, this collaboration is a unique approach to worksite health management. “Our affiliation with the American Lung Association will strengthen StayWell’s already robust and proven portfolio of health management programs by offering smoking cessation support in a group setting,” said Staufacker. “Employers who partner with StayWell have a new option in a new format with the Freedom From Smoking program.” Staufacker added that these best-in-class programs come in response to industry demand, particularly from companies that want to offer their employees a solid mix of options for changing behaviors. The programs will be sold as standalone programs. According to Staufacker, this a la carte approach enables StayWell to meet the unique needs of each customer and to give employers more freedom of choice. “The American Lung Association is very happy to be partnering with StayWell Health Management, which serves a critical population health management function via employee wellness programs,” said Katherine Pruitt, assistant vice president, program services, American Lung Association. “Our mission is to eradicate lung disease and this affiliation gives us a new way to extend the reach of our programs to help achieve this mission.” StayWell Health Management is one the country’s first and foremost providers of population health management programs for employers. The company offers programs and services that concentrate on changing individual health behaviors and creating a culture of health in the workplace. StayWell’s program offerings include individual health coaching via telephone and mail, workplace wellness campaigns geared to stop health problems before they start, onsite health screenings, online tools and resources for consumers and employers, and an extensive population health research capability that is responsible for identifying numerous trends and best practices in workplace health management. ### About StayWell Health Management: StayWell Health Management is a recognized leader in delivering comprehensive health management programs and services that help organizations maximize business results by improving employee health and productivity. Founded in 1978, StayWell Health Management is a MediMedia USA Company headquartered in St. Paul. The company has 350 employees. StayWell’s programs and publications help improve the lives of more than 50 million people each year. StayWell customers have received the C. Everett Koop National Health Award and more than 40 WELCOA Gold Awards for health management programs StayWell has developed. To learn more about the company, visit www.staywellhealthmanagement.com. About the American Lung Association: Beginning its second century, the American Lung Association is the leading organization working to prevent lung disease and promote lung health. Lung disease death rates continue to increase while other leading causes of death have declined. The American Lung Association funds vital research on the causes of and treatments for lung disease. With the generous support of the public, the American Lung Association is “Improving life, one breath at a time.” For more information about the American Lung Association or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or log on to www.lungusa.org.

StayWell Health Management names Sheryl Niebuhr

avirnig — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:54:00 GMT

NEWS RELEASE For more information: StayWell Health Management Barbara Tabor, APR 651.450.1342 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE StayWell Health Management names Sheryl Niebuhr vice president of development and research ST. PAUL, Minn. (July 23, 2008) — Further solidifying its position as the industry leader for health management research, StayWell Health Management announced today that it has hired Sheryl Niebuhr, Ph.D., as vice president of development and research. Niebuhr brings a wealth of expertise in behavior change and hands-on health management program experience to her new position at StayWell. In this position, Niebuhr will provide leadership for programs, workplace resources, and research efforts that serve StayWell client organizations and their employee members. “My goal is to advance the already highly regarded leadership position that StayWell has in the health management industry,” said Niebuhr. “That includes working closely with the team to introduce the next generation of StayWell innovation, while reinforcing the broader understanding of the importance of health management to employee populations.” Before joining StayWell, Niebuhr, a licensed psychologist, spent 16 years in human resources at 3M in St. Paul, where she most recently served as global manager of employee assistance and health and productivity services. She holds a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Minnesota, a master’s in counseling psychology from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, and a bachelor of arts in psychology and sociology from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Niebuhr serves as the chair of the Business Advisory Group for the Joint Commission and is on the Board of Directors for the Search Institute, an organization devoted to developmental assets for young people. She also holds an adjunct faculty position in the University of Minnesota department of psychology. StayWell, one of the country’s first health management providers, leads the industry in research capabilities and behavior change program innovation. ### StayWell Health Management is a recognized leader in delivering comprehensive health management programs and services that help organizations maximize business results by improving employee health and productivity. Founded in 1978, StayWell Health Management is a MediMedia USA Company headquartered in St. Paul. The company has 350 employees. StayWell’s programs and publications help improve the lives of more than 50 million people each year.

StayWell Health Management teams up with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

avirnig — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:21:00 GMT

NEWS RELEASE For more information: StayWell Health Management Barbara Tabor, APR 651.450.1342 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE StayWell Health Management teams up with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ST. PAUL, Minn. (April 24, 2008) — StayWell Health Management announced today that it is partnering with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to deliver health behavior change programs to Medicare beneficiaries. StayWell is one of five organizations chosen to participate in the national Medicare Senior Risk Reduction Demonstration, which was announced by CMS in December 2007 and which kicked off with a pilot program earlier this month. According to Michael Staufacker, director of program development, StayWell Health Management, the company will provide online and paper health assessments for Medicare beneficiaries who have been chosen by CMS to participate in the pilot, along with health behavior change programs and customized communication materials. “StayWell will lend it’s expertise in identifying health risk behaviors and helping people create lasting health behavior change to a segment of the Medicare population through this pilot,” said Staufacker. “Based on our experience, we believe that if communications are clear and easy to understand, Medicare beneficiaries can achieve high participation levels in health management programs.” Health management programs, like those offered by StayWell, focus on identifying individuals who are at risk for long-term health conditions based on lifestyle behaviors, and then providing targeted interventions and health coaching to encourage behavior change. The Medicare Senior Risk Reduction Demonstration was initiated by CMS in an effort to determine if health management programs can help Medicare beneficiaries maintain and improve their health, and reduce the need for health care services for preventable illnesses, injuries or other complications. “We all know that we should engage in healthy behaviors, like being physically active, eating a nutritious diet, and not smoking,” said Kerry Weems, acting administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. “Sometimes we need information and support to help us do the right things. The Medicare Senior Risk Reduction Demonstration will provide tailored information and support to beneficiaries, helping them to take better care of themselves so they can maintain their health and independence.” According to Staufacker, CMS has assigned 200 Medicare enrollees to StayWell for the initial pilot, which runs from April 2008 to April 2009. In October 2008, CMS will assign approximately 17,000 Medicare beneficiaries to StayWell for the full demonstration, which runs through 2011. “The population of eligible Medicare beneficiaries will grow rapidly as the Baby Boom generation continues its march toward retirement,” said Staufacker. “This pilot presents a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate the potential impact of health management and prevention programs for this important segment of our population.” ### StayWell Health Management is a recognized leader in delivering comprehensive health management programs and services that help organizations maximize business results by improving employee health and productivity. Founded in 1978, StayWell Health Management is a MediMedia USA Company headquartered in St. Paul. The company has 350 employees. StayWell’s programs and publications help improve the lives of more than 50 million people each year. StayWell customers have received the C. Everett Koop National Health Award and more than 40 WELCOA Gold Awards for health management programs StayWell has developed. To learn more about the company, visit www.staywellhealthmanagement.com.

New StayWell Health Management study demonstrates effects of best practices on workplace health management outcomes

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:09:00 GMT

NEWS RELEASE For more information: StayWell Health Management Barbara Tabor, APR 651.450.1342 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE New StayWell Health Management study demonstrates effects of best practices on workplace health management outcomes ST. PAUL, Minn. (April 18, 2008) — Stopping illness before it starts is the key to curbing health care costs. This point is generally undisputed. But thanks to a new study by StayWell Health Management, employers now have a set of proven best practices that can improve health management efforts and, ultimately, lower health care costs. The “Best Practices Study,” conducted by StayWell researchers under the direction of David Anderson, Ph.D., vice president of program strategy and development, and Jessica Grossmeier, director of research at StayWell Health Management, was designed to better understand the differences in engagement rates and health risk outcomes based on the use of best practices versus standard practices in health management program design. Findings from the StayWell study indicate that companies using industry best practices achieved higher program participation and more than double the improvement in employee health risks compared to standard practice companies. More specifically: Health assessment completion was 68 percent of eligible employees for best-practice companies versus 47 percent for standard-practice companies; Health coaching program completion was 48 percent of those eligible in best-practice versus 34 percent in standard-practice companies. Best practice companies saw employee health risks decline by 4.7 percent versus 2.0 percent for standard-practice companies. “Risk reduction outcomes in both groups compare favorably to benchmark levels of 1 to 2 percent annually, but what is exciting is that the best-practice risk improvement is 2.3 times the standard-practice rate,” said Anderson. “Since population risk levels drive higher health care costs and lost productivity, this difference ultimately translates to substantial additional cost savings and productivity improvement for our best-practice companies.” As a result of the study, StayWell has identified nine best-practice strategies—further verified by third-party industry experts and published literature—that can effectively increase employee engagement in health management programs and improve program outcomes. According to Anderson, a common denominator underlying many of these best practices is that they contribute to creating an organizational culture that promotes health. “At StayWell, we’ve long believed that one of the keys to a successful health management program is creating and nurturing a culture of health within an organization,” said Anderson. “The results of this study underscore that belief, while giving us more concrete evidence for how to achieve this goal.” The best practices for implementing a successful health management program as identified by the StayWell “Best Practices Study” include: Strong senior management support Comprehensive program design Integrated incentives Integrated, comprehensive communication strategy Dedicated onsite program management staff Multiple program modalities (phone, mail, online) Population-based, awareness-building activities Biometric health screenings Vendor integration The study examined program design and outcomes from 22 companies that are current StayWell clients. According to Anderson, one of the common elements—and that which appears to have the biggest influence on how health management programs are accepted by employees—is the attitude of senior management. “Creating a culture of health in the workplace starts at the top of an organization. Strong senior management support is really the key that opens the door to creating a culture of health,” said Anderson. “Having committed, visionary leadership that communicates and demonstrates an ongoing commitment to good health will effectively drive that same sentiment down through the organization. Fostering this mindset among employees will fundamentally improve both program participation and long-term health behavior change.” In addition to support from top management, Anderson added that the integration of incentives can also play a key role in program participation. According to Anderson, the use of incentives is a growing trend in health management and is a strategy that many third-party payers are also employing to increase plan adoption. The StayWell “Best Practices Study” found incentives integrated into the health plan design are most effective. At the same time, employers must take care in designing incentive strategies. “The goal is to use incentives as a catalyst in accelerating culture change and supporting individuals’ internal motivation to change. Poorly designed incentive strategies can backfire in both of these areas,” according to Anderson. The StayWell “Best Practices Study” examined data from large employers with a total of 767,640 eligible employees, spouses and retirees. The study was conducted using data from October 2004 through December 2006. ### StayWell Health Management is a recognized leader in delivering comprehensive health management programs and services that help organizations maximize business results by improving employee health and productivity. Founded in 1978, StayWell Health Management is a MediMedia USA Company headquartered in St. Paul. The company has 350 employees. StayWell’s programs and publications help improve the lives of more than 50 million people each year. StayWell customers have received the C. Everett Koop National Health Award and more than 40 WELCOA Gold Awards for health management programs StayWell has developed. To learn more about the company, visit www.staywellhealthmanagement.com.

HERO names David Anderson board chair

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:31:00 GMT

NEWS RELEASE For more information: StayWell Health Management Barbara Tabor, APR 651.450.1342 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE HERO names David Anderson board chair StayWell executive helped build leading industry research organization ST. PAUL, Minn. (Feb. 26, 2008) —The Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO) named David Anderson, Ph.D., as its new board chair. Anderson will serve a two-year term beginning in February, 2008. In addition to his responsibilities with HERO, Anderson is also vice president, program strategy and development, for StayWell Health Management. Anderson, who helped create HERO and is a charter member, has also served as chair of the organization’s research committee since its formation. Anderson’s connection and involvement with HERO is a natural fit, based on his expertise and history in the field of population health. As one of the founders of StayWell Health Management, Anderson helped create and shape the health management industry as we know it and continues to lead the industry in developing evidence-based programs and leading groundbreaking research to document the results of employer health management strategies. “David is universally recognized as a thought leader across the employee health management industry. He has been closely involved in HERO operations from the early days of concept, to the level of success we have experienced over the past 12 years. With his leadership as the chairman of the board of directors, there is no doubt that HERO will continue to expand its goal of being a leading force in the creation of employee health management national policy, strategy, leadership and infrastructure,” said Bill Whitmer, president and chief executive officer, HERO. HERO was formed in 1996 to facilitate research that positively impacts health care costs and outcomes by shifting the focus from one that relied almost exclusively on the diagnosis and treatment of existing conditions to a mindset of prevention. This stems from growing evidence that healthy people are generally more productive and have fewer health care expenses, and from research suggesting that over 50 percent of all health problems are related to lifestyle behaviors that can be changed. HERO gained widespread recognition in 1998, when it began releasing a series of landmark studies on the relationship between health risks and medical costs from a database it created in collaboration with StayWell, Thomson Medstat, and six of their employer clients. “HERO has played an instrumental role in advancing the field of prevention and population health management. StayWell has a long history with the organization and in the field of health behavior change, which makes this a good fit,” said Anderson. “I’m honored to serve as chair of the board and will focus my efforts on providing leadership, direction and resources to continue to grow membership, enhance research efforts, and improve program offerings for purchasers and the health professionals who serve them.” According to Anderson, major HERO initiatives include: the HERO Think Tank, which currently has 80 members representing both employer purchasers and organizations providing health management services and focuses on creating national employee health management policy, strategy, leadership, and infrastructure; the HERO Forum, a unique event that provides “how-to” workshops and networking opportunities for those involved in health management and will next be held in September 2008 in New Orleans; and the HERO Scorecard, a survey and database tool designed to provide employers with benchmarking, normative and best practices data in employee health management. Anderson will serve along with Andrew Crighton, M.D., who has been appointed as vice chair of the HERO board. Crighton is vice president and chief medical officer at Prudential Financial. ### StayWell Health Management is a recognized leader in delivering comprehensive health management programs and services that help organizations maximize business results by improving employee health and productivity. Founded in 1978, StayWell Health Management is a MediMedia USA Company headquartered in St. Paul. The company has 350 employees. StayWell’s programs and publications help improve the lives of more than 50 million people each year. To learn more about the company, visit www.staywellhealthmanagement.com.