ANNOUNCING THE LAUNCH OF HNE’s HEALTHY DIRECTIONS EMPLOYER WELLNESS PROGRAM
Posted on April 11, 2013
The Health Programs Department is pleased to announce the launch of our new Healthy Directions Wellness Program and Integrated Online Health and Wellness Portal, powered by WebMD. The Healthy Directions Employer Wellness Program is comprehensive and engaging, focusing on building a culture of health at the worksite and improving employee health outcomes.
There are four foundational components of the program:
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Assess
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Engage Programming concepts based on Everything I Ever Needed to Know About Good Health, I Learned From My Mother: My Mother’s Health Plan
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Transform Based on Behavior Change Theories:
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Maintain Incentive/Reward Programming
Communications
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The program is implemented in phases that align with the four foundational components:
Assess
The program begins with a Kick-off Event at the worksite. The kick-off event compromises biometric screenings (blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol, triglycerides, and body composition), interactive health information, raffles and much more. It is a high energy and fun event that gets employees motivated to make an improvement in their health status.
Engage
Two weeks post kick-off the Healthy Directions Health Coaches will implement the first activity challenge. This challenge is based upon the concept that everything you needed to know about good health you learned from your mother: go out and play (activity, exercise, stress relief, social health); eat your vegetables (importance of good nutrition); and wash your hands and brush your teeth (prevention). It is a progressive challenge, incorporating a new activity each week that builds upon the previous week throughout the month.
Assess
WebMD Health Quotient is the next activity. This health assessment is available in an online environment as well as in a paper/pencil format. Biometrics from the Healthy Directions Kick-off event will be automatically uploaded. Upon completion of the assessment a report is generated for each participant highlighting opportunities for health improvement. In addition, a baseline report utilizing aggregate data will be created and shared with the employer.
Transform/Engage:
All Healthy Directions programming supports overall health improvement of your employee population. Programming is based upon clinical evidence and behavior change theory. In addition, programs are offered through a number of environments.
Healthy Directions provides multi-modal programming opportunities:
Online
- Digital Health Assistant
- Webinars
- Activities Challenges (individual)
Onsite
- Kick-off Event
- Goal Setting Session
- Activity Challenges (individual and group)
Community Based
- Walks, Runs, Cycling Events
Maintain
“Most of human nature runs on positive reinforcement and reward.” Dee Eddington, Zero Trends. The greater the reward the greater the engagement in the program; from a range of 10% participation for no incentive to a high of 100% participation when it is tied to coverage by the company’s health plan:
Influence of incentives on initial participation
| No incentive | 2% – 10% |
| Passive incentive | 15% – 25% |
| Small item incentive | 20% – 30% |
| Cash incentive | 20% – 40% |
| Benefit plan improvement | 30% – 60% |
| Benefit plan plus cost reduction | 50% – 70% |
| Combination of benefits and cash | 75% – 100% |
Dee Edington, Zero Trends
According to Edington, most incentives need to be at least in the $600 to $1000 range to convince at least 90% of employees to participate. HNE recommends that incentives/rewards are used to motivate participation in the program.
The following chart outlines what HNE does for our associates with respect to Rewards/Incentives:
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Health Activity |
Reward |
| WebMD HealthQuotient® and biometric screening completionCompletion necessary to be eligible for program entry / complete by April 30th | $125.00 |
| Quarterly Events – complete 1 event per quarterEvents based on My Mother’s Health Plan theme – Exercise, Nutrition, and Preventive Care focused events | $100 possible($25 per quarter) |
| Health outcome maintenance or improvementMeasured from Time 1 (T1) to Time 2 (T2) | $50 possible |
| Fitness/Weight Watchers Reimbursement | $150.00 |
HNEs Health Programs Staff will work with the employer group to determine an incentive/reward strategy that meets the employer’s budget, while engaging the highest percentage of the employee population at the worksite.
This program is designed to meet the requirements for the wellness tax credits available to small groups through the state of Massachusetts.
To learn more about the Healthy Directions Employer Wellness Program please contact either Chris Jasinski, Health Programs Manager, at cjasinski@hne.com or 413-233-3256 or Lynn Ostrowski, Director, Corporate Relations & Brand, at lostrowski@hne.com or 413-233-3383.
