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The Business of
Health Care Report
Typically, at this time of year, individuals resolve to lose weight, stop smoking, eat healthier, and exercise more. The intention is good, but the result often falls short of the goal. Why does it make good
business sense to encourage your employees to pursue healthy goals? Consider
the incredible impact the health of your employees has on your bottom line. A 1998 U.S. Treasury Department
report estimated that smoking cost Americans an estimated $130 billion in medical
care. The American Heart Association estimates the cost of cardiovascular diseases
and stroke in the United States in 2001 will be more than $298 billion. This
translates to lost work time and productivity. Here are some simple things you
can do to help your employees. Offer healthier food choices in vending machines and
in the cafeteria. Offer fitness facilities on-site or negotiate discounts at nearby
fitness clubs. Encourage employees to get an annual physical and promote screening
guidelines for cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other common illnesses. Work
with an area health provider to offer flu shots to your employees. Choose health
insurance plans that promote preventive care. Provide a health risk assessment to
your employees to help them identify lifestyle behaviors that may be compromising
their well being. Texas Health Resources offers a confidential, interactive health
risk assessment on our Web site at www.texashealth.org. Information on prevention and
screening for many diseases is available from health agencies, usually at no charge.
Resolving to help your employees reach their 2002 health goals is a wise investment
for this year and for years to come. Sources: AHA, American Cancer Society For Texas Health Resources
and its family of hospitals - Harris Methodist Hospitals, Presbyterian
Healthcare System and Arlington Memorial Hospital - I'm CEO Doug
Hawthorne with "The Business of Health Care Report" on NewsRadio
1080 KRLD.
©
2002 Texas Health Resources |
I’m Doug Hawthorne, President and CEO of Texas Health Resources, with
"The Business of Health Care Report" on 