Healthy business: What local businesses are doing to keep employees fit

Company dollars in the red or black are definitely a measure of business performance. And the health of employees is a major consideration when it comes to the financial health of businesses.

Healthy employees are more productive and help reign in the rising cost of health insurance provided by businesses.

The rate of workplace illnesses and injuries in private industry that required recuperation away from work declined 4 percent in 2006, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor.

In recent years, Southeast Missouri Hospital and Saint Francis Medical Center, as well as other health care providers, have reached out to area employers and offered information and programs to help reduce health care costs and focus on the health and wellness of their employees.

Nordenia USA, a manufacturer of flexible packaging materials in Cape Girardeau, partnered with Southeast Missouri Hospital and its HealthWorks program in spring 2005.

Jim Ostergaard, director of human resources at Nordenia, said the program began by gathering health profiles of its 400 employees. Southeast wellness services staff conducted on-site lipid, cholesterol and blood-pressure screenings as well as weight checks to build a data base that would identify common health issues facing employees.

"Nordenia has since offered a number of wellness initiatives including smoking cessation programs to help employees improve their overall health," said Ostergaard, adding the company holds monthly meetings with all employees to talk about health care. He said Nordenia currently spends about $3.5 million a year on health care.

"We have a health fair every year and employees are encouraged to bring their families," said Ostergaard. "We check blood pressure and run other tests. We're high in the concept of disease management. If you catch someone with high blood pressure early on, that helps to possibly prevent diabetes at a later time."

There is an employee-sponsored wellness committee at Nordenia that suggested fresh fruit be made available so employees would not have to rely on the sugary snacks in the vending machines.

"So we arranged to get fresh fruit in here for everyone who wants it," said Ostergaard. "Pioneer Market in Jackson delivers bananas, apples, oranges to our cafeteria. It costs me about $50 a month. We do a lot to have a healthy workforce."

Rhett Hendrickson, employer relations specialist at Southeast Missouri Hospital, said HealthWorks was designed to help employers reduce absenteeism, improve productivity and manage the rising cost of healthcare.

"HealthWorks is designed to help businesses predict the financial impact of employee health risks on the company's bottom line," said Hendrickson. "The program assists employers in managing and tracking a wellness program designed for their employees. It is also is designed to raise employees' awareness of their own personal health risks and serve as a catalyst for change in a company's overall health."

Hendrickson, who coordinates the program, said it started in October 2003, and about 70 businesses in the region participate.

"We help businesses with 12 employees to over a thousand," he said. "We survey employees about whether they smoke, wear seat belts, what they eat. We provide companies an analysis of what they might have to spend on future health care if they do or don't choose a wellness program for their employees."

Saint Francis Medical Center has a Services to Business program that helps employers control the high cost of workers' compensation and medical services by reducing the incidents and severity of illnesses.

Also, its Fitness Plus program offers corporate memberships to area businesses so employees can exercise, firm up, lose weight and generally meet their wellness goals.

According to Fitness Plus director Doug Friese, the program blends prevention, wellness and rehabilitation in one location at the hospital's Health and Wellness Center.

"Our medical center offers a wellness program for its own employees, and at Fitness Plus we work with different corporations around the region," said Friese. "We contact companies and offer employee health options like on-site screenings, health seminars or health fairs."

Friese said dietitians, nurses and physical therapy trainers are usually involved in helping a company develop a wellness program.

"Our wellness staff often works with the local Conservation Department for health screenings, and Burlington Northern Railroad is among many companies that provides corporate memberships for its employees."

At American Railcar Industries in Jackson, Laura Klinkhardt, supervisor of safety/environmental and human resources, said that several years ago the company developed a program for its 154 employees called "Keeping Your Health on the Right Track." She said the program has been so successful that it is now being implemented at corporate headquarters in St. Charles, Mo.

"We play games here that involve exercising," said Klinkhardt. "We form teams and have weekly challenges. One involves a poker walk where employees start in the lunch room and walk about a mile around the facility and collect poker cards. At the end, whoever has the highest hand gets prizes like gift cards."

Also, other facets of the program challenge employees to eat more fruit and go a week without smoking or drinking soda or alcohol.

"It gets people talking about their health," she said.

Klinkhardt said that every month a guest speaker -- dietitian, doctor, health specialist -- visits and speaks about different health issues to employees. She said attendance is voluntary and the turnout is pretty good.

"And at least once a year we hold a health screening with the help of our insurance agency. We'll be having one this January,"

She said the company is considering offering employees fitness club memberships.

Klinkhardt said that in mid-December many employees received flu shots on company time.

Spokesmen at Southeast Missouri Hospital and Saint Francis Medical Center said offering flu shots at a business site helps keep employees healthy -- there are fewer sick days and that means higher productivity.

"Some companies offer it as a benefit," said Marilyn Welch, assistant manager for occupational medicine at Saint Francis Medical Center. "It keeps employees well and that helps productivity and the bottom line."

Faith True, an infection control specialist at Southeast Missouri Hospital, said she has friends who run businesses, and they tell her they notice a big difference in absenteeism when employees are vaccinated.

"It's definitely cost-effective," said True.