Wellness Programs A to Z

Before you begin planning your Health Promotion Program you need to know where you are now and then decide where you want to go.  Completing a thorough needs assessment is vital to the success of your wellness program for two reasons –  

• First it ensures that your health promotion program activities are going to be targeted to meet your organization’s specific needs so that outcomes can be achieved.  

• Secondly the needs assessment provides the information you’ll need to evaluate the effectiveness of your health promotion program.

It’s often tempting to rush the assessment – namely when time is limited or those with experience already have an idea of needs. Do not give in to this temptation!  

It is crucial to understand what your business needs are, what upper-level management expects, and what staff members want in addition to expect, before you create a health promotion program.  

Consider and gather data on –

• Demographic Information

• Health Risk Factors

• Medical Claims

• Injury Rates and Causes

• Workers’ Compensation Claims

• Short and Long Term Disability Claims

• Absenteeism

• Culture Audits

• Worker perceived needs and health risks

• Management expectations or desired outcomes

There are lots of ways to assess this information. Despite the fact that some of data collecting process may  be time eating, remember that it is however essential to plan health promotion programs that target specific issues.  

This information will be crucial to set goals and for evaluating  wellness program success. How else can you know when outcomes have been achieved?

Choices to help gather the wellness program information –

• Confidential Health Risk Appraisals (HRAs) with a Business Group Summary Report click here for additional information on Health Risk Appraisals (HRAs) or Assessments

• Biometric Testings like cholesterol, blood pressure (BP) and blood sugar click here for additional information on health testings.

• Employee Needs and Interest Surveys

• Suggestion boxes placed around the company

• Focus Groups or hosting a luncheon meeting as a focus group

• Sending out a confidential email questionnaire

• Review records and databases including OSHA logs, first aid reports, insurance costs  

Once your needs assessment is complete, the Health Promotion Committee can review the results and start planning and prioritizing health promotion program choices.  

Planning should be based on objectives and identified outcomes, Step 4 of the seven step process!