Worksite Wellness Programs

It's easier to prevent injuries than to pay for them. Increasing evidence supports the need for workplace wellness programs. More companies than ever are implementing health and wellness strategies to reduce injuries, health care costs and long-term disability. The San Francisco MTA has recognized these benefits for the health of its employees and company as a whole, utilizing the comprehensive services of BackFirst since 2001. BackFirst identifies and addresses health risk factors before they result in claims and lost days. With the medical expertise and health professionals at BackFirst, our worksite wellness programs strengthen each employee as they strengthen the MTA as a whole.

Employees with greater risk factors, including being overweight, smoking and having conditions such as diabetes not only cost more to insure, they also pay more for health care than individuals with less risk factors. In fact, recent research suggests that employers get an average of $3.48 back in reduced health care costs and $5.82 in lower absenteeism cost for every dollar spent on employee wellness. Employees who live healthier lifestyles have reduced sick leave, improved work performance, decrease health insurance costs, increased productivity and reduced overall costs.

BackFirst Works: An employer study at the San Francisco MTA demonstrates the benefits of BackFirst's Workplace Wellness programs. The following data compares a current fiscal year at two work sites to a previous year prior to the implementation of the BackFirst program. These results demonstrate impressive data reflecting irrefutable gains not only in back strength of its employees, but importantly, a decrease in injury claims and lost days due to back injuries.

Three critical factors that account for the impressive gains in BackFirst's measurable outcomes:

1. BackFirst provides the best back strengthening equipment available in the world.
2. The professional staff of BackFirst has the medical expertise and experience to use the equipment safely and with efficacy.
3. The BackFirst staff has earned the trust of the employees who are willing to commit their strengthening and wellness needs to their guidance.

BackFirst also provides an array of wellness and injury prevention classes in its two fixed centers, on the HealthStrong Mobile bus and via on-site yoga for the office worker. Additionally, classes have been a popular and effective means of preventing injury, including the "Beyond Ergonomics" class, back care programs and stress management modules. BackFirst has been instrumental in helping to achieve the following goals:

• Decreased injuries and injury claims.
• Decreased Worker Compensation costs.
• Improved Productivity: Improved employee productivity plays a big role in the success of an organization.
• Improved Presenteeism. Presenteeism occurs when employees are at work but do not feel as productive as usual due to injury, illness, stress or depression. Research also suggests that the indirect costs of poor health (e.g., absenteeism, presenteeism, disability) may be two to three times higher than the direct medical costs.
• Improved Employee Morale and Retention: Workplace wellness programs send a clear message to employees that management values their well-being.
• Reduced Absenteeism: Healthier employees spend fewer days away from work due to illness. Additionally, because good health typically carries over into better family choices, employees will miss less work caring for sick family members.

BackFirst Workplace Wellness Program components:

• On-site personalized exercise and training centers
• BackFirst's unique HealthStrong Mobile unit
• Orthopedic 'Quick Checks' to address issues early on and provide self-care programs
• On-site Yoga for the office worker
• On-site Chair massage provided by CMTs
• MedX Lumbar Strengthening and Stretch equipment
• Education and training to V.T.T. and new Operator classes
• Office ergonomics training and 'Beyond Ergonomics' seminars
• "Know Your Numbers" Health Risk Assessments (HRA's)

Health Risk Assessments

Most often, employees are aware that they have health issues, but have not been assessed to determine the level of severity or the risk to their health that these problems represent. The extent to which their health has deteriorated is often an ignored variable. Chronically ill employees have come to accept their present level of health as normal. The documentation of health risks is necessary in order to begin a dialogue and implement lifelong healthy lifestyle choices.

At the screenings, participants will immediately receive confidential print-outs of their results, as well as educational materials about what the screenings (and their specific scores) mean regarding their health. Participants are encouraged to follow-up with their physician and/or the BackFirst staff to receive additional counseling, education and referral.

BackFirst's employee Health Risk Assessments (HRA's) take into account the following measurements:

• Blood Glucose Level: For the presence of Diabetes. Diabetes may not display any symptoms for 4-7 years while it causes damage in the body.
• Blood Pressure: Background medical information and previous blood pressure history is noted.
• Cholesterol: Healthy cholesterol and unhealthy cholesterol readings. Diet choices are recorded.
• Coronary Disease: Routine questioning detects heart health or previous heart failure.
• Spinal Screenings: Musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain are the second most common reason people visit their doctor. Our experts screen for spinal problems and help prevent the high cost of musculoskeletal conditions.
• Demographic Information: Gender, age, weight, height, department, race, are included in the data collection process. All information is confidential and only composite data can be retrieved and reported.
• Family History: Investigation of past health issues and patterns in the family tree help to detect the probability of future health issues.
• Forms: All information is confidential. No data relating to an individual is recorded. Composite data makes further study of and improvements to company wellness programs more pertinent.
• Physical Activity: The amount and duration of exercise has a direct impact on health risks.
• Stress: Workplace stress has a huge impact on health and wellness.
• Tobacco Use: Nicotine addiction is a major focus in the wellness industry.
• Weight: Body weight, BMI ratios.