Presence of Others Checkpoint

Berry, L.L. and Mirabito, A.M. (2011). Partnering for prevention with workplace health promotion programs. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 86(4): 335-337.

Health promotion is an important aspect of health care behaviors. As health care providers, we will find ourselves finding a lot of time and effort in educating to promote healthy living behaviors. To obtain the successful result of health promoting behaviors, adequate efforts much be from patients as well as health care providers (Dunphy, Winland-Brown, Porter, & Thomas, 2015).

Best health practices and worksite wellness program is about engaging with employees to understand what they want, taking a tactical method about looking at health holistically. According to Lacoma, (1999 -2014), these worksite wellness programs are intended to help the workers upgrade their health and maintain healthy lifestyles. This package includes exercises, variety of care and treatment for various illnesses (mental and emotional health), healthy food, on time check up reminders, outlined health checks assessments, consultations and therapy. Moreover, Engelman (2012) determined that many of the conditions impacting workers were preventable and requires increased amounts of education, screening, encouragement and benefits to help understand how these affect the quality of their lives. These shifts gained prominence during the 1990s from increased research, about the importance of prevention and the advantages it can provide employers inside the marketplace.The recent Affordable Care Act workplace wellness provisions on implementation and expansion of employer wellness programs serves a great means to offer great opportunity of improving the citizen 's health and also control health care spending. The effectiveness and benefits of such programs should be evaluated to encourage opportunities to support healthier workplaces (Kisberg, (2014).

The contributing factor which makes it so successful is that it provides an explanation into the ‘how’ of behaviour change as opposed to the ‘why’, effectively demonstrating problematic areas which need to be addressed (Adam & White, 2003). This alludes to the source of the problematic behaviour and stimulates thought into how this behaviour can be changed. A main component of the model which makes it so effective is its integral focus on decision-making, important in promoting real change in the individual (Adam & White, 2003). Decision-making is imperative to this model’s success as it allows for intervention strategies that are individually tailored as well as applicable to a wider, diverse population (Nigg et al, 2011). Not all individuals begin at the same stage and hence TTM provides the appropriate mechanisms to support those who aren’t ready for change, those who are committed, and those who experience relapse (Nigg et al, 2011). For example, two individuals may utilise this model to engage in more effective behaviours regarding physical activity. Although they both share a common goal, they may be in different stages of the model – one individual may be in the preparation stage contemplating an exercise regime, while the other may be in the maintenance stage considering methods to maintain change (Nigg et al,

This survey also concluded that only one third of workers choose to participate in their organizations health promotion activities. Only 53% of those surveyed responded that they feel valued by their organization. To follow current research, UnityPoint Health has implemented a variety of health promotion initiatives within the last six years I have been employed with them. They have implemented the use of insurance discounts if the employee is within a specified body mass index range, is a non-smoker and does not have their spouse on their insurance. They have also implemented restructuring an open unit in the hospital into a small gym and workout area. They have purchase several pieces of gym equipment, including treadmills, stationary bicycles, free weights and mats used for yoga. This area was renamed FitZone by St. Luke’s. The FitZone is free to use for all employees and immediate family members. This appears as a great investment in employee health and wellness. Unfortunately, finding time to frequent the FitZone does not always fit into our busy lives. Esposito & Fitzpatrick (2011) found a positive correlation between nurses exercising and their ability to teach their patients the importance of exercise. This is another way to keep the employee healthy with an added

According to Christopher Heffner from AllPhsych, we tend to act differently around certain people is to maintain our social image or improve how others see us. Heffner describes that when a person is alone, he tends to be more relaxed and focused compared to when he is around other people. Also, by changing our behavior when dealing with group decisions, we tend to try to avoid conflict by agreeing with the popular opinion. Overall, he explains

I have perceived health promotion and disease prevention may be similar, but the strategies used to improve or implement may need to be approached in different ways depending on individual beliefs and values around the meaning of health Tengland, (2010). I trust, in order to improve or change health interventions, as a health care provider, I need to assess and learn more about the community I am trying to change or improve. I realized the importance of educating people about their health so they know how to take care of themselves (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2014).

Finally, by testing a preventative health care strategy would prove to be beneficial in the long term basis, generally simply due to the need for the public to promote the benefits of feeling fit and being healthy. “The Gale Group (2001) reports as a preventative measure for good health, many organizations or institutions have designed programs that inform the public or specific persons with specific problems about information that will benefit that person or persons. Preventative measures are for diabetes, heart problems, cancer, and many other focused subjects. According to the American Dietetic Association, current interest in health promotion in the United States involves disease prevention and the problem of obesity. Health promotion is

Benavides noted that “wellness programs are not a quick fix solution to years of employee disregard for their health condition. In most cases at least a two year window is necessary to begin to see positive results. In any case, it is an option that provides a sustainable way to lower health care costs and improve the physical and mental well being of employees.” Under Obama’s Affordable Care Act, $15 billion over 10 years and another $2 billion each year to follow was allotted for healthcare and evidence-based outcomes (to generate and fund such wellness incentives as this paper proposes). Likewise, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 allotted $160 billion total toward healthcare and wellness with $650 million specifically granted to address chronic disease strategies.

One-sixth of the U.S. economy is spent on healthcare and around $800 billion is wasted per year on cares that are wasteful or inefficient. Overall, the healthcare costs are rising (America’s Health Insurance Plans, 2014). The concept of health promotion has been gaining traction. The Affordable Care Act implements the state of positive health among the population with the concept of prevention through promotion via healthcare access to every citizen (ObamaCareFacts, 2014). Disease prevention is not the only important thing about health promotion. A greater longevity and a higher quality of life are some of the behaviors described as a health promotion. To an individual, health promotion can bring a sense of harmony and wellbeing, increase positive

Health and wellness in the work place is a vital part to a company’s success. Employees who are healthier and more productive are less likely to call out from sickness. There are not many companies that have affordable health care coverage for employees. More companies should make healthcare affordable for their employees and their family. Research has been done on how effective health and wellness programs can be in the workplace. Throughout the reading these points will be discussed. The effectiveness of health and wellness in the workplace will also be spoken of. Health and wellness activities in the workplace will be a positive move for companies and employees.

Your wellness program should also be personalized for each individual. One person my need to quit smoking, while another employee needs to lose weight to be healthier. Allowing your employees the option to pick and choose out of the program will give them more motivation to participate in it.

According to a recent article in Psychology Today, research shows that when we see others

Health and wellness in the workplace is crucial to business success. Increasingly, it is recognized that the workplace itself has a powerful affect on people’s health. When people are satisfied with their job, they are more productive and tend to be healthier. When employees feel that the environment at work is negative, they feel stressed. Stress has a large impact on employee mental and physical health, and in turn, on productivity. Companies that promote healthy lifestyle habits for employees to improve their health, often take the success of the company to heart and are likely to be absent less often for health related reasons.

“The major goals of health promotion are to help people of all ages stay healthy, optimize health in cases of chronic disease or disability, and create healthy environments” (Pender et al., 2015). This health promotion project is designed to identify and reduce the risk factors associated with several illnesses and disease processes. This project will focus on changing lifestyle behaviors and providing up to date education for the patient to make the best informed decision regarding her environment, health behaviors, and developing a support system with her primary care physician.