| Tommy Thompson Promotes Corporate Wellness in Philadelphia
Former Secretary of Human Services Tommy Thompson spoke in Philadelphia regarding the benefits of corporate wellness programs. He described health care costs as a significant obstacle to success of the small regional or large international company. The treatment of chronic diseases that result from poor lifestyle choices is a significant portion of this expenditure.
Drs Seema Patel and Lee Kirksey of Corporate Wellness Partners were well aware of this trend when they opened The Institute for Optimal Health with locations in Ardmore and Philadelphia in 2005.
"We realized from our respective experiences that something had to change with how we treat disease", said Dr Patel who received a masters degree in public policy to compliment her medical training. At the event hosted by he Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Thompson said, "20% of people have chronic diseases and those people are responsible for 80% of healthcare costs"
Chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hypertension often result from lifestyle choices like smoking, overeating and a sedentary lifestyle. "The bottom line is that many diseases are preventable if lifestyle changes can be initiated early. Many operations that I perform could be avoided if physicians and patients could work more on wellness and prevention," said Dr Kirksey, a vascular surgeon at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center of The University of Pennsylvania Health System.
Instead, the US healthcare system is largely a "fix it when it’s broken process" based upon diagnosis and treatment with expensive medications and procedures. But many hope that this crisis will motivate businesses to focus more on creating programs which incentivize healthy behavior. "Our corporate wellness system involves a six part program of integrated medical strategies. It’s more than just your annual physical" Dr Patel describes. We create cost effective programs suited to the needs of each particular company and individual. From the executive to the employee-at-large"
Marlene Henkin, special assistant to the secretary of the Pennsylvania Health Department, said workplace wellness programs could reduce workplace health costs 25 percent, even more if you factor in the impact on disability, retention and absenteeism. She said that the average medical costs are $1244 higher for obese patients compared to normal weight individuals.
Thompson said, "The company’s who are creative and successfully manage to decrease chronic illness will have a competitive advantage" |
