This special health care arrangement, which integrates medical care with on-site occupational health services, features clinical, diagnostic and pharmaceutical services. HIA further promotes well-being with fitness and screening programs specific to the needs of Japanese employees. One voluntary program screens employees for gastrointestinal cancer, a common disease in Japanese society. In addition, the Physical Fitness Academy helps employees at risk for heart disease to develop appropriate diets and exercise regimens. The program was launched in 1994 with the three objectives of delivering a family-oriented experience of fun and learning while harnessing the strength of volunteerism among employees and reinforcing morale.
Employees determine the program content, based on their needs and interests.
This typically includes a mix of health education, home economics, sports, fun science and computing projects for every age level. In the United Kingdom, the Plan for Life encourages IBM employees to take responsibility for their own well-being. This health assessment program, supported by IBM's Occupational Health Services team, integrates the best of health education, assessment and counseling. Health questionnaires, as well as laboratory and stress tests, identify remediable risk factors. With a personalized profile in hand, employees can consider the long-term value of changes in diet or physical activity levels.