Each employee then receives a confidential health assessment and your organization gets a blinded, company-wide summary report that can help you determine what future programs may be helpful based on overall employee risks and interests. If you can't do a risk screening, a simple survey may also get at some key health interests. If, for example, smoking or back problems are identified as key issues for your work place, you can begin to customize quit-smoking programs or back safety lectures for your coworkers. In fact, the most common work related injuries are to the back and shoulders. Surprisingly, as many white collar workers experience severe back injuries as laborers because of poor posture, sitting for long hours and work areas that are not properly designed.
Smokers also tend to heal more slowly when they do have back injuries due to decreased oxygen flow.
More companies are also turning to on-site health programs geared toward women and older workers as they see the workplace change. Other employers have had success with bringing in physicians, nurses or other health specialists to talk about such topics as heart disease, caregiver issues, alternative medicine and stress reduction. Companies that choose to offer ongoing wellness programs at the workplace often report that they have a healthier workforce, less time off and higher retention and employee satisfaction scores. Dr. Ann Trauscht is a Family Practice doctor and the Medical Director for Advocate Occupational Health in Barrington, one of nine Advocate sites for the treatment of work-related injuries and employee wellness issues. Advocate Health Care has 41 dermatologists to choose from by location, insurance plan, clinical interests or other searchable criteria.