The East Central area of Florida took the initiative to put forth efforts to foster a fit, happy, and productive workplace environment for businesses in the area. A number of counties within the area are now involved in the Florida Health Care Plans (FHCP) which is focusing on corporate health and wellness programs.
Upon Florida’s recent approval of the FHCP strategy, Volusia and Flagler counties are taking advantage of the incentive program as a rider to their existing employer-based health insurance program.
FHCP CEO Dr. Wendy Myers explained, “We are a local company with the goal of improving the health of our members and our community by promoting an employee/employer culture of wellness education.” She went on to add that the focus of this education is on “healthy habits, preventive care, easier access to wellness programs and educational resources.”
In a joint effort, employees will work along side employers to battle lifestyle choices that produce unhealthy results. With the aid of the FHCP the effort of all will be to enhance employee morale through an uplifting and beneficial workplace environment. This strategy should also promote productivity and help decrease overall healthcare costs.
The evidence is mounting and demonstrates that more and more businesses have plans to adopt, or have already adopted corporate wellness programs. RN chief marketing and sales officer Mikelle Streicher said that these types of programs are gaining strength and will be around for the long-term.
Streicher continued on to say, “It is about investing in people and in good health so that good business and a healthy bottom line are all the more possible to obtain.”
Backing the effectiveness of corporate wellness programs, Sarasota County conducted a study of 32 wellness programs and found a 27.8 percent cut in healthcare claims. The study group all had a comparable reduction in hospital stays and doctor visits due to injury.
The popularity of heath and fitness programs goes beyond the United States; it’s global and businesses in this field are booming. Fitbug, based in United Kingdom, just announced “an influx of funds,” which it will use to finance programs geared for the United States.
According to Stockopedia News, Fitbug’s chief executive Paul Landau said that over the past 18 months, the company has been establishing a strong American presence within the health and well-being sector. He added, “we have a number of further US sales and strategic partnership discussions in hand, which we hope to conclude in the second half of 2011.”
