A study published in the peer-reviewed Population Health Management journal provides evidence that The Prevention Plan™ can assist individuals over a one-year period to reduce the key health risks that create poor health, lost productivity and out-of-control health care costs.
The study, “The Impact of The Prevention Plan on Employee Health Risk Reduction,” reveals that prevention programs based on the clinical practice of preventive medicine are able to achieve measurable health risk reduction in just one year. A cohort group of 2,606 members in The Prevention Plan from three employer groups were measured at baseline and again one year later after receiving the wellness program’s integrated interventions.
The individuals studied experienced a reduction in the majority of the 15 key health risk factors. The most noticeable reductions in the group were blood pressure (42.78%), fasting blood sugar (31.13%) and stress (24.94%).
By lowering their risks factors and experiencing better health, many of them moved to a low risk status.
These common, modifiable risk factors underlie the major chronic diseases and cause the vast majority of chronic disease deaths at all ages, in men and women, and in all parts of the world, according to the World Health Organization.
Not only do health risks drive up health care utilization, they are a drain on business profitability, with employees in poor health more likely to be absent from work and less productive on the job. As a result, employers are investing in the health of their employees to drive their business success and continue to offer sustainable employee health care benefits programs.
In addition, the burden of chronic disease has major adverse effects on the quality of life of affected individuals, causing economic effects on families, communities and societies in general.
The Prevention Plan is specifically designed to reduce health care costs by empowering employees to avert health risks through positive lifestyle changes and timely health screenings. The program uses technology to connect members with high-touch personal health coaching, action programs, and timely, relevant health information.