Bringing the American Heart Association’s Start! Fit-Friendly Program to Employees at

Erickson Retirement Communities

Craig Thorne, MD, MPH, VP-Medical Director, Employee Health & Wellness&

Mon Lau, Benefits Coordinator

Today’s agenda

• Who is Erickson?

• Our vision for Employee Health & Wellness

• Start! Program – What is it?– Why is it important?– How to implement it?

• Questions & Discussion

What % of adult Americans do all of the following?

1. Exercise 20 mins. at least three times a week

2. Do not smoke3. Eat fruits/vegetables at least every day4. Wear seatbelts regularly5. Are at appropriate BMI

Reference: Annals Int Med April 2006; summarized by David Nash, MD, MBA, Jefferson School of Population Medicine

Erickson – The most trusted name in aging

• Develops & manages full service continuing care retirement communities serving middle income seniors

• 20,000 residents live in 20 communities, 11 states

• Growth plan to meet increasing customer demand

• 12,000 employees currently - largely service level, including housekeeping, maintenance, dining, communications & nursing assistants

We share John Erickson’s vision for Employee Health

“At Erickson Retirement Communities, we firmly believe that health matters -- not only for our residents, but for our employees as well”

Leading By Example: Improving the Bottom Line Through a High Performance, Less Costly Workforce,

U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Partnership for Prevention, 2006

Biggest Challenges for Organizations to Maintain Affordable Benefit Coverage

1. Employees’ poor health habits 67%

2. Under use of preventative services 42%

3. High cost catastrophic cases 36%4. Poor employee understanding of

how to use the plan 30%

5. Poor information on provider costs 24%Source: NBGH/Watson Wyatt Survey 2009

At Erickson we know…

• 80% of our costs driven by 20% of our employees – Heart disease – Diabetes– Depression– Cancer– Asthma

• Underlying contributing factors of the “Top 5”– Obesity– High blood pressure– High cholesterol– Smoking

Are our employees ready to change?

When we asked our employees if they were interested in having access to tools & resources:

• 73% are interested in a weight management program

• 84% are interested in an exercise training program

• 90% of smokers are interested in a smoking cessation program

• 73% are interested in programs to manage stress at work or at home

Health Matters

• Erickson’s nationally recognized employee health & wellness program launched in July 2006

• Strategy– To provide an over-arching framework

• that promotes the physical & emotional health, wellness, & productivity of our employees

• through the efficient delivery of cost-effective, high quality programs & services

Health Matters 2006-2008• Health Risk Assessments

• Comprehensive medical plan covers 100% of preventative care with reduced premiums for service level staff

• Wellness Fund reimburses wellness related activities that the employee prefers

– Winner of an American Heart Association’s Worksite Innovation Award in 2008!

• Fresh fruit Fridays

• Onsite fitness centers & weight loss programs

• Detailed communications strategy

Health Matters • Change in focus in 2008: Remove barriers to achieving health & wellness

--- time, cost, education, & access• Open onsite Employee Health and Wellness Centers• We define a “healthy & productive worker” as one who:

1. Is physically fit & demonstrates positive health-related behaviors such as:• Not using tobacco, alcohol to excess or illicit drugs• Maintaining body mass index (BMI) at 25 or less• Regularly performing appropriate levels of physical activity • Complying with recommended preventive health practices;

2. Has the psychological skills that enables success in highly demanding work environments;

3. Works in a safe & healthy work environment; &4. Is productive at work & is ready to respond to changes necessary to

provide the very best service to our residents.

Introducing…

American Heart Association’s Start! Fit-Friendly Program

Start! Fit Friendly at Erickson!!

• Physical Activity

• Nutrition

• Culture

Physical Activity

Walking Clubs, Walking MeetingsPedometersOn-site, discounted Fitness CentersNature trailsAerobic/yoga/pilates classes at minimal costWeight loss challenges (Biggest Loser)Wellness Fund reimburses up to $240/year

for gym membership, home exercise equipment, weight loss programs… & more

Culture• Annual confidential on-line Health Risk

Assessments (HRAs) including BP, cholesterol and diabetes screening at many sites

• Ready! Set! Quit! Smoking Cessation program– 33 employees who quit since January 2008

• Benefit of the Month posters/newsletters including breast cancer screening, men’s health, blood mobiles, skin cancer screens, weight loss programs… & more