Companies can benefit greatly by elevating the health of their workforce. They will not achieve the highest level of success without focusing on the wellness of their human capital. Illness does damage throughout an organization. Direct costs are higher healthcare and pharmaceutical utilization and absenteeism due to poorly controlled chronic conditions and disease, such as depression, obesity and diabetes. Underlying costs are even higher. Lost productivity, presenteeism, reduced employee engagement and diminished customer care all lower shareholder returns. It’s time to deploy the full cycle of the healthcare spectrum. Healthcare providers, patient and medical insurers can follow the lead of employers who are building cultures of health. We need an interrelated integrated approach. Educating patients on self-care and effective uses of the healthcare system to improve their health status, early interventions and improved well-being are all important pillars. This is Population Health.
