2015 THE YEAR OF WELLNESS.

2015 THE YEAR OF WELLNESS
As the insatiable cash beast of the US healthcare system lurks into 2015, a compelling movement serves to dismantle spending at the corporate level.
Just the Facts?
1. The causes of death in America are well publicized in the popular news magazines on line and in print. What is not publicized is the fact that medical errors, surgical complications, adverse drug reactions, infections and unnecessary procedures take the top cause of death category well in excess of the usually indicted cardiovascular disease state. The number exceeds cardiovascular disease by over 100,000 people.
2. The unfortunate equation that creates the fact in #1 is the DSM+ICD9=Drug/procedure. We use a diagnostic statistical manual to identify the disease state (DSM) which gives the billing clinic/physician the code to get reimbursed cash (ICD9 code) and the only resulting outcome for the patient is a drug or a procedure.
3. The unfortunate situation in fact #2 is that consumers of healthcare now realize how flawed it is. Their concern is categorically reinforced by the top cause of death in America which is the very healthcare system that is now waking up to the consumer demand for wellness instead of that broken equation for death.
4. Expenditures for healthcare in America are in excess of 2.5 trillion $2,594,000,000,000! This astronomic figure is dwarfed by the fact that as much as 40% is spent on the final 30 days of the person’s life. Yes, the “final days” budget creates additional discord with consumers of healthcare simply because they wonder what that money could have done for them earlier in the life of their healthcare.
As the nations’ health troubadour, I predict a robust movement into wellness simply because the Affordable Care Act will only expose the brokenness of our healthcare system to additional consumers.
Hardly the most health oriented packaged goods manufacturers, Coors Beer and Coca Cola have reaped the rewards of wellness programs. The beverage giants have returned as much as 5 to 10 dollars on every dollar spent on wellness. They are also realizing the benefits of showing workforce populations that it is perfectly productive to “care” about the wellbeing of the corporation’s greatest asset, the productive employee.
Wellness programs are linked to greater productivity, less absenteeism, and a reduction of long-term health care costs. Are you doing enough to ensure the health of your workforce? Even if you don’t have the resources to implement a complete wellness program, there are several things you can do that show your employees you value their health. For additional information I am always available via this blog and email williamsickert@sbcglobal.net. Happy New Year!