Employee wellness programs will help Louisiana hospital workers

2/14/2012

Although healthcare costs in the U.S. are growing, people can save money on their medical expenses in the long run by taking advantage of the employee wellness programs available through their workplace. These preventive services are becoming popular around the country, including the south, where the Louisiana Hospital Association (LHA) announced it will launch wellness programs to help people employed by medical facilities throughout the state.

The initiative - known as the Smart Choices, Better Health Hospital Campaign - will roll out in two phases over three years, as reported by Healthcare Finance News. The first will focus on nutrition, exercise and weight management. The second will aid workers who are trying to quit smoking.

"Smoking and obesity alone are major causes of health issues in Louisiana leading to heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer and premature death," said John Matessino, LHA president and CEO, as quoted by the news source. "They also increase healthcare costs by billions of dollars every year."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 31 percent of adults in Louisiana were obese as of 2010. Furthermore, at least 17.8 percent of women and at least 22.8 percent of men were current smokers in 2009.

Lifestyle management education may not only help improve hospital employees' quality of life, but also set a good example for people living within the larger community, according to the news source.

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