Tag Archive for Corporate Wellness Program Data

Corporate Wellness Program Data Sources

January 8, 2009 / Corporate Wellness / No comments

Effective Corporate Wellness Programs include the use of data sources in support of Corporate Wellness Program planning, implementation, and evaluation. Data sources can be used to complete a community needs assessment, develop realistic Corporate Wellness Program goals and objectives, and gain Upper Management support.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Data and statistics

• http://www.cdc.gov/DataStatistics/
• Data and statistics are available by topic (i.e., asthma, injuries, MRSA).
• Data access tools are available to customize information tables and query datasets (i.e., Healthy People DATA2010, tobacco use-Attributable Mortality, Morbidity, and Economic Costs).
• Nationwide survey information is available (i.e., National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)).

CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

• http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/index.htm
• BRFSS is the world’s largest, ongoing telephone health survey system. BRFSS has been tracking health conditions and risk behaviors in the US yearly since 1984.
• Chronic Disease Indicators are divided into seven categories: physical activity and nutrition, tobacco and alcohol use, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, overarching conditions, and other disease and risk factors.
• Prevalence information is also available (i.e., weight classification by Body Mass Index and age).

Category: Wellness Programs / Tags: ,

Corporate Wellness Program Data Organization

January 6, 2009 / Corporate Wellness / No comments

Keeping Corporate Wellness Program information organized is essential in order to be able to determine Corporate Wellness Program impact and participant progress. Use the simple steps below to keep your information organized.

Manage Corporate Wellness Program information electronically.
• Storing Corporate Wellness Program outcomes information electronically is the best way to manage that information.
• An electronic system will enable you to review and analyze the information more efficiently.
• Scan old surveys and other Corporate Wellness Program information that exist only on paper into .pdf format for permanent storage.

Find the Corporate Wellness Program system that works best for you.
• Some employees are more comfortable with spreadsheet applications; others prefer to work with database applications.
• You will be more likely to use a Corporate Wellness Program that you are familiar and/or comfortable with.
• Standardize information collection and organization. Keep information columns/fields in the same order for all Corporate Wellness Programs.

Keep the Corporate Wellness Program as simple as possible.
• You do not have to be a Wellness Programming wizard or use complicated data entry interfaces in order to manage Corporate Wellness Program outcomes information.
• A simple spreadsheet is an excellent way to keep your information organized.

Store all Corporate Wellness Program data numerically.
• Using numbers (instead of words) will make the information much easier to enter and analyze. By way of example: use “1” for yes; “0” for no OR “1” for male; “2” for female.
• Number survey responses that contain strings of words. By way of example: instead of entering the responses: “patient education videos”, “news,” or “no TV,” number the responses so you only have to enter “1,” “2,” or “3.”

Label all Corporate Wellness Program data clearly.
• Make sure all the data columns, rows, or fields are labeled. The information is worthless if you don’t know what information is in which column.
• The spreadsheet/database should include an explanation for column, row, field, and data abbreviations and a key for numbered responses.

Use consistent Corporate Wellness Program data units.
• Make sure all information entered into a given column is expressed with the same unit of measure. By way of example, enter all heights as total inches, not as a combination of feet and inches.
Putting your data in order by using a simple system that works for you will enable you to track participant accomplishments. Keeping your information organized also makes it easier to communicate Corporate Wellness Program impact to leadership and make Corporate Wellness Program improvements as needed.

Category: Wellness Programs / Tags: ,

Corporate Wellness Program Data

December 13, 2008 / Corporate Wellness / No comments

What is Corporate Wellness Program data?

Corporate Wellness Program data is information that is collected about your Corporate Wellness Program. All Corporate Wellness Programs should include data as an integral part of the Corporate Wellness Program plan.

Why should you care about Corporate Wellness Program data?

Data tells the Wellness story. Data is the tangible evidence of a Wellness Program’s impact.

Building data into Corporate Wellness Programs

Why bother with Corporate Wellness Program Data?

You need Corporate Wellness Program data to:
• Evaluate whether or not your Corporate Wellness Program is working.
• Answer the ‘so what?’ about the need for a Corporate Wellness Program.
• Offer information to Upper Management about the impact of the Corporate Wellness Program.
• Write a budget justification so you can secure Corporate Wellness Program resources.
• Use Corporate Wellness Program resources efficiently and market your Corporate Wellness Program more effectively.

Where to begin collecting Corporate Wellness Program data:
• MAKE A PLAN to collect the data: decide what, when, and how information will be collected.
• Determine what information is ALREADY BEING COLLECTED.
o By way of example: use dairy sales information in the dining facility to measure the impact of a milk marketing/dairy month campaign.
• Start collecting JUST A FEW small pieces of information. Be innovative!
o By way of example: BMI, APFT scores (before & after), tobacco quit rates

IT’S NEVER TO LATE TO START collecting Corporate Wellness Program data.

Innovative Corporate Wellness Program data strategies
• Use local college/graduate students to help collect, input, and analyze Corporate Wellness Program information.
• If your business has an internship program, get to know the Internship Director. Make use of intern resources – including having the Director and/or interns implement the data collection plan for your Corporate Wellness Program.
• Use information to let senior management know about the Corporate Wellness Programs affect on the staff members.

Present this information at their monthly/quarterly meetings.
• Use innovative follow-up strategies to get information. Phone calls can be effective, but also consider email, mailed surveys with return postage provided, and going to the units in person to collect the information.
• Make data collection ‘fun’ for Corporate Wellness Program members.
o By way of example: use a team approach – the team with the ‘best’ overall results gets some sort of award or recognition.
• ALWAYS relate the impact of your Corporate Wellness Program to readiness.

Category: Wellness Programs / Tags: ,