April 23, 2007
Missoula to Host Worklife Wellness Conference
An improved, healthy lifestyle for employees can actually translate to a healthier bottom line for business.
That’s the main message behind the 2007 Montana Conference on Worklife Wellness dubbed ‘Health Management as a Serious Business Strategy.’ The event takes place next month in Missoula and is sponsored, in part, by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. The date is May 8-9 at the Holiday Inn Downtown and costs $120 to register.
Over 90 businesses attended the conference last year and this year the interest has remained strong from both Montanans and those outside state lines. “We have attendees come from out-of-state because we combine the best of both worlds - expert information in a local place at an affordable price,” said Chelsea Fagen, of the DPHHS Cardiovascular Health Program.
Highlighting the event as featured speaker is University of Michigan professor Dee Edington, Ph.D. Edington has authored or co-authored over 400 articles on issues such as those dealing with wellness programs and how they impact health care costs and productivity. “Mr. Edington translates 25 years of research into very specific guidelines about what employers should and should not do when implementing a worksite wellness program,” Fagen said.
The conference is possible with assistance from 20 sponsors including; Allegiance Benefits Plan Management and Life & Health Insurance Company, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana, It Starts With Me Employee Health Promotion Program, St. Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences Center, Reliant Behavioral Health and TwoMedicine Health and Financial Fitness.
Attendees share the common goal of seeking innovative ways to encourage healthy lifestyles and reduce excess costs associated with medical claims and absenteeism in the workplace. “The conference reaches out to those in human resources and benefits, insurance, education, business owners, administrators, executives and other health and wellness professionals,” Fagen said.
Those professionals will have the opportunity to soak in as much as possible from Edington during the two-day event. He will offer research as proof of how a ‘do-nothing’ approach actually costs business more money in the long run as insurance costs continue to skyrocket.
Fagen couldn’t agree more. “Considering the national trend of annual double digit increases in health insurance premium costs, employers everywhere, including Montana, are exploring different options on how to continue to provide health benefits to employees and remain viable as a company,” she said.
Wellness programs are catching on throughout the state on many levels, Fagen said. The conference will benefit those who already have a wellness program and those who want to get one off the ground.
The need to promote a healthy lifestyle is important and businesses across the state are taking notice. “To be competitive in today’s workplace, a business must produce a quality product and take care of its most valuable resource - its employees,” Fagen said.
The event will also roll out the first-ever Excellence in Worklife Wellness Awards presented to nine Montana employers who exemplify worksite wellness.
To register or find out more information, contact Ava Griffenberg of the Cardiovascular Health Program at 406-444-5508 or send e-mail to agriffenberg@mt.gov.
Page last updated: 04/25/2007
