Comprehensive School Employee Wellness Program Reduces Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Increases Return on Investment

The purpose of the Health Plus Challenge (HPC) is to (1) create a culture among Polk school district employees and their insured dependents that fosters healthy decision making skills and (2) assess the health and economic effectiveness of an organized model that proactively identifies and assists in the management of high-risk conditions and behaviors. Health screenings were provided over a 2 year period to all eligible employees (n=1,872) at 20 selected schools. A total of 1,792 employees (96%) received at least one health screening which included biometrics and a health risk appraisal (HRA). All participants received their results one-on-one within a week of screening. Total screenings, HRA, and one-on-one counseling included 1,115 and 1,621 participants, years one and two, respectively. Nutrition and fitness counseling was provided to 279 and 102 participants during year one and two, respectively. Based on biometric results, each participant was classified as low, moderate, or high-risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and/or diabetes (DM) and provided with targeted interventions including mailings, electronic newsletters, email, and phone calls. Educational interventions were tailored for each school and included topics on weight control, stress, fitness, and nutrition. A cohort of 1,115 individuals receiving at least two screenings was analyzed by t-test (p < 0.05). Improvements were observed for total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, triglycerides (TG), and fasting glucose (FG). No improvement was observed for HDL-C, homocysteine (Hcy), and insulin resistance index (IRI). Return on investment (ROI) was calculated for both direct ($2,296,880) and projected (3,086,431) cost avoidance and applied to program expenditures ($1,338,650). The ROI ranged from $1.72 to $2.31 for every dollar spent. Results of this study indicate that a comprehensive wellness program (HPC) can favorably influence the behavior of school employees, lowering their risk for CVD while providing a positive ROI. During the present economic climate when school administrations may be tempted to scale back or do away with similar programs these results lend support to the value, efficacy, and effectiveness of such programs.