How to Evaluate your Wellness Program: Is It Really Doing What You Intended?

Most wellness programs are evaluated based solely on biometrics such as:

·         Blood pressure

·         Cholesterol

·         Blood glucose

The problem with using biometrics alone to assess the efficacy of your wellness program is that you are assuming that numbers = wellness. Just looking at numbers but not HOW the numbers got there in the first place (root cause) is a grave mistake.

How is your treating the numbers working for you? On average:

High blood pressure is treated with medicine.

High blood sugar is treated with medicine.

High cholesterol is treated with medicine.

Numbers treated does NOT mean problem solved (improved health).

Treating numbers often ignores and actually worsens the underlying issue in the first place. This is especially true in terms of blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol where the root cause may still worsen the condition of the body … all the while we’re looking at the PRETTY numbers. All permit the root cause to keep growing.  Sure, it may (or may not) keep us out of the hospital or grave for a while. But poor life quality and co-morbidities continue to grow which cost you and your employees.

Here’s the issue, the root cause of most cases of high blood sugar, glucose and cholesterol is something called insulin resistance.  Treating the lab number doesn’t improve the ramifications of insulin resistance which are numerous (see Blog articles) which may include but are not limited to: heart attacks, strokes, poor wound healing, amputations, depression, anxiety, musculoskeletal disorders, dementia and so much more. 

So, then how should you evaluate your wellness program?

Does this mean that your biometrics are useless?  Absolutely not!  It’s all about how they are used… the treatment that they trigger. I suggest lifestyle modifications which is the only true way to get to the root cause of most chronic illness that these numbers can reveal (when not altered by drugs). Additionally, I suggest looking at the sort of claims and pharmaceuticals you’re spending money on. Follow disease trends. If you need assistance with this, we can help. Insulin resistance, for instance, often starts with climbing blood pressure (see quiz). On the flip side, improved insulin sensitivity (via diet and lifestyle) often results in improved blood pressure along with blood sugar as the first signs of improvement. 

NOTE: do understand that employing a program that encourages screenings and doctor visits will often increase costs at first, but they will stabilize. It’s something to be aware of when evaluating your medical costs and wellness program.

Okay, so now you know that biometric evaluations are not enough to evaluate your wellness program and that you should review the actual diseases and drug costs as well. If the diseases and pharmaceuticals are associated with diabetes, heart disease, pain, autoimmunity, certain cancers and digestive disorders then you may want to consider a program that provides the employee the opportunity to receive full disclosure of their issues and options on how to deal with them, IE lifestyle modifications …the root cause in the first place.  I was being nice there.  Let me say this again, YOU WANT TO PROVIDE YOUR EMPLOYEES THE ABILITY TO MAKE INFORMED LIFESTYLE DECISIONS AND MODIFICATIONS, NOT JUST BLINDERS, HANDCUFFS AND MASKING DRUGS.  Sounds harsh but healthcare costs and illness are harsh.

Consider our services.  We provide adoptable and manageable lifestyle modifications to save your employees and your wallet.  See our Corporate Services here.

Sincerely, Diane Kopelakis, MS, RD, LD

Let’s evolve together!