Wellness@Work Symposium

Herbruck Alder recently sponsored the Wellness@Work Symposium with the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. The event began with a keynote address by Scott McFarland, president of Wellness at the Cleveland Clinic. He discussed what the Cleveland Clinic is doing to help make employees healthier. Then, several wellness experts provided breakout sessions regarding various aspects of wellness programs, including: ROI, wellness program incentives and economic wellness program ideas. Finally, the Wellness@Work Award winners presented sessions on what they do in their wellness programs.

One of the wellness experts that presented was Ginny Hridel of COSE. Click here to read her recent blog about the Symposium.

Wellness@Work Symposium

Wellness@Work Symposium
Thursday, June 10, 2010
8 am - 1 pm
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History

Herbruck Alder is partnering with the Cleveland Museum of Natural History on the Wellness@Work Symposium. The event will feature a keynote address by Scott McFarland, President, Wellness Enterprise, Cleveland Clinic. Seven breakout sessions will be presented by the 2010 Wellness@Work Award recipients and employer wellness program experts. The event will conclude with a healthy lunch.

For a detailed symposium agenda, speakers and topics, please refer to www.cmnh.org/site/Wellness.aspx

$20 per person; includes breakfast, networking lunch, and all speakers. $5 parking available at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Register by Friday, June 4. Call 216.231.1177 or click here. The first 100 people to register will receive a free gift bag!

Herbruck Alder receives Health Care Heroes Award

On May 6, 2010, Herbruck Alder was named winner of the Employer Achievement in Wellness Award through the Crain's Health Care Heroes Program.

In the May 3-9, 2010 issue of Crain's Cleveland Business, the following was written about Herbruck Alder.

"Cleveland benefits brokerage and consulting firm Herbruck Alder has stressed to its 700 clients and their 40,000-plus employees that its wellness program, Herbruck Alder Health Advocates, helps lower health care costs and allows for healthier lifestyles.

For proof, it points to its own employees, who have hit the ground running with various elements of the 2-year-old program. Eighty-seven percent of Herbruck Alder employees participated in the company's initial health screenings, while 76% took part last year in the Shape up the Nation, a social networking initiative aimed at uniting people seeking healthier lifestyles. Through that program, the employees lost a combined 137 pounds, exercised for 1,410 hours and walked 18.9 million steps."

Click here to read the entire article.

Mark Alder Receives Champion Award for Wellness@Work Program

On March 10, 2010, Herbruck Alder's president Mark Alder was awarded the Champion Award through the Cleveland Museum of Natural History's second annual Wellness@Work Program. He was recognized during an event at the Intercontinental Hotel for his dedication and exemplary service toward the wellbeing and health of the employees of Herbruck Alder, our clients, the Greater Cleveland Community, and the world.

Click here to read the Wellness@Work press release.

Congress Passes Landmark Health Care Reform

On March 21, 2010, the U.S. House of Representatives passed major health care reform legislation, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The legislation was previously passed by the U.S. Senate in December 2009 and was signed by President Obama on March 23, 2010.

Click here for additional information.

Cleveland Clinic chief on the business of health

A client of mine was kind enough to forward this article/interview with the CEO of the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Delos “Toby” Cosgrove. I am very glad that I read this piece as it hit home with many of the points we try to convey to our clients, prospective clients and anyone else that asks our opinion of Healthcare Reform. I don’t think anyone questions whether we need it -- the question is how to accomplish the goal. I often wonder whether the real issues are being addressed; and so it was refreshing to see that this interview touches on many of the topics on which we need to focus – including healthier lifestyles and greater efficiency among providers -- to help slow increasing healthcare costs. It is also very realistic in that Dr. Cosgrove reminds us that costs are always going to go up, and we can only hope to curtail them. I hope you find the article as informative as I did.

Click here to read the article.

Alex Herbruck, Herbruck Alder, aherbruck@herbruckalder.com

Employer Wellness Survey Results Available

Results from Herbruck Alder's Employer Wellness Survey of Northern Ohio companies are now available.

Survey highlights:

• Twenty three percent of Northern Ohio employers responding to the survey have comprehensive wellness programs. This is 39 percent more than the results of the previous annual survey reported.
• 17 percent of respondents are in the process of developing a wellness program.
• 51 percent offer smoking cessation programs through health plans.
• 45 percent offer weight control and/or weight loss services.
• 80 percent offer onsite food services, from full-service cafeterias to vending machines. Of those, 34 percent publish nutritional content to help employees make healthy food choices.
• 39 percent can identify successes within their wellness programs, such as employees quitting smoking, sharing healthy recipes, starting exercise programs, and participating in weight-loss competitions.

Click here to read recent press release.

Please contact Alison Muth at 216.377.2595 or amuth@herbruckalder.com to receive a copy of the results report.