AAOHN Launches Bizhealthcheck.com and Partners with US Chamber of Commerce for Keep America's Workforce Healthy Summit
It is estimated that poor employee health costs businesses one trillion dollars annually. As part of their commitment to help businesses combat these staggering statistics and in support of their vision that "work and community environments will be healthy and safe," the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc. (AAOHN) launched Bizhealthcheck.com, a resource that helps businesses reduce healthcare costs.
Another component of AAOHN's commitment to having both financially healthy business and healthy workers is their partnering with the US Chamber of Commerce to support the Keeping America's Workforce Healthy summit on November 15 in Washington, D.C. Resources such as Bizhealthcheck.com, best practices in employee health and safety and the expanding role of occupational and environmental health nurses (OHNs) in the workplace will be discussed at the summit.
AAOHN, a leader in workplace health and safety, launched Bizhealthcheck.com in tandem with the summit to demonstrate support of the Chamber's focus on businesses that positively impact their company's bottom line by reducing healthcare costs, increasing productivity and achieving their health and safety goals. Bizhealthcheck.com highlights business success stories and provides information on how OHNs, with their healthcare expertise and business acumen, can help companies implement effective health, safety and wellness programs.
"AAOHN launched Bizhealthcheck.com because we know that poor employee health has an incredible impact on business, in terms of disability claims, reducing on-the-job injuries, and getting workers back to work sooner," says Ann Cox, executive director of AAOHN.
Investing in healthy employees is the topic of the first US Chamber of Commerce summit on employee health. "Keeping America's Workforce Healthy" will include Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa along with business leaders and senior government officials who will gather to discuss the merits of workplace wellness programs and the benefits of managing a healthy workforce.
Kay N. Campbell, EdD, RN-C, COHN-S, FAAOHN, noted workplace expert and AAOHN president-elect will participate in a roundtable discussion at the summit featuring best practices from the US Chamber of Commerce, Kraft Foods and Langdale Industries. Dr. Campbell is responsible for the development of the global health and productivity initiatives for employee health at GlaxoSmithKline.
"Developing a comprehensive employee health strategy supported by company policies and benefits will make an impact on the overall health of the workforce, their families and ultimately their communities," says Dr. Campbell. "A healthy workforce equals healthy families and communities. They are all interrelated."
According to Cox, businesses must include provisions for keeping employees healthy and safe, improving the health status of all employees, and creating a company culture that supports, promotes and actively engages employees in achieving optimal health. "Business, as a key purchaser of healthcare, has the power and influence to keep worker populations healthy, safe and productive," says Cox. "With more people talking about employee health and with resources like Bizhealthcheck.com, I hope more companies will realize the importance of a healthy workforce."
Business can affect factors such as unintentional injuries and illnesses, lost workdays, lost productivity and workers' compensation costs with the help of OHNs and by utilizing resources such as Bizhealthcheck.com.
Visitors to the Bizhealthcheck.com website can review health and safety programs, case studies and healthcare trends. For more information on occupational and environmental health programs and their positive impact on productivity and bottom line, visit Bizhealthcheck.com. For information about occupational and environmental health nursing, visit www.aaohn.org.
Source: American Association of Occupational Health Nurses