|
Unhealthy Employees Cost More than Employers Think |
|
|
 A recent study published in the July 2007 issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine shows that employee health has a significant effect on a company's bottom line.
The study compared direct medical spending with "full cost" medical
spending. According to the study, direct medical spending measures
medical and drug costs alone, where "full cost" medical spending
includes costs associated with lost productivity for health-related
reasons in addition to direct medical costs.
The study found that "full cost" medical spending was more than four times greater than direct medical spending.
When measuring direct medical costs only, the study found that the top
10 medical conditions driving costs were cancer, back and neck pain,
coronary heart disease, chronic pain, high cholesterol,
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), diabetes, sleeping problems,
hypertension and arthritis.
By measuring "full cost" medical spending, the study found that the top
10 medical conditions driving costs were musculoskeletal conditions,
depression, fatigue, chronic pain, sleeping problems, high cholesterol,
arthritis, hypertension, obesity and anxiety.
To learn more about this study, read the news release from the American
College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine by clicking here.
VOA recognizes that healthy employees are essential for a healthy work
environment and bottom line, and can see a worker with a repetitive-use
injury, sprain, strain, fracture or laceration the same day. Rapid
evaluation, treatment and any needed physical rehabilitation are all
available within VOA's complete system of care - so employees are back
to work as soon as possible.
Call 425-656-5060 to schedule an appointment or for more information about VOA's occupational medicine services. |
