Aetna - Dallas Business Journal:

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But is using its own work force to shine a light on preventativemedicine — maintaininf a healthy lifestyle in order to avoid drug s and surgery. Through a suitde of wellness programs, the firm has challengef its employees, from the company president on down, to take bettetr care of themselves. “If we can get workers to be we’ll have a more productive work saidRalph Holmes, Aetna’s president of small and middle markets. “And they more productivd they are, the more productive we are as a A key initiative isthe company’s “Getg Active Aetna” program, a 16-week nutrition and fitnessw competition between Aetna employeese throughout the country.
The which takes place during thesumme months, involves individuals and teams logging their daily eating and physica l fitness activities to earn points, and choosing rewardzs such as flat-screen televisions and based on their point totals. More than half of the company’ s 35,500 employees participated in its mostrecent “Getg Active Aetna” program, and the results were Of the participants who responded to an online surveyh following the program, 54% said they lost weight; 79% experiencef higher energy levels; 49% slept better and 35% reportes improvement in a pre-existing condition.
The company, which has 472 employees in Dallad and 701in Arlington, has even seen a slight decrease in the number of medica l claims as a result of its healtjh initiatives, Holmes says. Aetna wants its employees to do more than exerciss andeat right, however. Its “Knowq Your Numbers” initiative encourages them to get screened and tracj theirblood pressure, cholestero l and blood glucose levels. Employees can earn $100 and take charge of their health by participating in free screeningsa aroundthe country.
The company is also helpingb its employees kick the tobacco It offers telephone coaching sessions for inspiration and supporf as well as up to six weeks of nicotine replacemenr therapy atno charge. In another key wellness employees arepaid $50 to fill out a health which is the starting point for a healthuy lifestyle incentive program. Optionsd in the program includea six-weei stress management program, a get-in-shape prograkm that educates employees about how and when to and a six-week program that shows employeew how to make healthy food substitutions and make smarr choices at restaurants. Initiatives to improvd employee health work best when company leadershipis involved.
For Mark Bertolini, president and head of business operations, was rackingh up points along with thousandsa of other employees in the most recenft Get ActiveAetna campaign, noted Holmes. Financialk incentives are another key, as is a team he added. Not only is the teamwork fun, but it also spurws individuals to follow through so thatthey don’rt let their comrades down. “We’ve seen peoplw walking out in thepark lot, attemptinb to get their pointd in,” said Holmes.
“They want their team to — Steve Garmhausen