Wellness Plans : Identifying Wellness Program Needs.

Before you start planning your Health Promotion Program you need to know where you’re now and then decide where you want to go.  Completing a thorough needs assessment is vital to the success of your wellness program for two reasons –  

• First it ensures that your wellness program activities will be targeted to meet your corporation’s specific needs so that outcomes may be achieved.  

• Secondly the needs assessment provides the information you’ll need to evaluate the effectiveness of your health promotion program.

It’s often tempting to rush the assessment – in particular when time is limited or those with experience already have an idea of needs. Don’t give in to this temptation!  

It is crucial to understand what your company needs are, what executive management expects, and what employees want in addition to expect, before you develop a health promotion program.  

Consider and gather data on –

• Demographic Information

• Health Risk Factors

• Medical Claims

• Injury Rates and Causes

• Workers’ Compensation Claims

• Short and Long Term Disability Claims

• Absenteeism

• Culture Audits

• Employee perceived needs and health risks

• Management expectations or desired outcomes

There are numerous ways to assess this information. Even though some of data collecting process may  be time eating, remember that it’s notwithstanding essential to plan health promotion programs that target specific issues.  

This information will be vital to set objectives and for reviewing  wellness program success. How else can you know if outcomes have been achieved?

Options to help gather the health promotion program information –

• Confidential Health Risk Assessments (HRAs) with a Corporation Group Summary Report click here for additional information on Health Risk Assessments (HRAs) or Assessments

• Health Testings such as cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar click here for more information on medical screenings.

• Employee Needs and Interest Surveys

• Suggestion boxes placed around the business

• Focus Groups or hosting a luncheon meeting as a focus group

• Sending out a confidential email questionnaire

• Review records and databases including OSHA logs, first aid reports, insurance costs  

Once your needs assessment is complete, the Wellness Committee can review the results and begin planning and prioritizing health promotion program choices.  

Planning must be based on goals and identified outcomes, Step 4 of the seven step process!