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. 2009 Apr;6(2):A60.
Epub 2009 Mar 16.

A comprehensive worksite wellness program in Austin, Texas: partnership between Steps to a Healthier Austin and Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Lynn Davis  1 , Karina Loyo, Aerie Glowka, Rick Schwertfeger, Lisa Danielson, Cecily Brea, Alyssa Easton, Shannon Griffin-Blake
Affiliations

A comprehensive worksite wellness program in Austin, Texas: partnership between Steps to a Healthier Austin and Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Lynn Davis et al. Prev Chronic Dis. 2009 Apr.

Abstract

Background: In 2003, Steps to a Healthier Austin was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to implement chronic disease prevention and health promotion activities. We report Steps to a Healthier Austin's partnership with Health & Lifestyles Corporate Wellness, Inc (Health & Lifestyles), to provide a worksite wellness program for Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Capital Metro), Austin's local transit authority.

Context: Capital Metro employs 1,282 people. In 2003, Health & Lifestyles was hired to help promote healthier lifestyles, increase employee morale, and combat rising health care costs and absenteeism rates.

Methods: Health & Lifestyles provided consultations with wellness coaches and personal trainers, a 24-hour company fitness center, personalized health assessments, and preventive screenings. The program expanded to include healthier food options, cash incentives, health newsletters, workshops, dietary counseling, smoking cessation programs, and a second fitness center.

Consequences: Participants in the wellness program reported improvements in physical activity, healthy food consumption, weight loss, and blood pressure. Capital Metro's total health care costs increased by progressively smaller rates from 2003 to 2006 and then decreased from 2006 to 2007. Absenteeism has decreased by approximately 25% since the implementation of the program, and the overall return on the investment was calculated to be 2.43.

Interpretation: Since the implementation of the wellness program in 2003, Capital Metro has seen a reduction in costs associated with employee health care and absenteeism.

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Figures

Bar graph
Figure 1.
Total health care costs incurred by Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority in Austin, Texas, 2003-2007.
Bar graph
Figure 2.
Change in health care costs incurred by Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Capital Metro) in Austin, Texas, compared with the United States as a whole, 2003-2006.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Nyren M, Keeling V, Simmons D. Wellness journey to healthy lifestyles. Washington (DC): American Public Transportation Association; 2008.
    1. United States census 2000. Washington (DC): US Census Bureau; 2000.
    1. Valadez AM. Steps to a Healthier Austin/Travis County: reducing the burden of chronic disease in Austin and Travis County. Austin (TX): Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department; 2006.

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