Stephen Farrell is the CEO of UnitedHealthcare of New England, which recently released its May 2017 survey of consumers regarding employer-sponsored wellness initiatives.
Farrell spoke with Providence Business News about what the survey results mean for the future of technology in health care and how employers can incentivize participation in corporate wellness programs.
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PBN: What’s the takeaway from this report for employers?
FARRELL: The key takeaway is simple: The majority of today’s employees want – in fact, they expect – their companies to offer incentive-based workplace wellness programs. Nearly 75 percent of employees we surveyed said they were interested in taking proactive steps to help improve their health. Employees want to be empowered to improve their overall health and well-being, and with more than 70 percent of U.S. companies now offering workplace wellness programs, employers are adapting to meet those needs.
PBN: How is technology changing the way consumers think about and manage their health?
FARRELL: The next generation of health care consumers lives online, and they expect to access medical advice anywhere, anytime – at the click of a button or swipe of a finger. They are looking for simple, user-friendly tools to help them manage and improve their health – tools [such as] activity trackers included in UnitedHealthcare’s employer-sponsored Motion program; mobile apps [such as] our Health4Me tool, which organizes consumers’ health records and fitness activity in one easy-to-navigate space; or social media sites [such as] Rally, which helps individual consumers connect with others who have similar health goals. Increasingly, people are using digital tools to access data and make better decisions. As a company, we are committed to improving our suite of digital options and helping our consumers more conveniently and efficiently manage their personal health.
PBN: How has UnitedHealth responded to the increased demand for convenient virtual health care services?
FARRELL: Due to technological advances and a significant increase in consumer interest, telemedicine has rapidly evolved over the past decade. A growing number of physicians in the UnitedHealthcare network are beginning to offer phone or video visits as an extension of the care delivered in their offices. These virtual services give consumers the option to conveniently and efficiently receive the care they need, without having to take time away from work or their families. UnitedHealthcare is invested in consistently improving consumer experience, and exploring the telemedicine platform, network and service expansion is a big part of that goal. For example, in Rhode Island and across the country, virtual visits are available as part of the solution to the growing need for behavioral health services.
PBN: Is there a correlation between wearable fitness trackers and higher rates of activity among users, or do they function as appealing but ineffectual gadgets?
FARRELL: There is a correlation between wearable fitness trackers and higher rates of activity among users. Most people who use wearable devices are better able to monitor their health and hold themselves accountable for their physical activity. Plus, when it comes to workplace wellness programs, there is often a strong financial motivator for employees and employers to use these devices.
For example, UnitedHealthcare Motion – our wellness program that links financial incentives to the use of fitness trackers – is making a difference in the lives of many of our Rhode Island consumers. By reaching fitness benchmarks related to frequency (300 steps in five minutes, six times a day); intensity (3,000 steps in 30 minutes); and tenacity (10,000-plus total daily steps), employees can improve their personal health while earning up to $1,500 in financial incentives per year. For employers, who can earn a second-year rate cap for achieving participation requirements, investing in these programs ultimately results in a healthier workforce. Studies have shown healthy employees are more productive and ultimately lead to savings in the company’s overall health care costs.
PBN: What can companies do to encourage employee participation in corporate wellness programs?
FARRELL: Our research and experience in New England tells us that the most important thing a company can do to encourage participation is to offer employees incentives. The majority of our clients in New England had between a 60-90 percent employee participation rate just six months after implementing the UnitedHealthcare Motion program. Additionally, the most successful corporate wellness programs typically have a quite a few vocal cheerleaders within the company. They’re supported by senior leadership, led by employee-appointed wellness committees and clearly communicated across every level of the organization.
Kaylen Auer is a PBN reporter.
