AmeriHealth New Jersey hosts “Wellness Expo 2009”
On March 27, 2009, 145 southern New Jersey business owners and employees gathered at The Mansion on Main Street for “Wellness Expo 2009.” The focus of the event was how poor employee health hurts corporate profitability – and the opportunities for small- and medium-sized businesses to improve their economic health through wellness programs.
Sponsored by AmeriHealth New Jersey in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey (CCSSNJ), Wellness Expo 2009 featured 18 wellness-related exhibitors that offered on-site health screenings including BMI (body mass index), blood pressure, and blood sugar testing.
“By all accounts, our first-ever Wellness Expo was a huge success,” said Debra DeLorenzo, president and CEO of the CCSNJ. “Our members were thrilled with the amount and detail of information presented as well as to have the opportunity to undergo free screenings to assess a number of potential risks. We thank and congratulate AmeriHealth for its commitment to raising awareness among our member companies and their employees about the importance of wellness.”
In her opening remarks, “The Case for Wellness,” Judy Roman, president and CEO of AmeriHealth New Jersey, drew the linkage between employee and organizational health, observing that “there has never been a more compelling or crucial time to embrace employee wellness than right now.”
Roman noted that while 2008 health care spending rose at more than twice the rate of consumer inflation, comprehensive worksite wellness programs have been shown to reduce health care costs by 20-55 percent, reduce short-term sick leave by up to 32 percent, and reduce workers’ compensation claims by up to 30 percent, while saving sponsoring companies between $3 and $6 for every $1 invested.
“These findings are especially noteworthy when considering that obesity alone results in an additional $98 billion to $129 billion in annual health care costs for American businesses,” said Roman.
Other expo participants included James Rhodes, deputy administrator-communications for Camden County, and Dr. Fred Jacobs, executive vice president and director of the St. Barnabas Quality Institute and former commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. Rhodes spoke about the county’s Healthy Employees Consortium, and Dr. Jacobs led a panel discussion on “Why Wellness Matters,” which featured several local business leaders from the areas of health care, benefits consulting, and health insurance.
“Our goal is for today’s Wellness Expo to serve as a model for other expos that can be conducted statewide,” said Roman. “It’s imperative to help drive the message of wellness throughout New Jersey, and AmeriHealth is committed to playing an active role in that process.”
For more information regarding AmeriHealth-sponsored wellness programs and events, please contact your AmeriHealth broker representative.
