Study Validates Link Between Health Of Workforce and Productivity

Results from the largest multi-employer study to date confirm that the health of the workforce is inextricably linked to the productivity of the workforce and, therefore, to the health of a company's bottom line. Researchers published highlights from the ongoing study in the July 2007 issue of the nationally recognized Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

The article, "Health and Productivity as a Business Strategy," provides an overview of results from the first four out of ten participating employers in the study. What these early results show is that:

  • Health-related productivity costs are four times higher than medical and pharmacy costs.
  • Focusing on medical/pharmacy costs without including productivity costs disregards significant cost-saving opportunities.
  • Health conditions with the highest absenteeism/presenteeism costs are often overlooked because they do not generate the highest medical costs, yet they drive total health-related costs.

Researchers include experts from Matria Healthcare, the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the Integrated Benefits Institute and Harvard Medical School. Matria participants include Ron Loeppke, M.D., chief strategic officer; Michael Taitel, Ph.D., vice president of the Matria Center for Health Intelligence; and Dennis Richling, M.D., vice president of clinical strategy.

For a copy of the article, please email matrianews@matria.com with your name, mailing address and phone number.

About the Matria PressBox:

Change is coming and it is vital that we get the word out. Each issue of the PressBox brings you the latest reports on topics that impact our fast-changing marketplace.

With so many knowledgeable, highly-respected experts on staff at Matria, you can expect to read frequently about their contributions to our industry. We are proud of their accomplishments and gratified to share them with you. If you have newsworthy subjects that you would like published, contact matrianews@matria.com.

Matria Healthcare is a leading provider of wellness, disease management, oncology, maternity management and productivity enhancement services to health plans, employers, biopharmaceutical companies and government agencies. Matria has the longest tenure of providing integrated health and productivity solutions based upon a foundation of technology and information. As a result, Matria delivers insightful and impactful information on the performance and outcomes of clients’ health initiatives.