BeneFIT Providing Turnkey Health and Wellness Education Solutions for Employers

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Jan. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A key proviso of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as the health care reform bill, is for employers to provide employees with comprehensive wellness education for their employees. The logic follows that by empowering employees to live healthier, the incidence and costs of common chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease can be reduced. But where can employers find professionals qualified to provide wellness education for their employees?

In eastern Pennsylvania, numerous employers have turned to BeneFIT(SM), corporate health education experts providing turnkey wellness solutions customized to the unique needs and culture of each company. Led by Certified Health Education Specialists and backed by advising physicians, nutritionists and clinicians, BeneFIT is the health and wellness arm of Valley Preferred, Pennsylvania's largest provider-owned preferred provider organization, or PPO.

"From the factory floor to the executive suite, we've worked in just about every company environment imaginable," said Carol Noel Michaels, CHES, MPH, Health Educator of the BeneFIT wellness program at Valley Preferred. "We provide business clients with relatively universal assessment tools to determine the depth of need and then get creative with ways to build an exciting new culture of wellness that engages employees and enhances the status of employers."

She cited the example of one of BeneFIT's specialties to engage employees: a "health fair" format in which employees are presented with a wide variety of health screenings, educational exhibits, prize contests, and wellness tools, all set up in the workplace. "We work with each client to create a unique theme and the type of exhibits and screenings which will best serve the health profile of their employee population. Annual health fairs are a very successful tool to both launch and maintain the momentum of wellness programs. Employees love them and our BeneFIT team's expertise and resources help take the work and worry out of the planning process."  

Michaels explained that BeneFIT's worksite wellness programs help to reduce absenteeism while boosting employee productivity and company morale. "Engaging in worksite wellness says a lot about how companies care about the health of employees and their families."

Federal grant funds to support employers developing qualified comprehensive wellness programs like those offered through BeneFIT are expected to be available in 2011 through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.    

BeneFIT was originally developed as the health education and wellness component exclusive to corporate clients of Valley Preferred.  As a result of its successful track record and the expanded need for comprehensive wellness programs spawned by health care reform, BeneFIT is now available independently to all employers in Valley Preferred's 11-county region.  For more facts, visit www.valleypreferred.com.

Carol Noel Michaels, CHES, MPH, is a Health Educator with Valley Preferred's BeneFIT(SM) health education and wellness program in Allentown, PA. Carol is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and holds a Master's of Public Health degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and an undergraduate degree from Bucknell University. [email protected]

About Valley Preferred

Valley Preferred. Pennsylvania's leading provider-owned, preferred provider organization, is dedicated to connecting local businesses and individuals with quality health care coverage while also providing valuable clinical knowledge, practices and services to enhance personal health.  Among our product portfolio are our clinical collaborative products, Lehigh Select (HealthAmerica) and Valley Series (UnitedHealthcare) which offer distinct advantages for employers, employees and providers with comprehensive disease management, wellness programs and more. Valley Preferred's corporate philosophy is reflected in its performance promise of Care Beyond the Coverage. We work closely with members, their doctors and contracted health insurance companies to deliver better health care above and beyond the policy level. Through BeneFIT(SM), Valley Preferred's suite of custom health education and wellness programs, Valley Preferred promotes healthier lifestyles for company employees and a culture of wellness in the workplace. This includes providing a wellness assessment, health workshops and seminars, tobacco cessation resources, corporate health fairs and screenings, and disease management programs. For more information, visit www.valleypreferred.com.

SOURCE Valley Preferred