Majority of Physicians Say Employers Should Play Role in Workers' Health

Most doctors believe that employers should play a role in the health of their workers, especially those with chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

The Midwest Business Group on Health, a nonprofit coalition of more than 100 private and public employers, conducted a national survey to better understand and improve the effectiveness of employer-based health improvement and management programs. Researchers found that 72 percent of physicians said employers should be active in encouraging good health and wellness.

Most physicians said they support the efforts of employers and health plans to help patients, with 59 percent agreeing that employers should let doctors know about efforts to help a patient manage chronic disease. For medications, 46 percent agreed that employers have a role in helping patients improve their compliance. More than 80 percent of physicians said they support the use of incentives to motivate employees to manage their chronic disease and stay healthy.

Interdisciplinary pain management and prevention offer positive results (04/18/13)
Speakers ponder potential impact of Supreme Court decision (08/13/12)
WCRI study shows wide variations in narcotics prescribing patterns (08/08/11)
Risks drive chronic conditions, increase costs (03/11/13)
Employers increasingly getting into the wellness game (03/11/13)

Physician recommendations for employers and health plans to increase engagement of employees included communicating to doctors what their patients are doing in the company program; sharing lab data; offering programs, such as weight control, smoking cessation, and healthier cafeteria food that doesn't invade privacy or practice medicine; and working directly with local chapters of primary care specialty societies to seek input and promote employer programs -- not just health plan programs.

"An increasing number of physicians understand that employers can be supportive in impacting employee health," said Jan Berger, MD, president of Health Intelligence Partners and medical director for MBGH. "That being said they do believe that any support given be coordinated with physician activity and that there be active communication between the employee, employer and the physician. This request is reasonable as it assures appropriate use of health resources and diminishes confusion. Communication is the foundation of good health."

Read more at the WORKERSCOMP Forum^TM homepage.

May 10, 2010

Newsletter Sign-up