

Is YOUR program working?
How will you know? When will you know?
Conducting an evaluation of a
wellness program is a key requisite throughout
the life of each activity. Using
the appropriate measuring tools will assist you in determining how a program is
performing and if it is aligned with the wellness vision.
The CDC describes program
evaluation for public health as the “examination of the worth, merit, or
significance of an object.”
Is YOUR program working?
How will you know? When will you
know? What needs to be put in place in order for a thorough evaluation to take
place?
A break-even analysis, a Return On Investment, and more frequently The
Value of Investment (VOI) can measure aspects of a program. VOI can be measured
through identifiable improvements, level of engagement, and level of
satisfaction, and when thinking about your own organization, you may want to
consider how you will use VOI to measure areas such as:
· Productivity
· Engagement
· Absenteeism
· Presenteeism
· Job
satisfaction
The holistic approach to wellness is a shift from solely
looking at the bottom line and other healthcare drivers to embracing a broad
and more complete attitude towards well-being and what it means to be healthy. While
VOI analysis may not show a direct monetary result, evaluation will reflect information
such as:
· Job
satisfaction improved by x percent
· Employee
retention improved by x percent
· Productivity
increased by x percent since the program began
· Absenteeism
reduced by x percent in a 12 month period
A realistic timeframe is important otherwise
a program will either be evaluated too early or too late. If it is conducted
too early, there may be insufficient data, or the poor results may indicate
that a program is not working when it has simply not had sufficient time to
develop into a positive outcome. Different programs require different times to
mature in order to be assessed, for example:
· a
lunch and learn session can be evaluated immediately following the event with
five or so questions on paper or using an e-questionnaire
· a
daily walking program might be evaluated after eight weeks
· a
tobacco cessation program may need to be assessed after a minimum of six months
Finally, be creative when
communicating the acquired information to your organization. For example:
· A
medical device company placed a poster in the cafeteria showing that since
implementing healthier snack option there was a 45 percent reduction in soda
purchases
· A
computer software company placed a poster in an elevator and by the stairs to
highlight that the “Let’s Move” campaign resulted in 81 percent of employees
signing up and walking a total of 1000 miles
· An
aerospace company placed a photograph (with approvals from the individuals
represented) in the break room depicting the employees who successfully quit
smoking following participation in a tobacco cessation program
Creating a wellness program is an
amazing opportunity to embrace new healthier practices that, with the right
environment, will grow and develop into lifelong habits.
Wouldn't it be a good idea to create a course?