Local companies partner for community health

By The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

BATESVILLE — Wellness Works is a collaborative effort between White River Health System, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences North Central Area Health Education Center and White River Planning and Development District and funded by a $363,000 grant from the U.S. Health and Human Services Administration. It is one of only two projects funded in Arkansas.

In 2006, White River Health System created the initiative to improve the health of the local work force. At these worksites, managersand owners note behavior changes and companies report lower absenteeism, increased productivity and fewer health insurance claims as a result of participation in the program. By partnering with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and White River Planning and Development District, White River Health System will be able to expand the program into eight additional counties in North Central Arkansas, improving the health of rural residents. The Rural Health Care Services Outreach Grant promotes rural health careservices outreach by expanding the delivery of new and enhanced health care in rural areas.

Wellness Works is a data-driven approach to worksite wellness, creating individual and organizational behavior change using preventive health screenings, health education and organizational and behavioral support. Employers are provided valuable aggregate data in the form of an executive data report regarding health risks their work force may be facing, such as stroke, heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Three Rivers, Pages 131 on 05/24/2009