Page 18 - The Edge Back to School 2022

SUMMER CONFERENCE AND EXPO

BY DON HARRIS
Nate Bowler Kendall Taylor
Wellness Programs Can Improve Productivity, Morale

AASBO members were encouraged to implement said. “You need to figure out a goal to mitigate
wellness programs as a way to reduce absenteeism costs. The average prescription cost per employee
and increase productivity and morale, plus save was up 11% in 2021. New specialty drugs are
on health care costs. expensive. You need to know what diseases
people are taking medications for. The total
Kendall Taylor, Executive Director, Health and number of scripts is going down, but costs are
Wellness Services, Valley Schools, outlined the going up because of specialty medications. There
benefits of wellness programs in a breakout session are programs to cover specialty medications to
at the AASBO Summer Conference and Expo. mitigate costs.”
She provided statistical evidence of health care
costs during the Covid pandemic and subsequent Taylor said Valley Schools tracked emergency
improved health and well-being for individuals room visits during the height of the pandemic and
who participate in a wellness program. Her goal saw a decrease. People didn’t want to go to an
was to show AASBO members there really are ER if it wasn’t needed. A wellness program can
cost savings with wellness programs. educate your staff on where to get medical care,
she said.
“Identify what programs you need and what
programs employees want,” she said. “If the past “Chronic disease and lifestyle factors are leading
few years taught us anything it is that we need drivers of health care costs for employers,” Taylor
to be focused on our health and wellness – and for said. “That’s huge. What’s important is that these
our employees. There will be another virus. The are preventable. Employers need the tools to
healthier we are, the more resilient we are.” prevent these diseases. But it isn’t all gloom and
doom.”
Taylor cited “scary statistics” including: U.S.
health spending grew by 9.7% in 2020; $4.1 trillion Co-presenter Nate Bowler of Glendale Union
has been spent due to Covid; health benefit costs High School District said one of the benefits of
jumped 6.3% in 2021; claims costs are expected Covid, if there is such a thing as a benefit from
to go up 2% to 3% just because of Covid; 40% of Covid, is tele-health. He strongly recommended
adults are obese; 30 million adults have diabetes; pushing that program.
and 90% of educators say “burnout” is an issue.
Productivity losses related to poor health amount Taylor agreed, citing some positives. “There were
to $2,600 per employee per year. virtual programs for everything, even physical
therapy,” she said. “Virtual care skyrocketed
“It’s hitting us hard, and it will continue,” Taylor during the pandemic – 75% of workers used virtual

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18 THE EDGE BACK TO SCHOOL 2022