Report from Corporate Health Summit 2000 at the Disney Institute
Thought Leaders, Executives Team Up to Plan the Future of Workplace Health
Corporate America Health Summit 2000 Crafts Vision for Healthier Workplaces in the New Century
Corporate America Health Summit 2000, a four-day meeting presented by the Disney Institute, drew to a successful close today with conference attendees having an increased knowledge of employee health problems, as well as the power to envision and achieve a healthier workforce. The conference attendees -- human resource executives, and medical and business experts, representing 60 of America's major companies -- departed the conference with a definitive vision of workplace health for the next three years. The conference closed with a dynamic and interactive Town Hall Meeting featuring a speech by former Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop.
After much lively discussion and debate during four days of presentations and breakout sessions, the attendees pledged to:
- Increase their involvement in employee health programs
- Become active sponsors of corporate health programs
- Create the ability to measure results of employee health programs
- Gain support and understanding from their corporations' senior management
- Define the accountability and responsibility of internal and external audiences
- Create a supportive culture that supports employees' desire for health and wellness
- Begin to build a business case
"As industry leaders, these conference attendees will show the corporate world that employee health is a tremendous asset to be cultivated and nurtured," said conference moderator Dr. James Rippe, a leading cardiologist and founder/director of the Rippe Health Assessment at Celebration Health. "I am confident that this conference will inspire all concerned to take proactive steps to achieve a healthier workforce and ensure that American business remains globally competitive."
"Through this conference, we have shared much dialogue and raised many issues regarding the health of America's workforce," said Dianna Morgan, Senior Vice President in charge of the Disney Institute. "With more than 60 of America's companies represented and hearing from many of the nation's foremost experts, we feel this symposium will serve as a catalyst to help define the future of workplace health."
The Town Hall Meeting
The Town Hall Meeting featured an energetic and inspiring panel discussion, including:
- Holly Atkinson, M.D., nationally renowned medical author, editor and correspondent, currently executive vice president of Reuters Health Information Services
- Marcia Comstock, M.D., Fellow, health care policy, United States Chamber of Commerce and consultant to business leaders on corporate health, productivity and safety
- Russell Ellison, M.D., MSc., Chief Medical Officer and Vice President for Medical Affairs of Roche Laboratories
- David D. Guilmette, managing principal of Towers Perrin
- Thomas Parry, president, Integrated Benefits Institute
C. Everett Koop, M.D., who galvanized the nation on the issues of smoking and physical inactivity, delivered an address at the Town Hall, offering insights into healthcare of the 20th century and a glimpse of the future. Dr. Koop vehemently urged attendees to take responsibility for health in the workplace, otherwise the American workforce may succumb to the effects of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stress, depression and musculoskeletal disease.
Dr. James Rippe closed The Town Hall Meeting by challenging and inspiring attendees to assume leadership roles in crafting work environments that support the physical and mental health of their employees. Most importantly, Dr. Rippe pressed the attendees to return to their corporations with an action plan.
Conference Speakers Bring Health Issues to Light
Medical experts gave conference attendees new insight into specific health problems and disease states that exact a toll from industry in both healthcare dollars and lost productivity.
Speakers included:
- Peter Wilson, M.D., director of laboratories at the Framingham Heart Study, discussed cardiovascular disease and diabetes as threats to employee health, including the increasing problem of "clustering," or the tendency for some people to have two or more risk factors for heart disease, such as obesity and physical inactivity
- Kenneth Pelletier, M.D., clinical professor of medicine at the Stanford Center for Research in Disease Prevention, spoke about the difficulties of stress, addiction, and depression in the workplace
- Jay Himmelstein, M.D. director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Workers' Compensation Health Initiative, explained the prevalence and costs of musculoskeletal problems, including back pain and arthritis
Empower Employees in Health Decisions
Another highlight of the conference was the keynote speech by Tom Donohue, president of the United States Chamber of Commerce, who issued a wake-up call for corporate America on the subject of employee choices in healthcare. A firm believer in the power of human capital, Mr. Donohue shared his passion about employee health issues and offered choice as one vehicle for change in the next century.
Other highlights of the Corporate America Health Summit 2000 included:
- The presentation of compelling results from a survey of 231 human resources executives at Fortune 1000 companies. The survey found that while 90 percent of respondents believe workforce health is very important, 40 percent said corporate America is not doing a good job managing employee health
- Dynamic workshops that helped participants recognize their specific healthcare concerns and obstacles, and find viable solutions
- An address by Jack LaLanne, fitness pioneer and well known sparkplug, who rallied the Town Hall Meeting around the importance of staying healthy, both in the office and out
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-- Posted February 22, 2000
Source: Company Press Release