ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: A 12-month wellness program was provided for employees of a major employer in the Orlando area. METHODS: The program involved screening and measurement of baseline indices, educational sessions, telephonic support, quarterly laboratory monitoring, and provision of glucometers and test strips. RESULTS: For the 73 enrolled employees with prediabetes, serum hemoglobin A1c levels-mean (standard deviation)-decreased from 6.10% (0.53%) to 5.42% (0.51%) (P < 0.0001). For the 151 enrolled employees with diabetes, mean serum hemoglobin A1c levels-mean (standard deviation)-decreased from 8.03% (1.91%) to 7.48% (1.52%) (P < 0.0001). In the 12 months before, during, and after the program, 27, 15, and 27 diabetic employees required hospitalization, respectively. Health insurance per member per month claims costs for employees with diabetes rose only 1.2% over the prior 12 months, and self-reported presenteeism increased (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This employer-endorsed program achieved favorable outcomes for employees with prediabetes and diabetes.
Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus/prevention & control , Health Promotion/organization & administration , Occupational Health , Adult , Blood Glucose/analysis , Female , Florida , Glycated Hemoglobin/analysis , Health Benefit Plans, Employee , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Patient Education as Topic , Telephone , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To describe our experience, both in meeting challenges and in reporting outcomes, of the consolidation of anatomic pathology services in the North Shore-LIJ Health System in February 2011. METHODS: We addressed issues of governance, personnel, physical plant, quality programming, connectivity, and education. CONCLUSIONS: The highly regulated nature of the laboratory industry and the fact that patient care necessarily never pauses require that such a consolidation take place without a break in service or degradation in turnaround time and quality while engaging personnel at all levels in the extra duties related to consolidation. Subspecialization has allowed us to better meet the needs of our in-system health care community while increasing our access to the competitive outreach marketplace.
