The purpose of this workbook is to help employers think through the financial decision of investing in a health promotion program for employees. It includes review of the published literature on the impact of programs on medical cost and productivity, provides a framework employers and consultants can use to conduct a prospective cost/benefit analysis, and a discussion on the extent to which employers prospective analysis is rationally or emotionally driven.
About the Author: Dr. O'Donnell is the Director of the Health Management Research Center in the School of Kinesiology of the University of Michigan. Formed in 1978, the Center has helped more than 1000 worksites measure the health risks of their employees; calculate the link between health risks, medical costs and productivity; evaluate the impact of their health promotion programs; and in the process, establish the scientific foundation for this area of research. Dr. O'Donnell has worked directly with employers, health care organizations, government agencies, foundations, insurance companies and health promotion providers to develop new and refine existing health promotion programs and has served in leadership roles in four major health systems. He is Founder, President and Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Health Promotion and is also Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Health Promotion Advocates, a non-profit policy group created to integrate health promotion strategies into national policy. Health Promotion Advocates was successful in developing six provisions that became law as part of the Affordable Care Act. He has co-authored six books and workbooks, including Health Promotion in the Workplace, which was in continuous publication for 27 years, and more than 190 articles, book chapters and columns. He has presented more than 260 keynote and workshop presentations on six continents, served on boards and committees for 48 non-profit and for-profit organizations and received 13 national awards. His most recent awards are the Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award presented by the James F. and Sarah T. Fries Foundation, and the Bill Whitmer Leadership Award, presented by the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO). He earned a PhD in Health Behavior from University of Michigan, an MBA in General Management and an MPH in Hospital Management, both from University of California, Berkeley, and an AB in psychobiology from Oberlin College. He attended high school and was later a Senior Fulbright Scholar and visiting professor in Seoul Korea.