Book Review: Good Health is Good Business

My colleague Dr. Dave Rearick asked me to review his recent book, Good Health is Good Business.  I’m pleased to recommend it enthusiastically.

While the book is targeted at small to medium size employers, the lessons go far beyond this audience.

By the end of the 3^rd chapter, Dr. Rearick had convinced me of two conclusions that I’d describe as indisputable, but uncomfortable:

• The only way employers are going to control their health care costs is to influence the health of their workforce.
• You (the employer) need to take charge

What’s uncomfortable here?  If I’m a typical employer, you might have convinced me that the health of my people is critical and that my company needs to act, but HOW?  Isn’t this corporate wellness stuff for the huge corporations?

Let’s look at each of these points separately.

The only way employers are going to control their health care costs is to influence the health of their workforce. The author writes:

When you implement a corporate wellness program you can start reversing the culture of entitlement. You can begin building a culture of responsibility, where employees are responsible for their own health and the costs associated with their health status.  Double-digit healthcare premium increases are not uncontrollable.   Many companies have deployed cost mitigation strategies and are successfully controlling their health care expenses by rewarding for good health behavior, integrating wellness into their cultures and benefit designs, and providing the worksite tools that allow members to take control of their health at work—where they spend most of their time and energy.

You (the employer) need to take charge.  Dr. Rearick persuasively argues:

• You are the payer and you have the incentive
• You are not big enough for anyone else to care
• The health of your employees is the only factor under your control
• You have a captive audience
• You can motivate your employees

So now what?

The rest of the book is a very easy-to-read and practical how-to guide. It’s accompanied by 60 downloadable appendices and a starter module. There are many templates and examples.

Go to it!

Disclosure: I do not have any business relationship with Dr. Dave Rearick and I am not being compensated for this review.