The North Dakota Worksite Health Promotion Program

This program was founded by the North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System. It was a three-year project that began in November 2005 and ended in the fall of 2008. It provided a wide range of health promotion and wellness services to employees working at four North Dakota state agencies. Various outcomes were measured including changes in employee health, satisfaction, and productivity; healthcare costs; and the overall cost effectiveness of varying levels of services. Factors that could contribute to the successful outcomes of the program were also examined, including the effects of gender, age, type of employment, employer participation, and overall employee participation levels.

The following services were provided to some or all of the worksites:

1. Assistance to employers in the decision-making phase about reasonable worksite changes that could be made to support employees' goals of healthier lifestyles.
2. Facilitation of a worksite-wide meeting for employees to introduce the program and increase motivation for health promotion activities.
3. A web-based system for employers and employees to receive further health promotion materials and information.
4. An opportunity for all employees to complete an online Personal Behavioral Health Profile (PBHP). All employees completing the PBHP received automated feedback and recommendations for modifying high risk behaviors including access to an online resource library.
5. On-site screenings for blood pressure, lipid profile, and glucose levels.
6. A health coach for those employees with high risk behaviors who wished to have individualized assistance with modifying their health risk behaviors.
7. Additional specialized behavioral health care services from local healthcare providers for assistance with smoking cessation.

The results of an annual online assessment of various behavioral risks (PBHP), showed significant improvements in a variety of areas including increased physical activity, better dietary choices, as well as reduced risk for cardiovascular events, diabetes, and some types of cancer.

If you would like to learn more about the program, please contact us at (701) 777-4046 or email vogeltan@medicine.nodak.edu

If you are interested in learning more about how our worksite health promotion services can help your company improve employee health and morale while reducing health care costs, please visit our business page by clicking here .