Client Profile: South Bend, IN
Creating a "Healthy City" by 2010

(Pictured: South Bend Mayor Steve Luecke (right) receives a screening from On-Site Health Solutions' Connie Bryan)

The City of South Bend kicked off its employee wellness program in April, 2006. The City has a goal of becoming a 21st Century Healthy City, with Mayor Steve Luecke ceremoniously receiving one of the first health screenings for city employees. The city's objective is to encourage employees to become fit, resulting in healthier employees, lowering healthcare costs, AND creating a more fiscally responsible government by way of these cost savings. Indiana currently ranks 9th overall in the nation in obesity among our population; some studies rank the state as high as 5th.(City of South Bend news release, 4/05/2006)

Most national survey data shows the median medical cost increase for 2004 was 11 percent, and the median medical cost for 2005 was 9 percent. To decrease these costs, many companies are turning to in-house wellness programs. (South Bend Tribune Business Weekly, 6/12/2006, p. 1)

Companies in the community that have active wellness programs and those organizations considering implementing a wellness program are encouraged to join in the initiative. "We always find someone who didn't know they had anything wrong with them," stated On-Site Health Solutions owner, Connie Bryan. "One screening like that can save you a bad year from health insurance premiums going up, plus you've saved the life of an employee, and that's most important." Weeks into the program, City Benefits Coordinator Susan Wallace added, "We have already got our investment returned." (South Bend Tribune Business Weekly, 6/12/2006, p. 4)

On-Site Health Solutions has completed Phase One of the City's wellness program, and following a review of the results, phase two will begin. "In phase two, we will give employees a self-monitoring report each month, and they will be able to accumulate points each quarter. At the end of the year, we will hand out rewards for their progress," said Wallace. (South Bend Tribune Business Weekly, 6/12/2006, p. 4)

To learn more about starting a wellness program at your company, call Connie Bryan today at 574-243-5108.