Eastman Chemical Company Recognized for Efforts to Improve Employee Health
Receives C. Everett Koop National Health Award from The Health Project
Kingsport, Tenn., August 18, 2011 In recognition of its health improvement program for employees, Eastman Chemical Company has been selected as one of three U.S. employers to receive the prestigious C. Everett Koop National Health Award in 2011. The C. Everett Koop National Health Awards are given each year to worksite, community or provider programs that have soundly documented improved health and decreased medical costs.
Eastman has had a successful employee wellness program in place since 1991. The Company supports a wide range of wellness opportunities for employees, with an emphasis on participation in health assessments, health coaching, fitness management, health awareness programs and lifestyle behavior programs. Over the past five years, the company has experienced a steady drop in health risks including high cholesterol, hypertension, and blood glucose levels. Eastman has seen a strong 3:1 ROI from its programming.
"Eastman is honored to receive the C. Everett Koop award in recognition of the company's efforts in building a culture of health," said Edna Kinner, Vice President of Human Resources. "This award not only reflects Eastman's commitment to health improvement, but the significant involvement of Eastman men and women with their personal health."
As the U.S. faces rapidly rising health care costs, coupled with an epidemic increase in obesity rates, Koop Award winners demonstrate that forward thinking employers can simultaneously improve their workers' health and reduce spending. "For the U.S. to continue to be an economic leader worldwide, supported by a healthy and productive workforce, more companies need to implement evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention programs," said Dr. Ron Goetzel, President and CEO of the Health Project. "The good news is that when done right, these programs not only make workers healthier, they can also produce a positive return on investment," added Dr. Goetzel.
This year's awards will be presented on September 14th at the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO) Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. Alcon Laboratories, Fort Worth, TX and Prudential Financial, Newark, NJ are the other Koop award recipients.
The Health Project has been recognizing organizations with proven
health improvement and cost savings programs since 1994. Eastman
joins the list of more than 50 winners that have received the Award
since the organization was established, with Dr. C. Everett Koop,
the former U.S. Surgeon General, as its chairperson. The Health
Project maintains a repository of information about these proven
health promotion programs, so that employers and community agencies
can draw on them for guidance on improving health care outcomes
throughout the country. More information about the C. Everett Koop
National Health Award winners is available at http://www.TheHealthProject.com.
About Health Enhancement Research Organization
(HERO)
For over 14 years HERO has been a national leader in the
creation of Employee Health Management. The organization's initial
objective was to create high quality employee health management
(EHM) research, especially that dealing with the impact of
modifiable health risks on health care costs. To implement this
effort, HERO created the HERO Research Database which has been the
source for the creation of landmark, frequently referenced peer
reviewed and published EHM research. For more information, visit www.the-hero.org.
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