Harris Health ranks No. 1 on America’s Top 100 Healthiest Workplaces by Healthiest Employers for its employee wellness programs. 3 in 2023 and No. In Texas, Harris Health was ranked No. 2. #1 in Large Employer Category.
Harris Health is a public health system that provides primary, specialty, and acute care to all Harris County residents. The organization serves county residents regardless of insurance status. Harris County voters recently passed a $2.5 billion bond. This helps the organization continue to provide quality care to the community.
Michelle Hunnicutt, director of wellness management at Harris Health, said Harris Health was recently named to the 2022 Healthiest Employers Hall of Fame for innovation in prioritizing employee health and well-being and achieving results. He said he had made it in. The company’s employee wellness program was launched in 2017 and is available to all employees, both part-time and full-time, as well as spouses and family members.
“When we started looking at our workforce, we realized there was an opportunity to build a stronger wellness program,” said Omar Reid, Harris Health executive vice president and chief human resources officer. Masu.
Through events, programs, workshops, and a variety of educational opportunities, employees can learn and develop skills in physical fitness, nutrition, stress management, chronic disease management, mental health, emotional health, and spiritual well-being. .
Hunnicutt said some programs are offered during work hours and others are offered on demand.
“Flexibility is very important to us because we have a highly clinically qualified workforce and operate 24/7, 365 days a year. We have employees. [employees]So there needs to be a lot of flexibility,” Hunnicutt said.
Through our Employee Wellness Program, Harris Health offers:
- Diabetes and hypertension management
- healthy lifestyle and weight management program
- Free A1C test for diabetics
- Annual “relaxathon” with free massage
- recreational sports teams
- Healthy coaching and body composition scan
- Various wellness challenges
- Counseling and mental health services
- Ergonomics and posture assessment
- educational workshops and classes
- Healthy pregnancy program and on-site lactation room
Harris Health also encourages employees to participate in special events such as the annual Harris County Hospital District Foundation Texas Med Run and Field Day.
“Here at Harris Health, our motto is Health at Harris, which means ‘By taking care of yourself, you can take care of others,'” Hunnicutt said. “I really think this speaks to what our program is all about: to be the best version of yourself, not only for the patients you serve, but also for your family and your own life mission. You have to take care of yourself.”
Harris Health focuses on prevention, with many programs that address employee health concerns before they become problems.
“Focusing on prevention allows us to catch symptoms earlier and also prevent some of the causes of skyrocketing health care costs,” Reed said.
In fact, Harris Health recently reported that the cost of a doctor or hospital visit varies by more than $10 million among employees enrolled in its diabetes and hypertension chronic disease management programs.
Employee Wellness offers an incentive-based program that rewards participating employees with $1,200 less in health insurance premiums each year. Employees can also earn up to $175 in gift cards by getting more out of the program, regardless of whether they participate in a health plan.
“Another thing we’re proud of is that when you join our Diabetes and Hypertension Management Program, we provide free medication,” Reed said.
Reed said providing free medications to employees has reduced emergency room visits and hospitalizations among employees.
“The fact that we are recognized as a Healthiest Employer is a testament not only to our employees, but also to the strength of our established programs,” Reed said. “The metrics we are able to produce are an ongoing source of pride.”
Harris Health’s employee wellness program has won numerous awards, including being recognized as the Healthiest Employer in Texas several years in a row.
“Winning these awards from prestigious organizations is a testament to our strategic, evidence-based approach and the results we have achieved in improving the health and well-being of our employees,” said Hunnicutt. said.
For more information about Harris Health, visit the organization’s website.
The article above was written by multi-platform journalist Mary Katherine Shapiro in collaboration with Community Impact’s storytelling team, with information provided exclusively by local businesses as part of sponsored content purchased through our advertising team. was created in.
