With all the debate over healthcare, an aspect that gets little attention is the role of the healthcare consumer. But the more engaged the individual, the better the health outcome should be — and when this is translated to the workplace, employers are finding that engaging employees in their healthcare impacts the company’s healthcare benefits cost.
The question is, how do you get employees more engaged? We all want to create happy, focused and loyal work forces. With the ACA regulations on prevention and wellness, our jobs in this area should be easier. At Dignity Health, we have implemented a number of wellness and prevention offerings that I hope employees see as an indication that they are extremely valued. But it is a noisy world and communicating these can be a challenge. It is incumbent on all of us as leaders to make sure that employees are informed and participating. We need to make it simple for them and make sure our employees thoroughly understand what is offered, what is covered and what is not covered. The new healthcare landscape is confusing for everyone, but if we can truly get our employees engaged, there will be real health benefits for them and significant financial benefits for our organizations.
This month’s cover story delves further into this subject. Healthcare insurance companies, employee benefits consultants, healthcare services providers and businesses share with In Business Magazine editor RaeAnne Marsh information on how today’s healthcare issues are affecting businesses’ bottom line.
In this issue’s “Sales” feature, Brandon Stuerke discusses common mistakes salespeople make in developing leads and how to overcome those mistakes. This issue also contains a “Management” feature on the importance of accountability, and Brian Bedford and Julie Miller offer strategies for business owners to maintain accountability among the work force to the company’s core values.
Healthcare is the focus of the “Legal” feature, as Sue Kern-Fleischer discusses how healthcare regulation and compliance matters can affect business. “Roundtable” offers up for discussion the small-business experience of finding in the new healthcare marketplace an affordable opportunity not previously available to offer healthcare benefits to employees.
The 2014 Business Healthcare Services Guide, a comprehensive reference for healthcare-related services in the Valley, is again provided for In Business Magazine readers in this April issue and will be available online for a full year.
In Business Magazine continues to develop and present content to help strengthen business and help our business community grow. I hope you enjoy this April issue of In Business Magazine.
Sincerely,
Linda Hunt
President & Chief Executive Officer
Dignity Health Arizona
Linda Hunt is the president and CEO of Dignity Health in Arizona. Hunt oversees the operations of the Arizona service area, which includes Barrow Neurological Institute, Chandler Regional Medical Center, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center and several ambulatory services. Under Hunt’s leadership, Dignity Health’s Arizona hospitals have consistently received local and national recognition for high-quality care, innovative research, academic programs and supportive work environment.
