MINNEAPOLIS, MN Dec. 13, 2011 – Corporate leadership at HealthFitness is serious about the business of employee health – so serious that treadmill workstations are at the heart of its new Minneapolis office, and a HealthFitness-managed fitness center is located just one floor down. Computers are pragmatically provided at each treadmill, so associates can slip in a power walk while checking email. With 27 new clients added in 2011 representing more than 430,000 covered lives, the 20 percent larger corporate space will support a growing nationwide workforce that now numbers more than 5,000 employees. One in five Fortune 100 companies is a HealthFitness client.
Growing recognition of the value of health and wellness benefits among employers is a contributing factor for the company’s robust growth. A recent Mercer Workplace Survey* showed that almost eight out of 10 employees say their benefits are one of the reasons they work where they do, and that wellness and chronic care management programs contribute to their satisfaction. For more than 30 years, HealthFitness has led the push in worksite wellness to enhance employee health. Employees who work on-site with clients are located in 42 states, touching the lives of those working for hundreds of employer and health plan clients. New clients in 2011 represent manufacturing, energy, retail, health care and financial services sectors.
While unemployment continues to plague most economic sectors, HealthFitness hired more than 500 associates in 2011. Employees were added to every department in the organization, with particular emphasis on technology to support evolving product offerings as well as professionals in account management, health coaching, chronic care management, health advising, biometric screening and health promotion. The purchase of Focused Health Solutions in early 2011 bolstered HealthFitness’ offerings with enhanced technology capabilities and expanded services in condition management.
“Our success is driven by our people, who have a passion for the work they do,” said Paul Lotharius, HealthFitness president and chief executive officer. “Whether they are working one-on-one to coach a program participant in making lifestyle changes for better health, or working with senior executives in a Fortune 500 corporate office to manage the company’s program, they are our face and voice. We have terrific retention at HealthFitness because we believe in what we do.
“Nearly 100 job opportunities are currently open at HealthFitness, the majority of which require a four-year degree or higher or specialized training. HealthFitness is NCQA-accredited and its employer and health plan programs have won numerous awards for excellence in employee health and wellness. Finding the right applicants with the skills, knowledge and strong personal interaction skills to meet HealthFitness standards is always a challenge, Lotharius said.
“HealthFitness associates are up to the challenge of more than 430,000 new lives under our programs. We can be proud of what we do every day,” he said. “As the focus on wellness and prevention intensifies, personalized interaction, supported by science-based programs and processes, will continue to be the foundation for successful participant engagement in programs that increase overall employee well-being, improve the health of people with chronic conditions and control costs.”
*Mercer Workplace Survey, Summary for Employers. Sept. 2011.
About HealthFitness
HealthFitness, a subsidiary of The Trustmark Companies, is an award-winning, NCQA-accredited provider of health, fitness and condition management solutions. With 30-plus years of experience, HealthFitness is a proven leader and partner for infusing a culture of health. We maximize client results through personalized interaction and a science-based approach to on-site program management, engagement, prevention, and health and lifestyle management. HealthFitness provides a portfolio of solutions, including best-in-class integration, condition management, INSIGHT® Health Risk Assessments, screenings, EMPOWERED Health Coaching™ and fitness facility design and management. For more information on HealthFitness, visit www.hfit.com.