VBCH Newsletter

Dear VBCH Members,

Everyone wants lower healthcare costs, but that is easier said than done as we educate consumers that wellness and prevention and patient safety are key to their health and quality of life. VBCH's Business & Health Summit 2006, "Purchaser’s Stake in Cost and Quality of Health Care"  to be held on Thursday, June 8th at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, explores the economics of health car, health improvement, wellness, concepts for reducing healthcare costs, and understanding the healthcare consumer.  “Bottom Line Impact of Absenteeism and Presenteeism …On Your Organization’s Productivity” by keynote speaker Dr. Dee Edington, notes that “One cannot talk about economics without talking about health care costs …and productivity costs.”

Controlling the rise in the cost of healthcare is a major issue for virtually every business, stakeholder or provider locally, regionally and nationally.  Healthcare savings are going to be difficult to achieve without healthy consumers.  And wellness, fitness and prevention programs are going to be fundamental to better health. We invite our members and guests to learn how the impact of consumer direction of healthcare decisions and spending is fundamental to success and that educating consumers to take more responsibility for their own health is essential.

The Summit drills down on these issues for employers, providers, insurers and other stakeholders who are building and evaluating benefit design strategies.  Additionally we address, as a coalition, our initiative for health plan performance and other avenues for value-based purchasing….which we define as“a range of activities in which public and private purchasers engage to influence the behavior of consumers, plans, and providers to achieve greater value. This is whyVBCH’s strategy going forward is to (1) improve the purchasing process of employers and employees, (2) improve the health system (health plans, hospitals and other providers, and (3) improve the health of the community (employees, consumers and the public)..

The wellness topic explores how wellness and prevention executives and practitioners must address mega-trends like aging, rising healthcare costs, technology and innovation, and consumer direction to transform the practice and business of wellness and prevention.  Topics for discussion include redefining the wellness industry through education, standardization and communication for health and wellness, integrating health promotion and disease prevention with occupational health, safety and environmental health protection, and mental wellness.

Also, VBCH will honor three or four of the nominated employers in the small, medium and large categories for its annual Wellness in the Workplace Awards.  Past awardees are James City County (2005), Virginia Beach City Public Schools (1998 and 2004), Chesapeake General Hospital (1998), Lillian Vernon (1998), HRSA-ILA (1998), Smithfield Foods (1998), Albemarle Hospital (1998), Obici Health System (1999), USAA (1999), Virginia Natural Gas (2000), Sentara Healthcare (2001), City of Norfolk (2001), Anheuser Busch Williamsburg (2002), Amerigroup (2002), Colonial Services Board (2002), Sysco Hampton Roads (2003), Danville Regional Health System (2003), Association for Research and Enlightenment (2003), Bon Secours Hampton Roads Health System, Inc. (2004), Pitney Bowes (2004) and Chesapeake Health Department (2004).  This year Wellness in the Workplace Awards application is online at http://www.myvbch.org/2006WellnessInTheWorkplaceAwards.htm.  Please consider completing the application.
 
We look forward to seeing you at the VBCH Business & Health Summit 2006.  Come network with the employer community, the health plan, broker & agent communities, the provider, pharmaceutical,and pharmacy communities.  Click here for the Summit 2006 brochure and registration. 

Kathleen A. Thomas, Director of Benefits, Landmark Communications, Inc., Chairwoman, VBCH Board of Directors
Barbara K. Wallace, EdD, President and CEO, VBCH
Eileen E. Ciccotelli, MPM, Vice President for Strategic Development, VBCH
Maria R. Lasher, Office Manager, VBCH