A comprehensive program addresses multiple health risks and health conditions at once, taking into account not just individual behaviors, but also health-related programs, policies, benefits and environmental supports.5 To be comprehensive, your program should contain five key elements:
- Health education, which focuses on skill development and lifestyle behavior change tailored to employees’ interests and needs;
- Supportive physical and social environments, which include organizational policies and behavioral interventions to promote health;
- An integrated structure that’s an integral part of how the organization thinks and operates;
- Linkages to related programs like employee assistance programs (EAPs) and programs to help balance work and family, which support mental health; and
- Worksite screening programs linked to follow-up and treatment.5
These five elements address a full spectrum of risk factors and health conditions in a coordinated way.