University of Southern Maine

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USM Lifeline Leads Initiative to Improve Workplace Health and Contain Rising Health Care Costs

January 10, 2004

Tom Downing, director of USM's Lifeline Center for Wellness and Health Promotion, thinks it's anything but a coincidence that Maine has a high incidence of chronic diseases, dramatic increases in health insurance premiums for businesses, and no coordinated approach to promoting healthy lifestyles in the workplace.

"The statistics are sobering," said Downing. "A full 75 percent of the deaths among Maine citizens each year are due to cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic lung disease and diabetes, all of which are heavily influenced by such lifestyle-related factors as inactivity, poor nutrition and tobacco use. At the same time, Maine's business sector continues to experience double digit increases in health care expenses, fueled by the costs for treatment of these diseases and other risk factors.

"It's clear," he said, "that we can not contain costs and improve employee health and productivity without addressing wellness and health promotion in Maine's workplaces. Worksite wellness has to be a part of the solution to our state's health care crisis."

Consequently, USM's Lifeline has announced establishment of the Institute for Workplace Health Promotion. This new model will build upon the current work of Lifeline's business unit by providing additional worksite services.

"One of our responsibilities as a public university is to link USM's intellectual resources and programs to the needs of Maine communities," said USM President Richard L. Pattenaude. "This initiative will prove to be a great example of how those resources can be used to address a critical public policy issue."ÊÊÊÊÊ

As a first step, the USM institute, with partners in the public and private sectors, will design, implement and evaluate a pilot health promotion initiative geared to the needs of small businesses throughout southern Maine. "Our challenge is to develop a model that meets the unique needs and interests of this sector," said Downing. He envisions providing small employers with a menu of user-friendly resources, among them easier access to health information, onsite health screenings, self-care programs and health risk appraisals. The ultimate goal of the pilot is to develop a cost effective model that can be used by small businesses statewide.

"This focus on the needs of small businesses will be critical," said Downing, noting that more than 95 percent of Maine's businesses have fewer than 50 employees. The pilot will be implemented in early 2005.Ê

The new Institute will offer a full range of worksite wellness services. It will also administer the Southern Maine Wellness Council, a non-profit membership supported organization that provides networking, resource development and professional training for area employers.

USM's Lifeline Center for Wellness and Health Promotion, now in its 28th year, offers a range of fitness and rehabilitative services.

Editor's Note: For more information, contact USM Office of Public Affairs at 780-4200 or Tom Downing, director of USM's Lifeline Center for Wellness and Health Promotion, at 780-4170.

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