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Companies are taking increasing interest in the health of their employees. In 1991, corporations consumed about 25% of all health care resources, but paid almost 40% of the nation's health care costs (Chenoweth, 1992). Increasing evidence of the positive impact of health promotion programs at the worksite on medical cost containment (Christiansen, 1988; Erfurt, 1991; Foote, 1991; Fries, 1993; Levitón, 1989) as well as less tangible benefits, such as employee morale (Sloan, 1987; Warner, 1987), have galvanized corporations to implement worksite wellness programs. In a recent survey of employer coalitions, 75% reported having worksite wellness programs (A. Foster Higgins & Co., 1993).
The increasing number of corporate wellness programs is providing a new job niche for nurses. Occupational health nurses charged with implementing these programs usually have expertise in health education, epidemiology, and occupational health nursing. This expertise is usually obtained through advanced education in nursing or public health and clinical experiences in community health agencies or hospitals. In these settings, colleagues and supervisors are also health care professionals. When nurses move into business settings, however, their colleagues and supervisors are experts in business rather than health services. In these settings, nurses have skills and knowledge not well understood by others working in the corporate setting. Likewise, colleagues and supervisors working in the corporate setting have skills and knowledge not well understood by nurses (Dignan, 1992; O'Donnell, 1994).
THE BUSINESS APPROACH
A business approach to corporate wellness program planning outlines the implementation plan using a format and language that is understood by business people, regardless of their product or service. This implementation plan is a "road map" that describes the envisioned wellness program and identifies steps that must be accomplished to start the program.
Because support of key decision makers is so critical to successful implementation of a corporate wellness program, the implementation plan must be understood by persons without expertise in health services. Implementing a corporate wellness program using a business approach establishes a common language that can be understood by a variety of persons. It covers the essential components necessary to implement a corporate wellness program. The business approach ranges from general to specific, thus allowing flexibility and responsiveness to changes in program planning.
Using an approach that is understood by everyone in...