President Obama smokes. Who knew? I didn't know and would not have guessed. I paid attention as his visit to the Cleveland Clinic was a poster boy photo op for America's wellness program and healthcare reform, but it lacked believability.
Fortune did a recent case study about the Cleveland Clinic, perhaps prompted by Obama's symbolic visit there. Not a usual hospital, some numbers that caused me to pay attention. 4.2 million patient visits annually, $5.5 billion (no kidding) in revenues, and 40,000 employees. It ranks among the top hospitals in the world and is a model for health care reformers.
Additionally it has some heretic management goodies such as, - doctors do not get tenure but are reviewed every year. You might be a neurosurgeon but that doesn't mean you have a job if you get a lousy performance review. No variable compensation. Whether you did one heart transplant or ten, your pay remains the same. Which supports my position that hardwiring incentives is not a substitute for accountable management.
However, the point of this letter was to share some of their radical hiring and employee healthcare ideas.
* The clinic counts total pounds of weight loss. In the first year the employees lost 140,000 pounds.
* Took deep fryers, candy bars and pop out of the cafeteria.
* Gave out free Curves and Weightwatchers memberships.
* Employees have free access to hospital gyms.
* Free pedometers for everyone. (10,000 steps thinking.)
* No smoking on campus rules.
* Free smoke cessation classes.
* Pushed for a law banning smoking in public places in Ohio—which passed.
* Stopped hiring smokers, (now it gets tricky)!
* They test all new employees for nicotine was well as drugs as part of their employment physical. Even people in Ohio didn't know that was legal, - but it is. (I'm not sure about BC)
Health is personal, it's tough. Easier to talk about it than to do it. Wellness programs, no matter what their form, fuel absenteeism, sick days, lates, morale, productivity and all kinds of other management problems. Companies can lead wellness and impact the bottom line, - a lot!
Encourage and lead wellness for your existing employees. Hire for health where you can. It just makes life a lot easier for everyone.
See you for breakfast!
Wolfgang
a.) Watched sixty minutes on bull fighting. Great line, "rely on courage until you find art." True for those of us who find ourselves. Finding yourself is defined by what you protect.
b.) April seminar, "Time Management" - individual tickets $135. Still some seats left.
c.) Where do you think recruiting breaks down? Answer at Wolf's blog.
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