The New York Times recently published an article claiming that employee wellness programs yield little benefit. This claim was based on an 18-month study of 33,000 BJ’s Wholesale Club employees participating in the workplace wellness program. While the workers became more engaged in their health, there were no significant changes in clinical markers of health or healthcare spending.
Corporate Health & Wellness Programs are organization-wide policies designed to promote and support healthy behaviors. They include group activities, education, coaching, medical screening, gym memberships and more. Personal health assessments and testing can identify people at risk of developing chronic disease. In a well-implemented program, individuals are then encouraged to adopt personalized care-management programs through the use of incentives.
When done responsibly, and with respect for employee privacy, genetic testing can provide valuable insight into the health and fitness of the recipient.
Scottsdale, Ariz. September 6, 2017 – The Wellness Council of Arizona, a non-profit organization that creates customized employee wellness programs for some of the largest employers in the state, will now offer Advanced Genomic Solutions (AGS) DNA tests in their suite of services.
AGS is an international leader in genomic testing currently offering a Health & Wellness DNA Test and a Drug Sensitivity (PGx) DNA Test. The AGS Health & Wellness Test will provide employees with an individualized report to help them understand how their genetics affect their diet, exercise, and nutrition. The second test is the AGS Drug Sensitivity (PGx) Test, which informs the individual on which prescription drugs they can metabolize based on their unique DNA – helping them, and their doctor, to select the proper medications and dosages to get the best results and avoid a placebo effect, medical complications, or likely addictive risks.
