Playing the Game of Health: Best Practices for Health Optimization Program in a Worksite Setting, with Case Study of a Real World Example

Abstract

While there have been multiple efforts to improve the health of the population, and simultaneously reducing the cost of healthcare and improving the quality of care, there is no single model for improving population health. Worksite health is a microcosm of the health of the nation and the results of been mixed. This paper considers the best practices associated with key worksite health. These best practices include the type of worksite intervention, attention to health literacy, engagement, onsite clinics, coaching and care plans, a digital platform, social support, population health, performance excellence, performance improvement, and an evaluation strategy. While each best practice is considered important, very few programs provide all of the components, and most emphasize one component over the other. A gap in the literature, therefore, is how these best practices can be combined into a single program. Following the review of literature of best practices, a case study, of the program design, of a comprehensive worksite program was conducted to demonstrate how these best practices are operationalized. The Game of Health, is a cognitive based program that focuses on stress management and behavior change in a program that provides onsite programs, a medical clinic, and a digital platform.