Healthcare

Healthcare in the Madison Region is a strong driver of both the economy and quality of life. It creates employment opportunities, while providing the region’s population with well-coordinated systems that cover a spectrum of unparalleled care. Our region’s coordinated, forward-thinking approach includes significant investments in technology which can lead to better communications, better connectivity, and ultimately better care.

Since 2007, Thrive has convened healthcare industry executives as part of the Healthcare Leadership Collaborative (HLC), a CEO roundtable exploring opportunities to advance the greater Madison area's healthcare sector. HLC members have adopted the challenge of leading by example in the area of worksite wellness programs. Healthcare leaders envision healthier workplaces as a regional competitive advantage, driving down healthcare costs for area employers and increasing employee engagement and productivity.

Formal wellness programs have been shown to provide a return on investment of $3:$1 for businesses through lower healthcare costs and reduced absenteeism (Wellness Council of America). A December 2010 Harvard Business Review study found that comprehensive, well-run employee wellness programs can deliver an ROI as high as 6:1.

To target worksite wellness, the HLC collaborated with Thrive to introduce the Working for Health initiative. The program’s long-term goal is to improve activity level, nutrition, tobacco use, alcohol use, and weight by increasing the number of and participation in employee wellness programs across the region – including within the healthcare industry itself.

Worksite Wellness Week
In May 2011, the Healthcare Leadership Collaborative introduced Worksite Wellness Week, a local awareness week designed to celebrate our region's dedication to employee wellness programs. Businesses were invited to participate by offering a health-related education, promotion, or activity for employees; or by attending a training session on effective worksite wellness programs. Learn more about this iniative and related resources at our Worksite Wellness Week page.