Employer Relations Workgroup: Activity Updates

Taking on Diabetes Worksite Education Workgroup Conference Call, June 4, 1999

Mission: The Worksite Education Workgroup oversees the creation of educational materials and screening programs to be implemented in the worksite setting.

Duties: Working collaboratively with AAHP/ADA and the Employers Managed Health Care Association (MHCA), the Work Site Education Workgroup creates, disseminates, and evaluates materials and interventions designed for implementation in the work setting.

Membership: Membership in the workgroup includes staff, sponsors, employer representatives, ADA members and health plan representatives.

Participants

Jill Arent, AAHP

Melinda Elderkin, CenterCare

Peter Fitzgerald, AAHP

Deb Marshall, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine

Judy McGill, Carelink Health Plans

Teresa Pearson, HealthPartners

Discussion Issues
Assessing the Significance of Diabetes for the Employer
The workgroup discussed the value of creating background information and an assessment tool to help employers estimate the significance of diabetes in the workplace. The tool should allow an employer to describe a company’s demographics that are relevant to diabetes: age, ethnicity, and gender. In addition to identifying risk levels for diabetes, the workgroup felt that information on the ethnic diversity of the workplace could be used to provide culturally appropriate interventions. Workgroup members highlighted the importance of using this tool as a way of demonstrating the return on investment an employer could expect from a worksite education and screening.

Worksite Screenings
The workgroup discussed alternative screening methods based on questionnaires and blood tests. The ADA has developed a questionnaire to help assess risk. The workgroup members discussed the use of a computerized risk assessment instrument at the worksite. Another form of assessment discussed was blood tests. Using blood tests may raise legal issues, present liability concerns and require confidentiality assurances for which employers may not be prepared. The workgroup recommended reviewing the current literature regarding the screening tools that are available. Any results of the worksite screening should be shared after obtaining an employee’s consent with their primary care physician in order to promote continuity of care.

Promoting Self-Management
The workgroup discussed opportunities for promoting self-management at the worksite in people with diabetes. Activities such as newsletter items, employee peer groups, and constructing exercise and nutrition programs at the worksite were suggested as ways to support people with diabetes in their management of the condition. The members of the workgroup stressed the importance of developing a menu of activities for employers to select from according to their resources and level of familiarity with worksite health programs.

Next Steps
The workgroup agreed to provide AAHP with sample risk assessment tools and communications that could be used in the worksite. AAHP will work to identify tools that help employers gauge the costs of diabetes in the workplace and the potential benefits of programs to address the complications of diabetes. The workgroup will review the gathered patient risk assessment, worksite communications, and employer assessment tools at their next meeting, which will be held Thursday, August 5 during the lunch break of the Taking on Diabetes: Care in the New Millennium conference, in Washington, DC. Details will be provided as the date approaches.

Taking on Diabetes
601 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
South Building, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 778-3281
takingondiabetes@ahip.org