THE EVALUATION OF AN EMPLOYEE SELF-CARE PROGRAM

A self-care program that helped employees make better medical decision s to increase efficient and appropriate use of medical care was implem ented at a large hospital in Orlando, Florida. Hospital employees were given a low-cost 72-page booklet called the HealthyLife(R) Self-Care Guide. An evaluation of 801 employees demonstrated a $75.30-per-employ ee savings in five months. This savings resulted from 265 fewer physic ian visits and 99 fewer emergency room visits. Employees also experien ced 167 fewer days of absence from work. Based upon the cost of the bo oklet and the savings that occurred, the hospital experienced a 55:1 r eturn on investment. In addition, 63% of the employees stated that the Guide had positively affected their families. It appears that this se lf-care guide can reduce an organization's health-care costs.