Chevron Corporation Evaluation Summary
Chevron’s medical costs virtually remained flat between 1991 and 1997, for an overall increase of less than 1%. Occupational incident rates decreased by 50%, and occupational incident rates with lost time decreased by 60%. A rigorous, quasi experimental study conducted on the Health Quest fitness centers by an outside, objective evaluator demonstrated cost savings through reduction in medical expenditures and lost work days. Alcohol use and smoking have steadily declined since 1991.
Health Quest Fitness Center Study
The Health Quest Fitness Center Study demonstrated cost savings to
Chevron through a reduction in medical (inpatient, drug and mental health)
expenditures for employees who participated two or more times per week
in the program. The results of the study revealed that fitness center
participation has a beneficial effect on medical expenditures: as participation
increased, medical expenditures decreased. Regular participants
experienced 37% lower inpatient and drug expenditures than non-participants
over a two and one half year period. After adjusting for confounding
variables, regular participants experienced inpatient and drug expenditures
at $827, compared to $1,309 for non-participants (p = .03). This
study has been accepted for publication in the June, 1998 issue of the
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. A second study,
on the same population and using the same methodologies, demonstrated a
reduction in lost work days associated with regular participation.
Regular participants, on average, experienced 54% fewer lost work days
than non-participants.
Smoking Cessation
Smoking rates dropped 35%, from 28% in 1991 to18% in 1998, as measured
by health risk appraisals administered through Staywell. This exceeds
the Healthy People 2000 goal for blue-collar workers (20%), and is close
to meeting the overall goal of 15% for adults. A description of this
smoking cessation program and innovative work done with health plans and
an employer cooperative are published in Tobacco Control, 1997 (the proceedings
of the AHCPR Smoking Cessation Guideline).
Alcohol Reduction
Alcohol use has decreased by 29% since 1991 (Staywell HRA). Recovery
rates for drug and alcohol addiction are 70% two years after treatment
completion. Abstinence is measured by a two year period of regular drug
and alcohol testing. “Success” from substance abuse problems
is defined as remaining employed without further problems.
Copyright © 1998 The Health Project. All Rights Reserved.