ValueOptions recognizes the important role our behavioral health services can play in addressing heart disease, the No. 1 killer of Americans and a leading cause of disability. To support clients in developing an integrated programmatic approach, we have developed a CD toolkit and recently hosted discussions on this topic.

In July, we held client summit teleconferences on the topic, “Heart and Mind Connections: Integrated Strategies for Greater Health.” Joe Hullett, chief medical officer for ValueOptions’ commercial division, talked about the heart and mind connection and the importance of integrating a behavioral approach to cardiovascular health programming. Steve Apostoles, MD, medical director for Northrop Grumman Newport News, and Tracy Newmark and Amy Wilson, wellness coordinators with Pratt & Whitney (a United Technologies company), described their respective wellness initiatives, which included working closely with ValueOptions as their partner in promoting employee health.

Key points from the presentation and discussion are as follows:

• There is a clear connection between cardiovascular health and mental health. Depression and anxiety disorders are suspected to affect heart rhythms, increase blood pressure, alter blood clotting and lead to elevated insulin and cholesterol levels. These risk factors often predict, and are a response to, heart disease. Numerous studies underscore the relationship, particularly between heart disease and depression.

• Behavioral experts can identify and manage behavioral health contributors that can impact heart health (such as depression, anxiety and chronic stress), support those who are living with heart disease and promote and help sustain a healthy lifestyle.

• Northrop Grumman Newport News launched a wellness initiative in the summer of 2005 for its 19,000 employees and their families. This includes health risk appraisals, flu shots, on-site screenings and health fairs, and risk-reduction programs (including heart health). Recognizing the importance of addressing behavioral health issues as part of the overall approach to cardiac wellness, Northrop Grumman encourages partnership, cross referral and joint initiatives between the wellness program and the EAP program administered through ValueOptions.  The results? In addition to providing thousands of screenings, HRA reports and flu shots to its employees, this program is helping to change the corporate culture at Northrop Grumman. Prior to this, only the Baltimore facility also had such an initiative; now all Northrop Grumman sectors are rolling out wellness programs.

• Pratt & Whitney wellness coordinators, who are charged with leading, implementing and evaluating global health promotion and disease prevention initiatives, developed a focused stress management seminar program in 2005 in partnership with ValueOptions. The program taught participants practical, easy-to-implement, solution-oriented stress management strategies. Consistently delivered across its domestic sites, the program’s aim was to promote its cardiovascular and mental health goals and communicate about the availability of the EAP. The results? Eighty-four (84) percent of participants reported that they will be making a behavior change. EAP utilization increased by 40 percent from the previous year, and the Pratt & Whitney wellness team received their parent company’s prestigious United Technologies Corporation, Environment, Health & Safety Health Promotion Outreach Award for 2005, due in part to this seminar program.

• A key success factor for these programs has been their ability to enlist support and participation throughout their organizations: senior managers and union leaders, steering committee members and employees. Working “early” and often, program outreach focused on “meeting people where they are” and understanding their issues. At Northrop Grumman, this also includes physically locating wellness coordinators throughout the site to meet its stated goal to be “high touch.” At Pratt & Whitney, they tap internal departments, the parent company and vendors to leverage synergies, and use multiple communication medium for education and program promotion. Senior leadership support has been visible in both organizations from the beginning but these programs are enjoying even higher visibility and support from senior leadership now, and their success has provided the momentum to explore other worksite wellness initiatives.

For a review of this value-added cardiovascular health initiative, see the related article, “Heart and Mind Connections: Program Aims to Integrate Strategies for Better Health.” To view the toolkit referenced in this article, please visit http://valueoptions.com/spotlight_heart/html/pages/index.htm.