Collect Data
 The team’s first and primary responsibility is not to start offering programs, but rather to step back and gather important data. The data will be collected using corporate culture audits, health risk appraisals, and knowledge and interest surveys. This data is extremely important because it will reveal the specific areas of health needs and interests within the organization.
- Employee Needs and Interest Survey (WELCOA) - This survey and other useful tools are available from this page. Many companies have used this survey to find out what their employees really want and need from a health promotion program.
 Health Culture Audit (WELCOA) - A checklist to change is an audit that will help you assess and improve your worksite culture of health.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Worksite Health ScoreCard - The Health ScoreCard assists employers in identifying gaps in their health promotion programs, and helps them to prioritize high-impact strategies for health promotion at their worksites across the following health topics: organizational supports, tobacco control, nutrition, physical activity, weight management, stress management, depression, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, signs and symptoms of heart attack and stroke, and emergency response to heart attack and stroke. HERO Employee Health Management Best Practices Scorecard - The HERO Employee Health Management (EHM) Best Practices Scorecard is designed to help organizations learn about EHM best practices – and discover opportunities to improve their programs and measure progress over time. It’s a free online survey that teaches you about EHM best practices as you complete it – and provides you with an instant assessment of how your program stacks up to others in the national Scorecard database.
Data Comparison Opportunities and Resources
Local, state, and national data resources are available to make comparisons on health outcomes. In addition, there are several national plans that provide future projection goals for meeting specific health indicators. Utilize this data information to compare your business to national standards, plans, or other like businesses.
Nebraska Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) - The Nebraska Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) has been conducting surveys annually since 1986 for the purpose of collecting data on the prevalence of major health risk factors among adults residing in the state. Information gathered in these surveys can be used to target health education and risk reduction activities throughout the state in order to lower rates of premature death and disability. County Health Ranking - The County Health Rankings show the rank of the health of nearly every county in the nation and illustrate that much of what affects health occurs outside of the doctor’s office. The Rankings help counties understand what influences how healthy residents are and how long they will live. The Rankings look at a variety of measures that affect health such as the rate of people dying before age 75, high school graduation rates, unemployment, limited access to healthy foods, air and water quality, income, and rates of smoking, obesity and teen births. Based on data available for each county, the Rankings are unique in their ability to measure the overall health of each county in all 50 states on the many factors that influence health, and they have been used to garner support among government agencies, healthcare providers, community organizations, business leaders, policymakers, and the public for local health improvement initiatives. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey - The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is a program of studies designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States. The survey is unique in that it combines interviews and physical examinations. The NHANES interview includes demographic, socioeconomic, dietary, and health-related questions. The examination component consists of medical, dental, and physiological measurements, as well as laboratory tests administered by highly trained medical personnel. National Survey on Drug Use and Health - This survey is used to present national estimates of rates of use, number of users, and other measures related to illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco products with a focus on trends over the course of several years. Healthy People 2020 - Healthy People provides science-based, 10-year national objectives for improving the health of all Americans. For 3 decades, Healthy People has established benchmarks and monitored progress over time in order to: encourage collaborations across communities and sectors, empower individuals toward making informed health decisions, measure the impact of prevention activities.
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Communicate the results
There are many sources from which needs data can be gathered. It is important to collect as much data as possible, with the understanding that not all data sources may be available. As the program becomes more advanced, work to include more of the following data sources to ensure that the program is addressing all of the organization’s needs.
Society of Human Resource Management Article: “Getting Results-Based Wellness Communications Right” By: Jennifer Benz, Benz Communications
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