Wrong Pocket

One more lesson learned from several current teams (a couple in Nebraska and one in North Carolina): it is hard to create a sustainable wellness program.

I think a key reason is the "wrong pocket" issue: the dollar saved by preventing disease does not necessarily return to the pocket of the person who spent the dollar on wellness. This makes it a challenge to sell wellness programs to customers.

Three teams are working hard to figure out how to make it work-- what are the wellness services that can be offered, to whom, such that the health department does not go broke, customers are pleased, and the community as a whole winds up healthier in five years?

Would love to hear your comments and suggestions...

--Stephen Orton