Many of us are busy making personal resolutions for the new year. In 2008, why not resolve to make health and wellness a priority in your company? There are some simple steps to make this happen—and in return, you’ll notice positive bottom-line results.

First, analyze the benefits your company offers employees. Be sure these packages place an emphasis on services that make health and wellness a priority. Services such as well baby checks, blood pressure screening, pap tests, mammograms and other screenings are highly valued by employees and can be easily added to most benefit plans. If the benefits are lacking certain screenings, make it a goal to negotiate for these services in the new year.

Next, identify health and wellness needs inside your company. One of the most important action steps for any company is to become a smoke-free workplace. Allow plenty of time to publicize the policy and offer cessation classes to smokers to help them quit the habit. Information about becoming a smoke-free zone is available from the Centers for Disease Control.

Then, take time to identify the needs of your employees by conducting a survey or health risk appraisal. If your company is large enough, form a Health Promotions or Wellness Committee to conduct the survey. It can be placed inside a paycheck. Employees should be encouraged to complete it anonymously.

Health risk appraisals can be done for as little as $10 per employee. Each person receives an individual assessment that provides a summary of a person’s lifestyle. With this information, an employee can set personal health goals to make changes and your company can get a composite score about the health status of your workforce.

The results can help you identify classes or information that employees are seeking such as healthy eating, cancer prevention or weight loss. Your company can focus on the top two or three topics throughout the year by bringing in speakers, offering seminars or providing educational materials. Your community hospital may provide a speakers bureau or can put you in touch with a doctor who can speak about specific topics.

Health assessments can also be offered in conjunction with a health fair. Again, this idea doesn’t need a large budget. It can be done in a simple manner with blood pressure checks, screenings for cholesterol and diabetes, and a speaker. Even if the health fair is offered for just a few hours, employees will see this as a bonus and will feel valued by management.

Another creative way to address specific health topics is to follow national health observance days. For example, you could offer a blood pressure check or cholesterol screening during National Heart Month in February. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, you could host a seminar about healthy eating for cancer prevention. A list of national health observance days is available online.

Another internal issue for many employees is nutrition and physical activity. Look at the ways your company promotes these health concerns. Make physical activity convenient and remove the cost barriers. Encourage employees to walk during lunch or offer reimbursements for joining a fitness center. Be sure your cafeteria and vending machines are offering healthier food choices.

Finally, encourage your employees to pick a doctor. With open enrollment taking place, the new year is the perfect time to select a doctor. Doing so will help your employees establish a continuity of care and avoid paying higher fees often associated with urgent care centers. Your employee can begin to feel comfortable discussing health care issues with a specific physician.

Making health and wellness a priority in your company will have long lasting benefits. Employees will feel valued, productivity will increase and turnover will decrease. Remember, implementing a culture of health and wellness doesn’t require a lot of money. Take simple steps and ring in a healthy 2008!

Jeffrey Williamson-Link, M.D., is medical director of Corporate Health at Edward Hospital. Please direct your corporate health questions to him at jwilliamson-link@edward.org.