Axion Health provides innovative employee well-being solutions.  Its flagship ReadySetTM software optimizes occupational health, safety, wellness and employee engagement for health systems, government agencies, and industry.  The ReadySet software is clinically-focused, easy to use, HIPAA compliant, web-based and paperless. Axion Health is also a company that cares about the health and well-being of their employees and they do what it takes to support a culture of health in the workplace.

Health Links (HL): Why is the health and wellness of your employees important to you?

Axion Health (AH): Axion Health’s Pulse Panel (our employee wellness committee) aims to inspire our organizational community to initiate or expand healthy lifestyles, improve quality of life, and further professional and personal development. We believe that healthy and engaged employees will be happier and more productive.

HL: How will you/do you know your program is successful?

AH: The Pulse Panel measures success in several different ways. The first is attendance—we aim to have every employee attend at least one Pulse Panel event a year. Secondly, we measure success by behavioral change. If employees adopt healthy lifestyle changes as a result of Pulse Panel events, we consider that a win! Most importantly, the success of the Pulse Panel hinges on employee feedback. We send out a yearly survey to engage employees in assessing success and future event planning. This, in turn, encourages more participation and enthusiasm.

HL: What obstacles did you have to overcome to get your program started?  How did you overcome them?

AH: Due to the nature of Axion Health’s business (occupational health software), developing a wellness program for the employees was a fairly intrinsic process with few obstacles. However, the Pulse Panel continuously tries to plan engaging and fun events while keeping a budget in mind. This can sometimes be a challenge as there are so many fun things we would like to offer!

HL: Do you incorporate safety along with your wellness program? If so, what does this look like?

AH: Axion Health products focus on employee well-being. This drives an integrated focus on employee health, safety, wellness and engagement. A sick employee, an injured employee or an unhealthy employee all result in concerning impacts to both the individual and organization. Preventing and mitigating these adverse conditions is what Axion Health is all about! We incorporated safety more thoroughly into the Pulse Panel’s 2014 activities. For example, the Pulse Panel offered an ergonomics seminar and began emergency preparedness planning efforts in 2014. We will continue to expand these endeavors in 2015.

HL: What tip/advice would you give to a business that is considering starting a workplace wellness program?

AH: Look beyond the traditional usage of the word “wellness” and think about improving the personal AND professional well-being of employees. Not all employees are interested in every event offered, so listen closely to what employees value. Most importantly, be a good example!   Employees are more engaged and enthusiastic when they see company leaders actively participating.