NEW YORK, Sept. 30, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wednesday, September 23, 2009 marked the launch of the Keep America Competitive campaign, a call to action by leading American CEOs for all employers and employees to embrace the importance a healthy workforce has on our ability to be competitive at home and around the world.
"We were very pleased by the immediate interest and support received by employers," said Deborah McKeever, president of EHE International. "Their response validated that the current U.S. healthcare crisis has a far more reaching impact than just cost. Our poor national health status is impacting productivity, and without productivity, our ability to be competitive is compromised."
Beyond CEO support, the Keep America Competitive initiative received recognition from leading health and productivity expert, Dr. Dee Edington, Director, University of Michigan Health Management Research Center, and New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.
According to Edington, the Keep America Competitive campaign "has provided the movement with a major shot in the arm." Dr. Edington's most recent publication, Zero Trends: Health as a Serious Economic Strategy, speaks to the far-reaching impact health has to productivity and why companies need to be concerned about the future of their businesses. He has successfully tracked the economic impact that an unhealthy workforce can have on a company's cost structure and worker productivity. "Beginning to turn the tide," Edington promotes, "starts with company leadership advocating the importance of individual health, and providing the resources to help workers become healthier in ways that best suit them."
Mayor Bloomberg has joined in applauding this campaign, "This (initiative) is an invaluable opportunity for business leaders to come together to investigate the best ways to promote healthy habits among their employees. A healthy workforce is a more productive and more competitive workforce." The Mayor cited the numerous health initiatives and public awareness programs by his administration demonstrating their leadership.
The goal of the Keep America Competitive campaign states: "There has never been a more critical time in America for its businesses to be competitive at home and around the world. We can only be competitive if we are productive, and we can only be productive if our workforce is healthy. This starts by creating a culture around employee personal health responsibility. CEOs are being called upon to accept this challenge for America, for their businesses, and for their employees."
"The Keep America Competitive initiative is timely," says Michael Parkinson, MD, MPH, recognized total population health management thought-leader and senior advisor to EHE International. "In the wake of the G20 Economic Summit and in the midst of the U.S. health care reform debate, we must re-double our efforts to focus on what matters most, that being, the health and productivity of our employees and the health of the families they support."
The campaign is privately-funded by EHE International and DDB Worldwide, two well-recognized leaders in the health industry. To learn more about Keep America Competitive and future events, contact Mr. Nick Danielides at 212.319.7566.
About EHE International
Since 1913, EHE has been the recognized leader in employee and individual Preventive Healthcare Plans (PHP) specifically designed for the early identification of preventable disease and risk factors; clinical management of health findings; referral resources; and personal coaching intervention programs of adverse lifestyle behaviors associated with poor nutrition, physical inactivity, and smoking. It's nationally available PHP is a comprehensive, integrated approach to preventive healthcare for the reduction and management of future medical claims expense. www.EHEINTL.com.