ICMA and CIGNA release guide on improving community health
The Washington-based International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and Philadelphia-based insurance company CIGNA have released a new publication aimed at teaching local government managers how to save money by improving their employees’ health. “Creating a Culture of Health: A Manager’s Guide to Improving Employee Health and Reducing Health Care Costs,” explores the trend toward focusing on proactive health promotion and disease prevention over the reactive treatment of sickness as a way to reduce health care coverage costs and improve workforce productivity.
The 28-page guide discusses programs that help public and private employees make better health choices and improve behaviors that affect their health. “‘Creating a Culture of Health’ puts invaluable information about the growing trend toward empowering employees to stay well directly into the hands of local governments,” ICMA Executive Director Robert O’Neil said in a statement. “With this information, city, town and county leaders can move their jurisdictions toward successfully managing today’s health care challenges while enhancing the quality of the local government workplace.”
The guide is available in electronic and hardcopy formats for $19.95 for ICMA members and $24.95 for non-members. Download the electronic version at
http://bookstore.icma.org/Creating_a_Culture_of_Health__P1879C14.cfm, and order the hardcopy at
http://bookstore.icma.org/Creating_a_Culture_of_Health__P1873C14.cfm.