KINGSTON, Ont. — Plan members with diabetes who work in Kingston may become part of a unique pilot project in the near future following a gathering this week of employers and other health-care participants that considered better ways to manage chronic disease.
The diverse gathering of about 60 people on Jan. 27 included plan sponsors, pharmacists, physicians, physiotherapists, researchers and patient groups. CommonMarkets, a consulting firm focused on programs for chronic disease prevention and management, organized the event.
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“Employee wellness is a key area for our 1,500 employees,” said Cynthia Beach, commissioner of corporate and strategic initiatives for the City of Kingston and one of the presenters. “We’re looking for partners because we all don’t have all the resources. We can create teams that work in different ways . . . for breakthrough solutions.”
The meeting ended with the creation of caucuses that will continue discussions for a pilot project likely involving plan members with diabetes and an added focus on exercise.
Brian Stutt, managing director of CommonMarkets, described a “joint custody” model of chronic disease prevention and management that puts employees and their families at the centre of health-care decisions with guidance by a network of providers. “We have umpteen examples of one- or two-silo programs not succeeding as well as they could. We need something that we roll out as a group.”
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Ben Bluml, senior vice-president of research and innovation at the American Pharmacists Association, gave examples of successful partnerships between employers, pharmacies and other providers. The secret to success, he said, is local leadership. “The magic occurs when it happens at the community level. Each community needs to figure out what resources are available and how they will do things. Ultimately, that produces the outcomes everyone is looking for.”
Ian Culbert, executive director of the Canadian Public Health Association, reminded attendees that the mandate for local public health units includes supporting the workplace. “Public health is all about keeping people healthy. We are looking for partners. Let’s build something together.”