Workplace Health

In February, 2016 during traditional American Mesyats of Healthy Heart, the American cardiological association (American Heart Association, AHA) announced plans for creation of the unique Workplace Health program using unprecedented systems capabilities of IBM Watson in the field of cognitive technologies. It will become the first solution within which Watson will be applied to fight against cardiovascular diseases. For its creation the American cardiological association, IBM corporation and Welltok company will integrate the scientifically based criteria and estimates of the state of health used by AHA association with cognitive analytics and the platform of optimization of health from Welltok. This initiative is designed to reduce risk of development of cardiovascular diseases to which more than 85 million Americans are subject today.

The program will help to estimate working conditions and occupational health and also health of employees by criteria of AHA. Basic component of the application is the new Workplace Health Achievement Index index which is also started by the American cardiological association in February. Using the best techniques for measurement and management of corporate initiatives in the field of health care, the index estimates the companies on the level of maintenance of a healthy situation in a workplace. The big contribution to its development was made by the CEO Roundtable organization operating under the auspices of AHA which part a number of the largest employers of America who are engaged in medical aspects of a working environment is. It serves as educational laboratory for development, testing and improvement of the index. Watson in new development will perform judgment of the analytical data obtained on the basis of the index. Watson will help to develop recommendations to employers on maintenance of health of the employees. For example, it will prompt as it is correct to corporations to create and adapt medical insurance and improving programs for employees so that it promoted high-quality improvement of health of personnel.

Using the platform of Welltok company in online the mode or using mobile devices, each employee will be able to fill out the questionnaire of AHA under the name My Life Check which measures indicators of Life's Simple 7. Key status lights of a cardiovascular system are: abstention from smoking, a healthy power supply, physical activity, achievement and maintenance of healthy body weight, management of blood pressure, control of level of cholesterol and reduction of content of sugar in blood. Welltok analyzes information obtained from questionnaire of workers and information collected using wearable means of tracking of a physical status and also using scales with wireless connection and cups for measurement of blood pressure. On the basis of these data the personalized recommendations which help the person to lead a healthy lifestyle and to reduce risk of developing of cardiovascular diseases are developed.

"Thanks to the questionnaire of Life's Simple 7 and the Workplace Health Achievement Index index we developed the evidence-based program for maintenance of a healthy lifestyle and wellbeing of corporations, – Eduardo Sanchez, the doctor of medicine, the master of health care, the chief health inspector on prevention of diseases of the American cardiological association says. Employees and employers will be able to use the personalized cognitive solutions now, and with their help to improve health of heart and to reduce costs for treatment. We hope that we will be able to set new standards on improvement of occupational health".

The risk of development of cardiovascular diseases threatens workers around the world – every third death and more than 312.6 billion dollars of annual losses, including expenses on treatment and a labor productivity decline falls to their share. Improper feeding, a lack of regular physical activity and other important risk factors of heart troubles and strokes lead to the fact that employers select at least 25% of the budget for health care and for solving of tasks connected with heart diseases.

According to a new research of AHA association and Nielsen company, employees who according to the recommendation of the top management participate in improving programs approximately with twice bigger probability adhere to regulations of a healthy power supply, and 69% of respondents consider that such programs significantly influence satisfaction of the employee with the work.

The research of AHA association showed that high rates of Life's Simple 7 help to reduce risk of developing of heart troubles, strokes, cancer diseases and many other problems with health. People who have perfect condition of health according to all seven indicators ("perfect condition of a cardiovascular system") by 50 years are less subject to risk to development of heart troubles and strokes.

"Transferring this innovation program to hands to end consumers, we give them the management as at the individual level to support and improve the state of health, – Jeff Margolis, the chairman of the board of directors and the chief executive officer of Welltok company said. We look forward to the beginning of work with IBM and AHA and also with the largest employers of the country to improve health of the American workers. It will also help us to lower the finance costs connected with cardiovascular diseases".

The Welltok company provides functioning of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) – the compatible platform which allows employees to participate in improving actions and at the same time protects their confidentiality. It allows to transfer the data obtained based on questioning of Life's Simple 7 and using the Workplace Health Achievement Index index to a cloud platform of Watson Health Cloud in completely anonymous mode not to allow discrimination on health and unauthorized use of personal data.