National Business Group on Health Recognizes HealthyQuest Program for Fifth Consecutive Year
MADISON, N.J., June 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services, announced today that the National Business Group on Health (NBGH) has awarded its 2009 Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles Platinum Award to the company for its HealthyQuest employee wellness program. The Platinum Award is presented to NBGH member companies that have established employee wellness programs with measurable success and documented outcomes. 2009 marks Quest Diagnostics' first year receiving the Platinum Award, which is the NBGH's highest honor. The company received the Gold Award in 2008 and 2007 and the Silver Award in 2006 and 2005.
'As a 2009 Best Employer for Healthy Lifestyles Platinum Award recipient, Quest Diagnostics is at the vanguard of a national movement to promote a system-wide culture of health emphasizing prevention, exercise, and eating right,' said Helen Darling, President of the National Business Group on Health. 'More than ever, a healthy workforce is critical to helping America's large employers compete in the global marketplace. Quest Diagnostics is to be applauded for making health and wellness an integral part of their workplace.'
Through its HealthyQuest employee wellness initiative, Quest Diagnostics aims to foster a workplace culture that encourages healthful behaviors. HealthyQuest is centered on the company's Blueprint for Wellness(TM) risk assessment service, which is available to 41,000 eligible employees as well as their spouses or domestic partners. The Blueprint for Wellness service uses assessments of an individual's laboratory testing results and lifestyle choices to produce a personalized report identifying health risks and opportunities for improvement. Armed with information from the Blueprint for Wellness assessment, employees can access the company's diverse educational and support programs, which are supported by hundreds of employee volunteers, to make lifestyle changes. Programs include physical fitness, weight and stress management resources and tobacco cessation counseling.
Between 2005 and 2008, the HealthyQuest program has helped Quest Diagnostics employees to measurably lower their health risks by adopting healthier behaviors. Key accomplishments include:
Tobacco Cessation: Employee tobacco usage dropped to an all-time low--12.7 percent--in 2008, compared to the national average of 21% (National Health Interview Survey, 2006). About 3,600 individuals who have enrolled in the program have quit smoking.
