October 04, 2011
We are all waiting for various federal and state health reform mandates to become final. Few have confidence that any will offer solutions that guarantee access to care while simultaneously improving the reimbursement hospitals and doctors receive for the incredible work they do. All that is certain is that uncertainty will prevail.
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September 01, 2011
I am so proud of the employees of the City of Kansas City for their overwhelming participation in Cerner’s KC Slimdown Challenge. I personally understand how difficult it can be to make different lifestyle choices. I’ve always enjoyed comfort food (I can’t resist the grilled salami sandwich at the Filling Station!) and relaxation more than rice cakes and exercise. Seeing our employees energized about getting healthy has renewed my own commitment to changing my bad habits.
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August 16, 2011
We all recognize that taking a walk or going for a run is better for our overall health than spending that time sitting in front of the computer or the television. Sedentary lifestyles can contribute to health problems like cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Now, two recent studies are shining more light on how a more active lifestyle can help you live longer.
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August 16, 2011
Several words come to mind when people think about health care, one of those being “costly.” A new report from Medicare’s Office of the Actuary projects that by 2014 health care spending will grow by 8.3 percent. This rate far outpaces any projected growth in the U.S. GDP. And by 2020, the U.S. is expected to pay $4.6 trillion – yes, TRILLION – for health care services. Some of this cost is unavoidable as the Baby Boomer generation heads into retirement and begins to become heavy consumers of health care services. But there are things we can do as individuals and as employers to improve the health system and ultimately reduce costs.
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August 11, 2011
The idea that a healthy workforce makes for a productive workforce isn’t new to employers. Occupational health, a discipline focused on health and safety in the workplace, was officially defined by International Labour Organization and the World Health Organization in 1950 and various approaches have been in place since that time. As health care costs in America rise, employers are the ones who face the brunt of these expenses. Realizing the need to both control costs and maintain a healthy workforce, many employers are expanding their view of occupational health and taking a more holistic, proactive approach to overall workplace health.
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July 29, 2011
This week, Cerner hosted two farmer’s market events for
associates. At the events, called Fields to Forks, associates were able to purchase
locally sourced fresh produce and other items. Cerner associates Emily
Abernathy and Arielle Bogorad sat down for a quick Q&A to share
more information on the events.
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July 12, 2011
Just a few days ago, startling statistics about obesity in America were released, with Missouri and Kansas both ranked in the top 16 for adult obesity rates (30 percent and 29 percent respectively), further illustrating the need for change.
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June 24, 2011
Last month, I blogged about Cerner’s weight loss challenge for our associates that resulted in nearly 20,000 pounds lost. This summer, we will be taking it to the next level with a community-wide weight loss competition. The KC Slimdown Challenge is an opportunity for small teams and area companies to compete for prizes and bragging rights with the end goal of creating a healthier Kansas City. For 10 weeks this summer, we hope to encourage 30,000 participants to team up, slim down, and get healthy.
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May 13, 2011
As Cerner makes the turn to be known as a health company and not just a healthcare IT company, I am impressed by the strides we’re making. Our Healthe Living with Rewards program allows Cerner associates and their spouses earn incentive points for maintaining or improving their health, reducing the out-of-pocket costs of healthcare. The sales of healthy meals in our on-site cafes have steadily increased. There have been grassroots efforts like walking meetings and campaigns encouraging associates to take the stairs.
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March 22, 2011
Cerner has been working, in one form or another, on personal health solutions for many years. We've reacted with surprise when people don't end up engaging with our solutions as much as we'd hoped. Over the last year and a half, we've begun the journey to deliver a new stack of personal health solutions called Cerner Health. The Mission: create a personal health record (PHR) platform that lets people pull all their health information together in one place, and share it with their doctors, family, pharmacy, and other "health partners," as well as provide recommendations on how to live a healthier life. The Problem: most people don't know they want to do that. Or more likely, they just don't want to do that. Sure, there are people with a complex health condition or new diagnosis that provide them with an incentive to be interested in their records. However, this incentive might come too late. The person in the hospital suddenly really wishes they'd been better-managing their health records all this time.
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