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HERO Association for Employee Health Management

Empowering Individuals Through Quality
Networking, Education, Personal Development, and Professional Recognition


HERO Association LogoBackground - A paradigm change is underway relative to the acceptance, sophistication, and accountability of employee health management (EHM).  A critical requirement for continued growth is to have available a high quality, benefits rich, member driven professional association.  To fill this need, the HERO Association for Employee Health Management (HERO Association) has been created.  

HERO Association Surveys – HERO devoted nearly 2 years conducting surveys to determine the need for a national EHM professional association and to learn which membership benefits are most important.  The survey participants were HERO Think Tank members’ employees, as well as registrants at the 2007 HERO Forum.  Over all, 94% said an EHM professional association was Very Important (46%) or Important (48%).  The membership benefits of greatest importance were: networking opportunities, information sharing, learning from the thought leaders, access to the secure HERO Forum Virtual Workshops, and EHM conferences.
 
Membership Benefits and Start Up - The HERO Association will be fully operational on or before January 15, 2009.  If you are looking for affordable, high quality and effective opportunities for EHM networking, education, and professional development, membership in the HERO Association is a must. Following are the membership benefits:

  • Online Member Profiles  – A secure link where members share personal, professional, and contact information.  This profile information allows multiple search opportunities to connect with other members who have common EHM networking and professional interests.  This allows you to network with a large number of EHM colleagues. 

  • Members’ Discussion Boards – Sometimes called a message board or forum, this tool is a private discussion internet link where members can start or participate in an ongoing discussion.  Some of the optional internet services include, but are not limited to: Member Directory, Social networking, Blogs, Wiki Glossary, Resource Library, video streaming, and e-Groups.  You can ask the questions you most want answers too, and get real-world responses from colleagues who have answers.  You can also share your answers and knowledge with others.  Over time, members often build bonds with one another and develop special interest groups.  This is your personal tool for EHM communications and education.

  • HERO Virtual Workshops – The HERO Forum features the “HOW TO” Workshops, which are facilitated by corporate managers responsible of the most successful EHM programs in the world.  This secure link provides facilitator information, Workshop abstract, learning objectives, and all the PowerPoint slides.  Thirty-six Workshops are currently available.  They are facilitated by major employers such as Union Pacific Railroad, Johnson & Johnson, Dow Chemical Company, Pepsi Bottling Group, Boeing Company, IBM, Motorola, Florida Power & Light Company, Eastman Chemical Company, Goldman Sachs, International Truck & Engine, GlaxoSmithKline, and Nationwide Insurance.

  • Benchmarking & Best Practice – The HERO Scorecard–V3 is the industry standard, self-administered instrument that has several purposes.  One is a teaching tool that reflects what a high quality EHM program look likes.  Second, it can be used to identify benchmarks and define best practice.  Plans are underway to create a large scale normative database that will allow employers to compare their level of best practice with demographically similar employees.  Becoming familiar with the Scorecard is an efficient way for you to learn about benchmarking and best practice.

  • HERO Association e-Newsletter – Members with special interest are invited to contribute content for the HERO Association e-newsletter.  There will be a volunteer editor and editorial staff.  Initially, the e-newsletter will be published every two months and, if members desire, will transition to a monthly schedule.  If you enjoy writing, creative design or editing, you can share your expertise, as well as learn from others.

  • Member’s Job and Internship Posting – Members are invited to list job openings for their organizations.  Those seeking employment may provide their Curriculum Vita and other employment information.  Openings for internships, along with information from those who seek intern positions, will also be listed.  If your organization is looking for new talent, or you are seeking new job opportunities, this will be a great tool for you.

  • EHM Calendar of Activities – This is information central for you and other members who want to share information about your organization’s activities.  A complete list of quality conferences and other learning and sharing events will be available.  This allows you to stay up to date on the availability of a wide variety of EHM opportunities across the United States.

Soon to Come...

  • The HERO Association Conference – When membership reaches an adequate size, the HERO Association will create and operate an annual national Conference.  This event will be scheduled to run concurrently with the HERO Forum (Forum), which brings together a large number of the national EHM thought leaders.  These experts will facilitate various events for the HERO Association Conference.  The Forum and Association audiences will be combined for the C. Everett Koop National Health Awards and the Keynote addresses.  This event will provide you with an unprecedented opportunity to interact with the national experts and be exposed to the most cutting edge EHM activities.

  • Professional Recognition – Since the HERO Association is a start-up operation, it will take an estimated 12-18 months for this benefit to become available.  During this time, the HERO Association Education Committee will receive recommendations from the membership on what the certification factors should be.  This member-driven approach to EHM professional certification will provide credence and respect for those who are certified.

Governance – HERO is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit corporation.  The HERO Association and the HERO Think Tank are divisions of HERO.  Both divisions are of equal importance and will receive the necessary level of attention for success.  The HERO Board of Directors provides oversight and guidance for both divisions.  While the two divisions operate as separate, self-sustaining organizations, there is close interaction and collaboration.  One person from the HERO Association (ordinarily the President) will serve as a member of the HERO Board.  The HERO Association will have a slate of officers who will be elected from the membership and multiple working committees as determined by the officers.  As the membership grows, the officers, in conjunction with the membership, will determine if there is a need for regional operations.

Board of Directors - The HERO Board of Directors provides oversight for the Association.

David Anderson, PhD - Chairman; StayWell Health Management
Andy Crighton, MD - Chair Elect; Prudential Financial
David Ballard, PsyD - American Psychological Association
Tom Fariss, MD, MPH - Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Ron Goetzel, PhD - Thomson Reuters
Bill Greer, MBA - Kellogg Company
John Harris, MEd - Healthways
Sue Lewis, MEd - IncentOne
Ron Loeppke, MD, MPH - Alere Medical
Jerry Noyce - Former President & CEO, HealthFitness
David Sensibaugh, MBA - Eastman Chemical Company
Bob Soroosh, MBA - Affinia Group
Jeff Warren, MPA - National Pharmaceutical Council
Bill Whitmer, MBA - HERO

These nationally recognized corporate and provider EHM experts and thought leaders are available to work with the HERO Association membership to accomplish organizational goals. From the stand point of operations, the association will have a President and other Officers, along with appropriate Committee Chairs.
 
Who Will Join? – The ideal candidate for membership is anyone who determines that HERO Association benefits will add to their professional development and effectiveness.  There are several categories of individuals who are candidates:

  • Providers – Provider members include, but are not limited to: EHM program managers and practitioners, health-benefits consultants, health care plans/providers, disease management providers, workers compensation managers, risk management providers, disability managers, employee assistance program managers, health insurance brokers, third party administrators, health educators, health coaches, and commercial health club managers.

  • Employers – For corporations, both large and small, any person who has interest in, or is responsible for the EHM program is a candidate for membership in the HERO Association.  This includes, but is not limited to those involved with benefits, human resources, or finance.  Occupational health nurses and medical directors are also prime candidates.

Over time, other individuals with interest in EHM will be identified who will become HERO Association members.
 
HERO Qualifications – HERO is the right organization to create and operate an EHM professional association.  For the past 13 years, HERO has been on the cutting edge of EHM innovation, respect, and success.  This is illustrated by the following accomplishments:

  • The HERO Research Database, which has generated break-through, frequently referenced, peer-reviewed EHM research publications.

  • The HERO Think Tank, which has taken the lead in the creation of EHM national policy, strategy, leadership, and infrastructure.

  • The HERO Forum for Employee Health Management Solutions, which has become recognized as the premier national meeting for EHM networking, sharing, and learning.

  • The HERO Employee Health Management Best Practice Scorecard, which has become highly recognized as a valuable and useful tool for benchmarking EHM programs based on a comprehensive list of best practices and outcomes.

Perhaps the most important qualification is that HERO has only one interest, which is EHM and is passionate about moving it forward.  Other organizations involved in EHM typically have multiple interests. 

HERO Association Grants – The HERO Association will have a positive impact on the EHM industry.  Over time, it has the potential to become the prime organization promoting and making available quality EHM networking, educational, and professional development programs and services.  For this reason, EHM providers and other stakeholders are invited to provide operational and educational grants.  If your organization is interested in becoming a HERO Association grant maker, please contact Bill Whitmer at (205) 969-2680 or whitmer@the-hero.org.

The HERO Association is supported by a grant from:

Staywell