Exclusive Care Pathways to Health

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2015

The County of Riverside offers its employees Exclusive Care, a self-funded Health Care Plan administered by the Department of Human Resources, in addition to two commercial health care plans. Exclusive Care’s wellness program identified overweight/obesity as a major health challenge for our members. Fully 76.5% of male and 69.5% of female participants in the wellness program are overweight or obese. Additionally, the burden of pre-diabetes and diabetes in general membership are above the national average. In response, Exclusive Care developed the Pathways to Health program to assist members with weight management. The program is unique in that it incorporates a holistic and collaborative approach to weight management, and offers participants the options of proceeding to bariatric surgery at a recognized Center of Excellence, or continued participation and support in the Pathways program for non-surgical management of weight management. Since its inception in January 2013, 59 participants completed the program, while 25 members have selected surgery. The results of the members electing surgical treatment have been dramatic, with resolution of co-morbidities of hypertension and hyperlipidemia, and amelioration of Diabetes. These changes improved wellness, enhanced self-esteem, and reduced medical costs.