1700 West 82nd Street Media Contact : Suite 200 Deb Marshall, VP

1700 West 82nd Street
Suite 200
Minneapolis, MN 55431
952.831.6830
Media Contact:
Deb Marshall, VP of Marketing
952.897.5235
[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
E-cigarettes: Friend or foe for employee health?
Tips on how to address e-cigarettes with worksite wellness programs
Highlights:
HealthFitness Chief Medical and Wellness Officer Dennis Richling, M.D.:
o Answers common questions about e-cigarettes;
o Provides current science on the topic; and
o Shares considerations for health management programs
MINNEAPOLIS SEPT. 2, 2014 — The use of e-cigarettes (electronic
cigarettes) is on the rise. According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), about one in five adult cigarette smokers have tried an ecigarette and the percentage of middle and high school students who use ecigarettes has more than doubled.
“Depending on who is speaking, e-cigarettes are either part of the solution
to cigarette smoking or part of the much larger problem of tobacco use,”
says HealthFitness’ Chief Medical and Wellness Officer Dennis Richling, M.D.
In response to inquiries from employers interested in best practices with
health management programs, Richling addresses some common questions
about e-cigarettes, provides current science on the topic and shares
considerations for next steps in his recent blog post “E-cigarettes: Friend or
foe for employee health?”
E-cigarette recommendations for employers with health
management programs include:
1. Treat e-cigarettes like tobacco products in your smoking policy.
2. Be prepared to navigate complex issues if you include e-cigarettes in
your incentive program.
3. Use your health assessment to educate participants about ecigarettes.
To learn specifics around Richling’s recommendations with e-cigarettes for
employers with health management programs, visit “E-cigarettes: Friend or
foe for employee health?”
About HealthFitness
HealthFitness, a subsidiary of The Trustmark Companies, is an awardwinning, URAC- and NCQA-accredited provider of health management,
corporate fitness and condition management solutions. With 35-plus years of
experience, HealthFitness is a proven leader and partner for infusing a
culture of health. We maximize client results through personalized
interaction and a science-based approach to on-site program management,
engagement and prevention. For more information on HealthFitness, visit
www.healthfitness.com.
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