COST JUSTIFICATION

The Wellness Fitness Initiative (WFI) is designed to improve the quality of life for all fire fighters while simultaneously seeking to prove the value of investing in wellness resources over time. A number of studies have shown that a well-designed and implemented health and wellness program provides a favorable Return on Investment (ROI). One of the major roadblocks preventing fire departments from implementing the WFI is cost and concerns about the economic benefit of such a program.

The Cost Justification chapter in the 3rd Edition of the Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness-Fitness Initiative determines the economic impact by calculating occupational claims and costs among the charter fire departments that have adopted and implemented the WFI. 

This section below contains an overview of the various tools and ideas that have been used by some of the departments to show cost justification.
 

DEPARTMENT	METHOD/DATA COLLECTED
Austin	Tracks cost savings through Worker's Comp and safety office Workers' Compensation Memo
Calgary	Track worker's comp claims cost/savings and lost time of work hours
Fairfax Co.	Uses MedGate for medical database system to collect and analyze clinical and health outcome data The WFI/Cancer and Occupational Disease Database (funded by the University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Maryland) is completed; FCFRD is transfering data from their Medical Information Systems to the IAFF central database
Indianapolis	Uses OHM for medical database system to collect medical/fitness collection The WFI/Cancer and Occupational Disease Database (funded by the University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Maryland) is completed; IFD is transfering data from their Medical Information Systems to the IAFF central database
Los Angeles Co.	EBCT Scan Justification Fitness for Life Program Success Measurement of Success Why Wellness Document
New York City	Line of duty injury claims
Phoenix	Track worker's comp claims cost/savings and lost time of work hours through   the City of Phoenix Safety Division
Seattle	Had a specific cost justification report in 2007 by an outside consultant 2008 baseline medicals are in Excel, all others are in chart form Have a number of data reviews from the 2008 baseline medicals as well as information breakdowns from Workers' Comp data (since 1979) Final Report
Council Bluffs	Risk Manager tracks worker's comp claims and lost work hours
Lewiston	Department tracks worker's comp claims and expenses
Narragansett	Tracking of on-duty injuries and rehabilitation time by Safety Committee and department PFT Wellness Program Saves City Money
Orange Co. Fire Authority	Yes - program has proven to be cost reducing in terms of worker's comp claims and lost time of work hours OCFA 2008 Workers' Compensation Report WEFIT Tables and Figures WEFIT Savings
Portland	Yes, use data from Oregon Health Science University's PHLAME study and Pension/Disability Fund stats Since implementing the WFI in 2000, decreased injuries by 46 percent The Economic Impact of the WFI by Dr. Kerry Kuehl
San Diego	LDL Cholesterol Data Workers Comp Data
Snohomish County Fire District 1	Budget Worksheet
Tualatin Valley	Worker's comp claims cost/savings tracked by our worker's compensation providers and reviewed by the Districts safety committee Conduct pre-physical exams in-house vs. outside contractor; District estimates that approximately $30,000 annually saved in contractor fees