Kenneth MacDonald – Benefits Canada.com

Expert panel: Digital health solutions take a holistic approach to patient care

Jennifer Paterson — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 13:00:40 +0000

Various forms of digital health care have been available in Canada for several years, but I’d argue nothing has accelerated the awareness, need and adoption of these services more than the current coronavirus pandemic. No one has been untouched by this pandemic, which has compelled us to rethink our previous ways of doing things in […]

The post Expert panel: Digital health solutions take a holistic approach to patient care appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.

Expert panel: Supporting employees’ mental health a marathon, not a sprint

mdunne — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 13:00:11 +0000

Anyone who’s ever run a marathon or completed an endurance race or trek knows the last few miles are the hardest, both physically and mentally. For most Canadians, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has been a marathon of sorts and, although we appear to be getting closer to the end, the finish line keeps moving. While […]

The post Expert panel: Supporting employees’ mental health a marathon, not a sprint appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.

Pandemic blurring work-life lines a recipe for employee burnout

mschmit — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 04:45:38 +0000

Even before the coronavirus pandemic, technology was blurring the lines between work and home life. An unhealthy attachment to our mobile phones made it easy to get lured back into our work worlds when we were supposed to be on vacation, socializing with family and friends or just enjoying some downtime. During the pandemic, millions […]

The post Pandemic blurring work-life lines a recipe for employee burnout appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.

Time for more hands-on management of massage therapy benefits?

mschmit — Tue, 14 May 2019 04:45:58 +0000

Most people agree massage offers some therapeutic benefits, such as reduction of muscle tension and pain related to soft tissue strains and injuries. Studies have also shown it’s helpful in treating symptoms related to anxiety, digestive disorders, headaches and several other conditions. It wasn’t that long ago that paramedical practitioners represented about 15 to 20 per […]

The post Time for more hands-on management of massage therapy benefits? appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.

Five benefits trends and issues to watch in 2019

mschmit — Mon, 31 Dec 2018 04:00:57 +0000

For most of my 25 years in the benefits industry, the pace of change has been more evolutionary than revolutionary. However, the past few years have seen a noticeable expansion of innovation and services offered through benefits plan providers. Here are my top five picks for benefits trends and issues to watch in 2019: 1. Virtual health […]

The post Five benefits trends and issues to watch in 2019 appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.

Take a psychological perspective when helping employees manage chronic pain

mschmit — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 13:00:28 +0000

One in every five Canadian suffers from some form of chronic pain, a condition that often — though not always —starts with an injury or illness and lasts more than three months or beyond the normal recovery period. With so many Canadians suffering from chronic pain, one would assume its treatment would be well understood in […]

The post Take a psychological perspective when helping employees manage chronic pain appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.

Rising drug costs a source of pain? There’s a tiered formulary for that

mschmit — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 10:01:14 +0000

Anyone who’s ever suffered from chronic pain will tell you it’s a great motivator. When you’re in pain, you’ll go to great lengths and will try just about anything to eliminate or reduce it. I know that from experience. The rising cost of prescription drugs is becoming a persistent source of pain for many employers. For some, […]

The post Rising drug costs a source of pain? There’s a tiered formulary for that appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.

Employers face hard questions until national drug program becomes reality

mschmit — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 15:30:11 +0000

I remember when employers were concerned about the potential impact of a little blue pill called Viagra that came with an annual price tag of about $1,200. In those days, $1,200 would have been a high-cost drug. In 2017, that seems like a bargain, as today’s specialty drugs cost tens of thousands of dollars per patient per year. For […]

The post Employers face hard questions until national drug program becomes reality appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.

Look beyond plan design and expenses to control benefit costs

mschmit — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 05:47:07 +0000

Achieving success at anything doesn’t just happen. In his 2008 book Outliers, Malcom Gladwell suggested the biggest contributing factor to success among those who are masters in their fields is practice — 10,000 hours of it, to be specific. If you ask employers with a thriving, well-managed benefits program what their secret to success is, […]

The post Look beyond plan design and expenses to control benefit costs appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.

Freedom of choice may be coming to an end in drug plans

mschmit — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 05:29:56 +0000

The 21st century is a smorgasbord of endless abundance and choice. Growing up in the 1970s and ’80s, strawberries were only available in season and, if the local record store had sold out of the new hit album, you’d have to wait by the radio for hours to hear the single. These days, people can […]

The post Freedom of choice may be coming to an end in drug plans appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.