Managing cancer at work: Johns Hopkins launches new service for all employees

Johns Hopkins Medicine has created and launched Managing Cancer at Work, a new and novel health benefit program offered free of charge for its more than 42,000 combined full-time equivalent employees. Developed by a team of Johns Hopkins Medicine staff members, several of whom are also cancer survivors, the program is designed to aid employees at risk for cancer, who have cancer, or who are caring for someone with the disease.  It offers information and guidance as well to supervisors about supporting workers who are managing employees with the disease.

Currently being piloted at Johns Hopkins and at Pitney Bowes (Stamford Connecticut), the major goal is cancer prevention, and the program is rich in education and practical tools for all employees to reduce their risk of getting cancer, and to diagnose it early when it is more likely to be curable.  For those that get cancer, Managing Cancer at Work offers personalized nurse “navigation” of cancer services and care, with Web-based education and information for employees and supervisors. All employee interactions with the program are confidential, and designed to support the employee and employer during a cancer episode.

Johns Hopkins officials note that one in two men and one in three women will face cancer in their lifetime, and for millions, disrupting not only their personal lives but also their work lives.  Frequently employees are concerned about revealing cancer status or struggle with work and treatment schedules.

“People with cancer and cancer caregivers often use significant amounts of sick time and vacation time, which can be difficult for them and for supervisors to manage,” said Patricia M.C. Brown, Esq., Johns Hopkins Senior Vice President for Managed Care and Population Health. “This program helps both the employee and manager handle work needs as productively and efficiently as possible while compassionately reacting to personal and health needs of the employee,” she said.

All Johns Hopkins employees received the program free of charge in their 2015 benefits package, and Johns Hopkins also is marketing the program.  Pitney Bowes joined the pilot program in October, 2014, and currently has 10,000 employees with access to the program in sites across the US. "My goal is to connect all employees and managers with these experts. Employees are accessing the web based information as well as connecting with the nurse navigator. The praise and 'thank yous' we've already gotten from employees who have connected with the nurse navigator prove that this is a high value program," says Mary Bradley, director of health-plan strategy at the Pitney Bowes offices in Shelton, Conn.

While cancer affects about 1-2% of the working population each year, it accounts for 10-15% of the health care costs for employers annually.  And, later retirement age makes it more likely that employers will be bearing the cost of the cancer treatment for their employees.  This cost includes not only the direct health care costs, but the additional expense of lost time, presenteeism (at work but spending time searching the internet for information) and disability expenses.  Caring for a loved one with cancer is a tremendous burden on the workforce as well.

According to Terry Langbaum, chief administrative officer of the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, and one of the program’s lead developers, “Managing Cancer at Work has been designed as a low-cost, high-impact employee benefit program that enables organizations to help their employees prevent cancer, recognize the early warning signs of the disease, and understand and manage cancer treatment. This approach keeps employees informed, engaged, and feeling supported during difficult times.”

Better cancer management for employees is good business

Langbaum and colleague Lillie Shockney pioneered the program’s development following personal and professional experiences with cancer in the workplace. Langbaum recognized that employees who could work during treatment often do not, due to a lack of workplace support. Issues range from understanding existing benefits and communicating with co-workers to finding alternate working arrangements that allow for more time at home while undergoing therapy or caring for someone in treatment.

“We are changing the way people think about coping with cancer,” said Lillie Shockney, two-time cancer survivor, director of cancer survivorship programs at the Kimmel Cancer Center, and administrative director of the Johns Hopkins Breast Center. “Employers and employees don’t need to be at odds with each other but it takes a thoughtful approach and new ways of approaching work. Successful work-life transitions happen when both sides cooperate and have new resources to draw upon,” she added.

Managing Cancer at Work offers:

• Web based portal for employees, with individualized tools on cancer screening, cancer prevention and early detection, managing work and a cancer diagnosis, and in-depth information to learn what to expect from treatment and survivorship
• Support and education for those caring for a loved one with cancer while working
• Johns Hopkins cancer nurse navigator to guide employees
• Supervisor’s and manager’s portal and toolkit for creating a supportive environment and to assure a workplace that is compliant with the law and human resources policies and procedures
• An online cancer educational program developed by the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center with links to community based support services for cancer patients

Johns Hopkins Managing Cancer at Work was developed in collaboration with Blue Rush, a digital solutions company based in Canada.

On the Web:

• Learn more about Managing Cancer at Work
• Watch Nelson’s story as he cares for his child

Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM), headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, is a $7 billion integrated global health enterprise and one of the leading academic health care systems in the United States. JHM unites physicians and scientists of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine with the organizations, health professionals and facilities of The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System. JHM's vision, “Together, we will deliver the promise of medicine,” is supported by its mission to improve the health of the community and the world by setting the standard of excellence in medical education, research and clinical care. Diverse and inclusive, JHM educates medical students, scientists, health care professionals and the public; conducts biomedical research; and provides patient-centered medicine to prevent, diagnose and treat human illness. JHM operates six academic and community hospitals, four suburban health care and surgery centers, and 39 primary and specialty care outpatient sites under the umbrella of Johns Hopkins Community Physicians. The Johns Hopkins Hospital, opened in 1889, has been ranked number one in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for 22 years of the survey’s 25 year history, most recently in 2013. For more information about Johns Hopkins Medicine, its research, education and clinical programs, and for the latest health, science and research news, visit www.hopkinsmedicine.org.

Source: www.hopkinsmedicine.org