The passage of national health care reform legislation and the discussion of health care law at the State level have focused attention on the costs of health care and the state of health of Americans.  Reports show that the rising costs are driven by several factors including increased costs charged by hospitals, providers and pharmaceutical companies.  Many of these costs can be controlled by improving the health of the population.

At Suffolk our strategy to address the issue of rising health costs is fundamental to our future success.  Although we are limited in our ability to influence the direct cost of medical care, there are steps we can take to address some of the underlying causes of the rising costs by improving our health.  We have seen an increased focus within the higher education community on the development of ways to help faculty and staff improve their health, particularly through the Boston Consortium for Higher Education, of which Suffolk is an active participant.

In the coming months, we will be expanding our successful “SO FIT” initiative for faculty and staff to build a healthier community that is actively engaged in developing healthy behaviors that will contribute toward our success.  We will do this in concert with our insurance partner, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, and also through our ongoing participation in the Boston Consortiums health management initiatives.  This investment in our human assets will not only mitigate the challenge posed to our University community by rising health costs, but will help you and your family be well.

SO FIT Cookbook