Opening a wellness center is a major milestone for any employer or union. Leading up to go-live, generating excitement about the new wellness center will be critical to setting the stage for its long-term success. But once the ribbon is cut and the doors are opened, that\u2019s when the real work begins \u2013 building on your existing communications, creating engagement, driving utilization, lowering healthcare costs, and making an impact for your members.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Wellness center engagement is what drives real success, turning your investment into meaningful outcomes. High engagement with your new wellness center<\/span> means employees can address issues sooner with primary care, reducing long-term costs and driving greater savings and ROI. Read on for three key member engagement<\/span> strategies to implement after opening an onsite or nearsite wellness center.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Gone are the days of \u201cbuild it and they will come.\u201d If employees don\u2019t know the wellness center exists (or aren\u2019t sure how to use it) they won\u2019t engage. But let’s be clear: You should have a communication strategy <\/span>before <\/span><\/i>your doors even open.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n While your communications strategy should ramp up once the wellness center opens, employees should be aware of the wellness center months in advance. That means announcing the center and its services early \u2013 and often! Whether that’s posting sneak peek pictures of the construction site on your social media, using clear signage on campus, or sending out updates in internal channels, spread the word!\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Your communication strategy should also:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This approach builds anticipation and reduces confusion, two key ingredients for early adoption.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To drive meaningful wellness center engagement,<\/span> show employees how your center <\/span>fits into their everyday lives<\/span><\/a>. One way to do this is by marketing your wellness center services as part of seasonal health campaigns<\/span> or trending health needs. Offer flu shots in the fall, recommunicate mental health resources during high-stress seasons, run biometric screenings at the start of the year to kick off healthy habits, and take advantage of Open Enrollment \u2014 when employees are already making decisions about healthcare benefits \u2014 to remind them about their access to the wellness center and services.<\/span><\/p>\n Another step is to host <\/span>member events<\/span><\/a> that fit seamlessly into the workday.<\/span> Whether it\u2019s an open house, a provider meet-and-greet, or an annual health fair, these events should create connections and break down barriers to trying new services.<\/span><\/p>\n Don’t stop at events! Use email campaigns, health center websites, webinars, or newsletters to keep wellness top-of-mind and give your people ongoing reasons to engage as they go about their day-to-day life. In 2024, a market research firm found that 70% of members with access to employer-provided healthcare prefer to receive information at least monthly regarding their benefit \u2014 reinforcing that cadenced communications will drive utilization of available services. One nonnegotiable is building a dedicated website just for your health center, making engagement truly convenient and allowing employees to explore services, book appointments, and find resources.<\/span><\/p>\n If it happened and you didn\u2019t track it, did it happen at all? Don\u2019t just launch the center and move on; track utilization and engagement. It all goes back to data and how you leverage your healthcare engagement metrics.<\/span><\/p>\n Start by using your data to segment your outreach to different groups in your population, such as new hires, pre-engaged members (i.e., those who have not yet used the center), caregivers, or those in need of chronic condition management. People are more likely to read and engage with your campaign\u2019s content when the messaging is relevant to their life and healthcare journey.<\/span><\/p>\n Then, track what\u2019s working using metrics like appointment bookings, portal signups, and campaign engagement. Be sure to review your analytics to inform strategic decision making, such as adding an additional provider if a type of care is highly utilized. Let engagement data guide your strategy, not the other way around.<\/span><\/p>\n A successful wellness center launch is about more than timelines and checklists; it\u2019s about creating a health experience people want to be part of. When employees feel connected to their wellness center, they don\u2019t just use it \u2014 they rely on it. That\u2019s when your investment pays off with healthier people, lower costs, and a stronger culture of care.<\/span><\/p>\n If you need a partner to help with communications, campaigns, and engagement strategies that resonate, Premise\u2019s member marketing and experience teams can support you in bringing your center to life and ensuring it delivers lasting value. As it turns out, employees want to hear from us: nearly 80% <\/span>said they want to hear directly from Premise about their wellness center.<\/span><\/p>\n Q: When should I start communicating about my new wellness center?<\/span><\/b> Q: What internal teams should be involved in promoting my wellness center?<\/span><\/b> Q: How do you measure ROI from employee wellness programs?<\/span><\/b> Q: What kind of benefits messaging resonates most with employees?<\/span><\/b> Q: What are best practices for promoting onsite health centers?<\/span><\/b> Q: How can unions promote member health engagement?<\/span><\/b>Step 1: Build Awareness Before You Open \u2014 Make the Center Impossible to Miss<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n
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Step 2: Connect Care to What Matters \u2014 Turn Services into Everyday Solutions<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n
Step 3: Stay Dynamic with Data \u2014 Let Insights Drive Engagement<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n
Don\u2019t Just Open the Doors \u2013 Invite Them In<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n
Q&A: Your Top Wellness Center Engagement Questions, Answered<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n
A: <\/span><\/b>Two words: Start early. If you wait until your wellness center opens to announce its presence, you\u2019re too late. We recommend creating a communications strategy approximately six to nine months before your center opens. That gives you enough time to generate awareness, build excitement, and set your people up for a wellness center experience that leaves them coming back for more.<\/span><\/p>\n
A: <\/span><\/b>Involve HR, internal communications, department leaders, and any wellness or culture champions as you promote your wellness center. These teams can help cascade information through trusted channels and embed center utilization into everyday employee touchpoints.<\/span><\/p>\n
A:<\/span><\/b> Measuring ROI from employee wellness programs comes from both health and business outcomes. Track preventive screenings, chronic condition management, and utilization, alongside reductions in absenteeism, healthcare claims, and overall costs.<\/span><\/p>\n
A:<\/span><\/b> Keep benefits messaging personal, clear, and focused. Employees want to know what their healthcare benefits can do for them \u2014 whether it’s faster access to care, lower costs, or convenience. Avoid jargon and focus on how your benefits support their real-life needs.<\/span><\/p>\n
A:<\/span><\/b> Treat your center like any other benefit \u2014 it needs ongoing communication. Promote your onsite health center during onboarding and company-wide campaigns, use multiple channels (email, posters, intranet, digital screens), host member events, and highlight convenience and affordability. Sharing real member success stories also builds trust and drives engagement.<\/span><\/p>\n
A:<\/span><\/b> Unions can promote member health engagement by framing health benefits as part of their commitment to <\/span>member wellbeing<\/span><\/a>. They can host info sessions at meetings, negotiate time for appointments, and share testimonials from members. Linking wellness to union values like solidarity and support makes engagement stronger.<\/span><\/p>\n