What is Gold Standard?
The Gold Standard is a workplace wellness accreditation program developed by the CEO Roundtable on Cancer that encourages and celebrates organizations committed to reducing the risk and burden of cancer among employees, families, and communities. The Gold Standard offers an evidence-based framework for organizations to provide a healthier workplace by focusing on cancer risk reduction, early detection and high-quality care.
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The Gold Standard is based on the latest scientific evidence and evolves to ensure the framework that promotes the adoption of the best benefits and policies to maximize positive health outcomes for employees, families and communities.
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Over 200 private, non-profit and government organizations, large and small, from diverse industries, have earned Gold Standard accreditation, including the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the federal government’s principal agency for cancer research and training, and many NCI- designated cancer centers.
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Why Gold?Business leaders know cancer affects their workforces, and research confirms some very sobering facts about cancer’s impact on workers and their families. But there is encouraging news: nearly half of all cancer deaths can be prevented.
As the second largest provider of health insurance coverage in the United States, employers can play a pivotal role in reducing cancer incidence and premature death. The leader of any organization, especially the Chief Executive Officer, is uniquely positioned to make a difference in the lives of their employees, their families and their communities. |
The Five Pillars Of Gold Standard |
The online Gold Standard Accreditation Application requires organizations to demonstrate their health benefits and workplace culture, including extensive, concrete actions in five key areas known as the Five Pillars:
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HEALTH EDUCATION AND NAVIGATIONJust as critical as employer-provided health benefits, policies and programs, is the need for employees to understand, access and navigate those offerings. It’s also critical that communication and engagement strategies be tailored to meet the needs of different employee populations.
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PREVENTION AND EARLY DETECTIONIn order to reduce the risk of cancer, employers must provide high value preventive care. Cancer screenings, vaccinations and the promotion of modifiable lifestyle behaviors such as tobacco-cessation, healthy eating and physical activity not only reduce the incidence of cancer, but other serious conditions such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
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ADVANCING TREATMENTWith dramatic advances in cancer care, outcomes and costs, Gold Standard organizations follow best practices to maximize value and improve outcomes for those employees diagnosed with cancer.
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SURVIVORSHIPThanks to earlier detection and improved treatments, more than half of all cancer survivors will continue to work or return to work. Further, if not facing a diagnosis themselves, many employees will find themselves caring for someone with cancer. Employers with health benefits and a work environment that address their needs are better prepared to mitigate the effects of this devastating disease.
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WELL-BEINGBeyond physical health, other factors affect an individual’s health risk and outcomes. These other determinants of health impact a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and are an essential part of the Gold Standard framework.
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