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LifeCare®'s Corporate Lactation Program Results Exceed Healthy People 2010 Objectives

This release shares details about the ways in which LifeCare's Corporate Lactation Program is helping organizations exceed Healthy People 2010 Objectives, reduce medical expenses, and lower absenteeism and turnover.

Shelton, CT (PRWEB) June 23, 2009 -- LifeCare®, Inc., a leading provider of health and productivity solutions for employers nationwide, announced today that its Mothers at Work corporate lactation program consistently helps clients achieve breastfeeding results that exceed the Healthy People 2010 objectives created by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Specifically, 71% of the women who use LifeCare's Mothers at Work program breastfeed for six months or more, while the Healthy People 2010 objective is for 50% of mothers to breastfeed for six months. (According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the national average of women who breastfeed for six months is just 41.9%.) Thirty percent of women who use LifeCare's program breastfeed for one year, while the Healthy People 2010 objective is for 25% to breastfeed for a year.

Offering employees LifeCare's Mothers at Work program makes tremendous sense for all of these reasons but it also makes sense for its substantial impact to the bottom line

For every dollar our clients spend on Mothers at Work, they realize an average savings of more than seven dollars. These are direct savings related to lower maternal absenteeism rates, lower medical claims and reduced pharmacy costs.

- Babies in the program are healthier: 72% of program participants have two or fewer sick baby doctor visits, compared to a national average of 3.6.
- Participants are absent less: 72% of participants took less than three days off to care for a sick baby.
- Loyalty and morale are higher: 96% of participants said the program increased their loyalty toward their employer as well as their morale.
- Breastfeeding is less stressful: 88% of participants say the program made it less stressful to continue breastfeeding.
- Breastfeeding mothers are more successful: 80% of participants agree or strongly agree that the program made them more successful at breastfeeding.

"Offering employees LifeCare's Mothers at Work program makes tremendous sense for all of these reasons but it also makes sense for its substantial impact to the bottom line," said Peter G. Burki, LifeCare's CEO. "For every dollar our clients spend on Mothers at Work, they realize an average savings of more than seven dollars. These are direct savings related to lower maternal absenteeism rates, lower medical claims and reduced pharmacy costs."

Burki points out that support for workplace breastfeeding is growing among employers for several reasons. Employer medical costs, for example, are lower for breastfed infants, as they typically need fewer sick care visits, prescriptions, and hospitalizations. In addition, productivity is higher among breastfeeding mothers because their infants are sick less often; as a result, these mothers are absent less often. Employer medical costs also drop due to the health benefits of breastfeeding to infants and mothers.

The Mothers at Work program delivers expert, 24/7 assistance from LifeCare's Board Certified Lactation Consultants; discounted breast pumps and a free subsidy administration program; access to prenatal and breastfeeding seminars and worksite classes; and a Mothers at Work Kit that contains a wealth of helpful products and educational information to help mothers and infants successfully manage all of the challenges of breastfeeding.

About LifeCare®, Inc.
LifeCare is a leading provider of health and productivity solutions for employers nationwide, offering cost-saving benefits that help clients reduce their most pervasive absenteeism and productivity drains, including child and elder care, caregiving support, health and wellness issues, and more. For more than two decades, LifeCare has led the work/life industry in the creation of high-quality, results-oriented programs designed to improve clients' bottom lines. LifeCare serves 1,500 client companies with 4.5 million individuals within corporations, health plans, government agencies and unions. For more information, visit www.lifecare.com.

Notes to Editors:
Peter G. Burki is available for interview.
Media Contact: Michael Civiello; 203-291-3756

This press release was distributed through eMediawire by Human Resources Marketer (HR Marketer: www.HRmarketer.com) on behalf of the company listed above.

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