AUGUSTA – Improving employee health can improve the bottom line is the message of a statewide conference on workplace wellness to be held on Thursday, Oct. 19, at the Augusta Civic Center.

“The business case for workplace wellness” is part of the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Healthcare Leadership Series, Reversing the Tide: Creating a Healthier Maine.

Dee Eddington, PhD, director of the Health Management Research Center at the University of Michigan, will open the conference, and Michael O’Donnell, PhD, president and editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Health Promotion, will speak in the afternoon.

A panel of Maine businesspeople also will discuss how workplace wellness programs have benefited their companies and their employees. Panelists include Cianbro’s Pete Vigue, whose corporate wellness program has received national recognition, Dan Dauphinee, operating manager, Northeast Log Homes, and Kathi Teel of the Bangor Regional Wellness Council and co-owner of the Castine Boat Co.

Dr. Larry Catlett of Occupational Medical Consulting in Leeds and medical director of the Cianbro wellness program will speak about changing behavior as a key to improving employee health. Afternoon breakout sessions will include tracks on how to start a workplace wellness program and ways to improve programs that are already in place.

The conference brochure and online registration are available at www.anthem.com/maine/conference. The conference is open to all participants but space is limited and pre-registration is required by Oct. 13.