THE Heart Institute of the Caribbean Foundation (HICF) last week rolled out its 'Doctors in the Boardroom' series — a free workplace wellness programme aimed towards improving productivity levels among workers.

The programme sees doctors going into various organisations to discuss health-related issues with workers, in an effort to improve their productivity levels on the job, thereby improving the company's bottom line.

Executive director of the HICF Danielle Wilson said it is expected that the series will bring across the gravity of cardiovascular diseases, which is the leading cause of death in Jamaica.

"It is our community education initiative and it kind of fulfils part of our mission which is to educate the masses of Jamaican people about cardiovascular disease, because we feel that with that kind of knowledge we can arm them with the tools necessary to try to at least make changes to combat the disease," Wilson told Observer reporters and editors and the newspaper's weekly Monday Exchange.

The programme is scheduled to end on September 3, but Wilson said that this date could be extended if other companies have an interest. Already the HICF team has visited three companies, including the Observer, where members of staff had their weight, blood pressure and body mass index (BMI) checked by health professionals. Another seven companies are expected to benefit from the free health checks between now and September 3.

"I think if people want to come to us and ask that the programme be conducted there, then we are definitely willing to do that," said Wilson, who pointed out that her organisation hopes to introduce 'Doctors in the School', next January, to educate students about cardiovascular health.

The HICF, which is dedicated to improving access to high quality cardiovascular care in Jamaica, had partnered with the Heart Institute of the Caribbean (HIC) to carry out the medical tests.

The HICF is hoping that its visits to workplaces will help in:

* lowering medical care costs;

* lowering workers' compensation claims;

* lowering the rate of absenteeism;

* increasing productivity; and

* improving morale.

— Nadine Wilson