Or better yet, being able to visit the gym, hit the shower and go to work, all in one building. And if you don't feel well, you could visit a company doctor or nurse in the same building.

How about getting a discount on your health insurance premium if you quit smoking or lose weight? Or perhaps enjoy a heart-healthy meal in the company cafeteria at a reduced price?

Those are not simply pie-in-the-sky ideas. They are among the many strategies companies in South Florida and around the nation have implemented to reduce the ever-growing cost of providing health care for employees.

While those costs have moderated over the last few years, they continue to rise at a worrisome rate. That places more pressure on employers to improve employee health, reduce claims and eventually lower health-related expenses.

This year, for example, 33 percent of 440 employers in the Southeast told Aon Consulting that medical plan rates increased between 5 and 10 percent. Another 17 percent said they experienced increases between 10 and 12 percent.

With similar increases expected next year, "We're seeing more and more wellness initiatives on the part of companies," said Bruce Shanefield, an Aon vice president in Miami who deals with community and employee health issues.

"Organizations know that maybe 2 percent of their membership is driving 50 percent of their costs," Shanefield said. "That's why it's so important to improve the health of the people with the greatest risks."

And it doesn't matter if you're big or small -- there are opportunities for everyone to implement wellness programs, said Maribeth Rouseff, assistant vice president for community and employee health at Baptist Health South Florida.

"Whether you're taking a little first step or implementing a large-scale program, it's important to do something," Rouseff said. As a hospital company, she said, "We were doing all kinds of screenings for other people, but then we realized we should be doing this for our own employees."

In the 11,000-worker Baptist Health system, workers have free use of fitness centers at the organization's five hospitals and corporate headquarters. They also can buy a discounted healthy meal at any of the system's cafeterias.

And they are offered free health screenings twice a year to monitor cholesterol, glucose levels, blood pressure, bone density and body fat ratio. More than half of the workers participated last year.

"We identified several employees with dangerously high blood pressure levels," Rouseff said, adding that Baptist Health will conduct 19 health fairs this year, some for families and friends of employees.

Like many companies that are implementing the idea, Baptist Health encourages employees to take a health risk assessment that looks at family history, risk factors and eating and exercise habits. In exchange for participating, workers are given a $10,000 survivors' benefit -- like a life insurance policy -- good for one year, until the next health risk assessment is due.

"The health risk assessment is a major tool in disease management -- it helps us target where to follow up," said Walt Cherniak, a spokesman for health insurer Aetna.

While employers don't see information on specific employees, the risk assessment protocol sometimes allows nurses for the company's insurer to call workers and assist with health issues. Some companies don't want that service; they simply want to get an overall picture of employee health, Cherniak said.

At the Eastern Financial Florida Credit Union, based in Miramar, employees can attend Weight Watchers meetings and exercise classes on site. The classes, priced at $45 for 10 sessions, are customized to meet employees' desires and can include anything from Pilates to yoga to kickboxing.

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