Cost of Headaches in the Workplace

Productivity Impact Model

A 5-step "Productivity Impact Model", as utilized by the Keeler Migraine Center at Ojai Valley Community Hospital, is an effective way to 'pencil out' the amount of time and money lost due to migraine in any given workplace.

• Step 1 estimates the prevalence of migraine in your company based on its size, type of industry, geographic location and your employee age/gender breakdown.
• Step 2 uses an estimate of 8 days per year lost due to migraine and total compensation for employees in your company (wages and benefits) to graphically present an annualized estimate of lost workday equivalents due to migraine.
• Step 3 divides the employee workforce into diagnosed (48%) and undiagnosed (52%) groups prior to performing any calculations -- then examines the treatment on 85% of the diagnosed group and 65% of the undiagnosed group.
• Step 4 displays separate costs for those who are already taking and benefiting from triptans (10%) and those who are not on triptans but will benefit from taking them. The totals from these groups are used to present a net benefit figure for triptan treatment.
• Step 5 presents the cumulative treatment benefits for a 3-year time frame.
  Efficient migraine management has become quite sophisticated. There are very good, very specific treatments now available 0that have minimal side effects. In addition to appropriate medical interventions, these include traditional ways to deal with migraine pain, as well as a variety of natural and holistic measures. "What matters most," underscores Dr. Cowan, "is providing the most effective, customized treatment for the individual migraine patient."