The Hidden Heart Risk Putting Pressure On Hospitals and Health Systems

Key Takeaways

• Heart disease is driving costs: Employers are increasingly ranking cardiovascular disease as a top-three cost driver.
  
  
• Hospital jobs increase heart risk: Shift work, stress, and burnout are silently fueling cardiovascular decline among healthcare workers.

• HR can drive prevention: Early action — like flexible benefits, heart health tools, and personalized coaching — can reduce risk and protect staff well-being.

Healthcare workers keep hospitals running—and patients alive. However, the people delivering care often struggle with their health. Heart disease, in particular, is quietly taking a toll on the workforce. It drains energy, increases absenteeism, and raises costs. HR leaders don't have the luxury of waiting this out.

Heart health is already affecting your workforce. You need to act now.

Heart Health Impacts Your Bottom Line

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is more than a patient problem; it's an organizational risk. According to the Business Group on Health, 40% of large employers see CVD as one of their top three cost drivers, behind only cancer and musculoskeletal conditions. That's up from 30% the previous two years. 

And the financial impact quickly accumulates. The American Heart Association predicts that heart disease healthcare costs will rise to $1.49 trillion over the next decade. For health systems, especially those that are self-insured, these costs hit close to home. When staff health declines, you feel it in claims data, scheduling gaps, and declining morale.
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The Nature of the Job Is Raising the Risk

Hospital employees face unique cardiovascular risks that stem directly from how healthcare is delivered.

Consider shift work. One study found people with high blood pressure who regularly worked night shifts had a 16% higher risk of developing additional cardiometabolic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease.

Disrupted sleep, irregular meal patterns, and elevated stress levels all contribute to the issue. Add in the pressure of caring for patients under intense conditions, and the result is a slow-burn recipe for burnout.

Over time, stress can wear down the body. Research shows a clear connection between burnout and declining cardiovascular health among medical professionals. It raises blood pressure, disrupts sleep, and worsens other health conditions.

This heightened heart risk takes a heavy toll on humans and operational costs. As heart health declines, the ripple effects hit productivity, absenteeism, and employee retention. In addition to  missed shifts and last-minute schedule changes, heart risk also leads to more insurance claims in a system already stretched thin by staff shortages and financial issues.
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Heart Health Strategies for HR Leaders in Healthcare

Most cardiovascular diseases are preventable. The World Heart Federation says that early detection and lifestyle changes can prevent up to 80% of heart issues. That's where you come in.

Here's how HR and benefit teams can take meaningful action:

• Expand existing wellness programs: Make sure the programs cover cardiovascular-specific risks, including blood pressure, stress, and medication adherence.
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• Account for shift schedules: Build flexibility into your benefits design. Ensure workers have access to preventive health services outside of standard business hours.
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• Raise awareness on women’s health: Symptoms show up differently in women than in men. Fatigue, sleep disruption, or back pain could signal something more serious.
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• Offer tools for real-time health tracking: Equip employees with helpful tools that enable them to spot problems early.
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Where Hello Heart Can Help

Hello Heart is a practical tool for high-risk, high-impact workers. It fits right into everyday life and is more than just a shiny HR add-on.

Blood Pressure and Heart Risk Monitoring

The FDA-cleared Hello Heart Monitor allows staff to check numbers at home, after rounds, or between shifts — no clinic appointment required. Data from the monitor syncs automatically with the Hello Heart App. 

Clear and Actionable Insights

Health data can be dense, even for healthcare professionals. Hello Heart breaks down clinical data into simple, actionable insights.

Medication Management 

Smart reminders help employees stick to care plans, even during high-stress periods or unpredictable schedules. The sleek, connected Hello Heart Pill Box adds an extra layer of support by making medication management easy and trackable. 

Personalized In-App Coaching

In-app guidance shows what each number means and what to do next. So, users aren't just tracking; they're learning right away. Over time, they connect the dots between their day-to-day behaviors and trends in their health data. 

Take Care of Your People

You don't need more data to know that your people are stressed. You see it in every department, on every floor. It’s time to address this crisis before it costs more lives and drains millions from your budget. 

Invest in heart health now, and you protect the very people who keep your health care system healthy.
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Next Steps

➡️ Read how health systems like VHC Health are supporting the hearts of healthcare workers and saving $2,834 per member per year. 

➡️ To explore how Hello Heart fits into your wellness strategy, request a demo here. 

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