AUGUSTA -- Employees at MaineGeneral Health will see no increase in their share of health insurance premiums this year, and hospital administrators expect to spend $900,000 less in health care costs.

Cianbro Companies, based in Pittsfield, has saved more than $4 million in health care costs over the past three years.

Workers at Duratherm Window Corporation, of Vassalboro, have significantly reduced their own health risks over the past years.

All three groups point to a workplace wellness program -- instituted in conjunction with Occupational Medical Consulting LLC, of Leeds -- as the reason for their success in cost containment.

The principals from Cianbro and Duratherm are scheduled to speak about the improvements at a half-day seminar Dec. 2 at the Maine Principals Association building, 50 Industrial Drive, Augusta.

The presentation is cohosted by MaineGeneral Medical Center's workplace health division and Occupational Medical Consulting.

"We're working together to spread the message of workplace health," said Mark Ishkanian, communication manager for Occupational Medical Consulting.

The firm's founder and medical director Dr. Larry Catlett -- "a noted national leader on workplace wellness programs and the role that prevention can play in saving a business money and improving productivity" -- will speak, Ishkanian said.

Sharon Crowe, marketing & customer relationship manager at Workplace Health, a division of MaineGeneral Medical Center, said the medical care provider has had the workplace wellness program, which assesses medical and lifestyle health risks, in place for three to four years at all its locations.

"It's not a decision that was taken lightly," Crowe said.

More than 2,000 people have taken part in it throughout the MaineGeneral system.

"A lot of people have made significant changes," she said. "They quit smoking, get more exercise and lose weight and even positively impact their spouse's health."

Participation is voluntary, and some individuals receive one-on-one coaching from nurses.

"We use nurses because we have nurses and nurses are educators," Crowe said.

Each person's health risk factors are assessed and classified as low, medium or high. Questions reveal what's important to the person, and a coach can help address those areas.

The wellness program's goal, Ishkanian said, is to encourage low-risk people to continue making healthy choices, and to help reduce the factors for those in the higher risk categories.

"People have to start making the connection between lifestyle choices and what we get when we get older in terms of diseases," Ishkanian said.

He said some businesses use the service to try to gain some control over health care costs.

"A wellness program may cost some money, but it can stabilize health care costs," Ishkanian said.

At the Dec. 2 meeting, Cianbro board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Pete Vigue will talk about his companies' experience with the wellness program; and Todd Bachelder, chief operating officer of Duratherm, will offer his company's perspective.

Information about the program, "Taking Charge of Your Company's Heathcare Dollar$," and about tickets, which are $35 per person, is available from Occupational Medical Consulting at 524-2411, ext. 3207 or from Crowe at 872-4455.

Betty Adams -- 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com