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Bryan fire department says wellness program cut light‑duty time and workers'‑comp costs
Summary
Assistant Fire Chief Jason Noorin told council a three‑year Alinea/Allynia wellness and on‑site physical‑therapy program reduced average light‑duty days from 125 to 12 and produced material workers'‑comp savings; council approved continued participation.
Assistant Fire Chief Jason Noorin told the Bryan City Council that a three‑year wellness partnership with Alinea (also referenced as Allynia) has sharply reduced injuries and worker‑comp costs in the fire department and that staff seeks to continue the program.
"Before we brought Allynia in, the average amount of days on light duty for a workers' comp injury was 125 days," Noorin said. "When we brought in Allynia...your time on light duty was just 12 days." He also cited a "360% cost reduction in workers' compensation non‑surgical claims," an average savings of about $3,400 per claim, a 15% reduction in diabetic risk among employees and a 30% reduction in cardiovascular disease risk according to the department’s data.
Noorin described program components that include on‑site physical therapy, monthly wellness education, functional movement screening and tailored exercise plans; the program also provides quicker in‑house treatment to speed recovery and return to duty. Council members praised the results both for personnel health and taxpayer savings and approved the consent motion to continue the program.
Council members asked questions about expanding access; one council member noted the program’s availability to other city departments and the potential for broader employee health benefits. Noorin said the department continues to seek grant funding to sustain and expand the program.
