Companies looking for innovative ways to save money and increase productivity can turn to workplace wellness programs to jump-start their cost-savings plan.

A Midwestern company says organizations benefit in the long run by cultivating a more energetic work force and putting participants on the road to better health. Health Enhancement Systems, headquartered in Michigan, provides paper-based programs and materials, along with online applications, to encourage people to take charge of their health.

The company recently revamped its popular program “Get Fit on Route 66” to appeal to more potential users.

“We took one of our most popular campaigns, freshened the look and content, then added slick new features,” says Dean Witherspoon, president and founder of Health Enhancement Systems, which has created award-winning workplace wellness programs.

“Whether organizations have run this campaign before, or it’s their first time, Get Fit on Route 66 is a proven and fun way to help participants create sustainable fitness habits.”

Through an online interactive program, users can participate in activities that allow them to accumulate miles that take them on a more than 2,000-mile trip from Lake Michigan to the Pacific Ocean, along the historic highway. The program is designed for all fitness levels and includes incentives to reward participants.

The purpose, according to the company, is to give users varied activities that will eventually help fitness become a part of their everyday lives.

“Studies show that regular physical activity can help prevent weight gain, build strength, relieve stress, reduce metabolic risk factors, and manage or prevent many chronic conditions,” Witherspoon says.

In addition, the better overall health of an employee translates into higher productivity and lower medical costs for a company.

Get Fit on Route 66 also includes more than 95 virtual sightseeing destinations, a pacesetter feature, and a team competition that makes the “road trip” more challenging and exciting. Easy-to-prepare recipes, daily e-mails offering practical health tips, flexible resource links and periodic evaluations gives participants the opportunity to maximize their use of the wellness program.

Health Enhancement Systems counts nonprofits, government agencies, universities, hospitals and corporations, as well as individuals, among its clients. The company can create a custom program, from market analysis to production, or design, support and host an interactive Web site that motivates users to modify their fitness habits.

The company also specializes in consulting, making a large network of health-promotion providers, programming developers, and consulting firms available to the client.

“If we can't help you, we know someone who can,” the company says.

For more information about the company or the wellness program, visit HealthEnhancementSystems.com or GetFitonRoute66.com.