Companies are realizing the fiscal and humanistic values of a corporate wellness program and have included this in their business plan to provide healthy lifestyle opportunities for their employees. One wellness component that BaySport has offered for our corporate clients since the mid-80’s is a worksite health screening or biometric testing program that may include testing for blood lipids (Total Cholesterol, HDL-Cholesterol, Total Cholesterol/HDL Ratio, LDL-Cholesterol, and Triglycerides), blood sugar (glucose), body mass index, and blood pressure. An online, confidential Health Risk Assessment (HRA) generally follows in order to collect personal health information to evaluate the participant’s health risk. However, more and more, companies are not stopping there to support healthy behaviors among their employees. It is becoming more apparent that follow-up services to reduce the participant’s risk factors can have significant value for the participant and the corporate bottom line.
Health Coaching (Intervention Program)
To be more effective, many corporations are now using the health screening as a precursor to identify those employees who are eligible for health coaching. Health coaching can take many forms of an intervention for someone who may have biometric test results that are out of range or at high risk. The goal of this program is to address and then modify the individual’s behavior to improve their health. Jessica Tillery, a BaySport Wellness Program Manager, states, “The health coach works with the individual to target specific goals to improve their health. A variety of factors are considered, like the participant’s work environment, schedule, and life away from the office. A comprehensive plan may include the following components:
- Initial consultation – Meet in-person, by phone or virtual meeting to review current fitness and nutrition habits and set goals.
- Support – Provide participant regular emails with relevant educational materials and encouragement.
- Three month follow-up – Re-test the participant’s blood lipids, blood pressure and/or weight (depending on areas of concern) to measure compliance. Session includes discussion and follow-up action plan.
- Six month follow-up – Review participant’s progress and set long term goals.”
Throughout the course of the program, the health coach makes him/herself accessible to answer participant questions and for motivational support. The participant is then engaged and sees the value of modifying his/her behavior. It is this team approach towards healthy changes that is the basis for success.
The Bottom Line
Employers are searching for relief of rising health care costs and though many already have wellness programs in place, more are realizing the value of adding health coaching to the employees’ program options for continued support. According to “Workset: The Value of Health Coaching” booklet, organizations who integrated health coaching within their respective population health management programs had the following outcomes:
- Participation rates in coaching programs were 1.41 times higher
- Program completion rates were 1.71 times higher
- Health risk reduction rates were 2.35 times higher 1
It’s much easier for an individual to stay engaged in any program if he/she has partners that are supportive. For the health coach, his/her goal is for their participant to complete the program and “cross the finish line.” Those corporations who have integrated this program into their wellness offerings have seen the benefits: better numbers and happier employees.
Written by: Leslie Peyton Czarny
As Director of Corporate Communications for BaySport, Leslie Czarny oversees BaySport’s Business Communications – marketing, design, special events, quality assurance, and public relations. With a special interest in health, fitness and sport performance, Leslie obtained a Bachelors degree in Kinesiology. She has continued her professional education through courses in business communications, marketing, web design and social media. When out of the office, Leslie enjoys staying active and teaming with her husband, Mike, to teach their two young children the importance of good health and having fun.
Reference:
1 Center for Value Based Management (2009). Workset®: The Value of Health Coaching. www.centervbhm.com. August 1, 2011, www.centervbhm.com/pdf/…/MCF098_value_health_coach_booklet.pdf