Corporate Health Coaching

Companies looking for ways to cut health care costs are increasingly investing in health coaching for employees. Health coaches counsel employees by phone or online with tobacco cessation, weight management, nutrition, physical fitness, stress management and more, all as part of a corporate wellness program.

Health data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that the health care costs of people with chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease make up more than 75 percent of the nation’s $2 trillion+ health care tab.

“Corporate health coaching is an effective way to actively engage, educate and motivate employees who otherwise may not respond to conventional, passive forms of communication regarding their health and wellness,” said Jeff Brizzolara, Chief Clinical Officer of Viverae, a corporate wellness provider.  Health coaching promotes behavioral changes that lead to healthier lifestyles for wellness program members, which can in turn reduce the onset or worsening of chronic diseases. Successful efforts today can prevent costly medical treatment in the future. As an added bonus, a healthy worker is more productive and less likely to miss work due to illness.

Health coaches provide guidance, motivation and accountability to both the employees and the employer, in much the same way a sports coach teaches the team players and holds them accountable to higher standards. Corporate health coaching is designed to maximize the potential success of each employee in meeting their personal wellness goals. Importantly, however, this allows employees to work on what they’re willing to work on now, rather than just being told “you have to do it this way.” In other words, the employee designs his or her wellness plan in a way that works best by choosing:

·    Individual wellness goals

·    The way they want to interact with their coach: phone or e-mail

·    The coaching dynamic that’s right for them... encouragement through cheerleading or tough like their former football coach/dance instructor...it’s their choice

In order for both employers and employees to see the true benefits of wellness programs, employees must remain engaged and held accountable to their customized plan. Most organizations implement corporate wellness programs that have an educational and awareness component; however, if employees only become aware of the healthy lifestyle decisions but do not engage in them, then the programs are not producing a healthier workforce and, in turn, are not containing health care costs.

Employees enjoy the opportunity of being able to interact with their coach in different mediums. Whether they choose to be coached over the phone or via email an employee feels comfortable using the vehicle of their choice to engage with their Coach. An added benefit is that the engagement does not happen in a clinical environment but rather in real life and real time. This gives employees an opportunity to put assignments from their coach into action immediately.

A Wellness Coach focuses on each employee’s personal wellness goals. While part of a plan may include encouragement and accountability for complying with basic protocols for a certain condition, which may only be one aspect of the overall health goals of the employee. For some employees, getting healthier may mean that an employee is working towards being there to enjoy and support their grandchildren’s growth and development. For others it may mean being able to buy the latest designer clothes and feel good in them.

In all cases, a coach’s goal is to move employees toward a healthier state of being through whatever avenue works best for the employee. In the end, corporate health coaching looks across the entire organization’s workforce to find how to help protect and improve the return on that most important of investments — its people.    

Viverae is a health management company that offers cost-effective solutions delivered by experienced health professionals and supported with robust technology. We supply the power for a unique, customized solution that helps people live healthy lives today and prevent health problems tomorrow. Our solutions are designed to involve all employees in order to create a workplace where both physical change and improvement to an organization’s bottom line can be seen.. But more than anything, we empower employees to benefit from the knowledge gained to live healthier lives and reduce their medical costs. For more information, visit us online at www.viverae.com.