Why offer Health Coaching as part of your workplace wellness programs? What kind of results can be expected? Is coaching really necessary? Read this blog to find out.
This is Part 8 of a 10-part Must Have blog series on: Health Coaching and Education.
By now, most companies have bought into workplace wellness in one form or another. Employers know that a healthy workforce is a happy and productive workforce. Not to mention that it may reduce the health care costs as a result of disease (Bloom, D.E. et al. 2011). However, some employers stop short of offering a comprehensive wellness program that includes health coaching.
What is Health Coaching?
Health coaching educates, mentors, and supports individuals or groups to make positive health choices and achieve their health goals through lifestyle and behavior changes.
Health Coaching Gets Results
It has been applied successfully in numerous settings. Not just the workplace (Galantino, Mary Louise, Schmid Pam, et al. (2009), DiDonato KL et al. (2013)) and has been shown to produce better health outcomes than wellness programs without coaching (Terry PE, Seaverson EL et al. (2011)), especially amongst those in poorer overall health and those most ready to change their health behaviours (Terry PE, Seaverson EL et al. (2011), Merrill RM et al. 2012).
It is especially beneficial to those in poorer overall health and those ready to make a change.
Since individuals in poorer overall health are those most in need of change, they are more likely to maintain their engagement in coaching (Merrill RM et al. 2012). This engagement could produce substantial medical cost savings for employers. It’s been shown to have a positive impact on some biometric markers (DiDonato KL, et al. 2013), quality of life indicators, depressive symptoms and perceived stress levels (Clark MM, et al. (2014)).
Boost Participant Satisfaction
Furthermore, combining higher wellness incentives with coaching drives wellness program satisfaction, encourages sustained participation, and helps participants achieve their health goals, according to Ovbiosa-Akinbosoye OE. Long DA. 2012.
Wellness program participant satisfaction is positively associated with sustained coaching participation and achievement of health goals.
So, employers that don’t include health coaching may do so at their own peril.
It could be the most integral component of any workplace wellness strategy
Ready for Health Coaching?
The CoreHealth corporate wellness platform enables wellness companies to create custom education campaigns, self-learning programs plus online groups, and digital, one-on-one/telephone coaching programs. Or, if you want to use a third-party health coaching company instead, we have several providers available on our wellness network, or use your preferred coach. We can integrate with the provider and have it all seamlessly accessible from within the platform.
About CoreHealth Technologies
CoreHealth Technologies Inc. is a total well-being technology company. Trusted by global providers to power their health and wellness programs. Our wellness portals help maximize health, engagement, and productivity for 3+ million employees worldwide. We believe people are the driving force of organizations. Supporting them to make behavior changes to improve employee health is in everyone’s best interest. CoreHealth has the most flexibility, customizations, and integrations of any software in its class. Our all-in-one wellness platform helps grow great wellness companies. Simple to sophisticated, based on you. For more information, visit the CoreHealth website.
