Coaching in the Healthcare Continuum: Models, Methods, Measurements and Motivation

Increasingly, health coaches are the designated hitters for health plan and employer health management teams, reaching out to individuals with identified risk behaviors. Tapping health coaches to empower at-risk individuals to adopt healthier lifestyles, via telephonic, Web-based or other coaching support, is scoring improved outcomes and reduced healthcare costs. However, launching an effective and sustainable health coaching initative requires planning, training, education and evaluation on the part of healthcare organizations. In this special report, an accomplished panel of authors offers details on their success strategies.