CINCINNATI – November 7, 2007 -- Corporate wellness programs, designed to slow companies’ soaring health insurance premiums, often fail to meet their mark. In an upcoming white paper and podcast, Hummingbird Coaching Services explores research into failed wellness initiatives that reveal key elements for successful wellness programs.
“Why Health Coaching Programs Fail”, a white paper available for download at http://www.myhealthcoach.com/default.aspx?tabid=8038, covers industry research on failed health initiatives documented by veteran health care management consultant Walter Elias. The accompanying podcast, an interview with wellness industry pioneer Sean Slovenski, chief executive officer of Hummingbird Coaching Services, covers several key findings.
“Lack of ‘support from the top’ is a primary cause of failed health initiatives,” said Slovenski. “Company supporters often rally to implement a program with admirable intentions. But they’re missing a key piece of the puzzle -- buy-in.”
Slovenski cited research by the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN) that found nearly 75 percent of executives indicated keeping employees healthy is crucial to business success and felt it is their duty to keep employees safe and well.
Companies must leverage this available leadership support, and can apply several practical tips:
*Support from senior management
*Present the CEO and executives with data and an operating plan. Encourage their participation in events, communications, and especially, in allocating budgets
*Champions within the company
*Identify innovators and make them champions, involving them in wellness committees, encouraging application of innovation in products and services within the in-house wellness program
*Designate a dedicated wellness coordinator and create a culture of wellness to support behavior change
*A healthy workplace isn’t mandated. Discover ways to move employees towards healthier choices, i.e. by working with food service and vending machine providers to provide healthier food. Ease into non-smoking mandates; encourage executives to visibly participate in wellness programs
About Hummingbird Coaching Services
Cincinnati-based Hummingbird Coaching Services is a pioneer in health coaching since 1997. Hummingbird provides comprehensive workplace wellness programs that impact employee health and productivity. Using its proprietary coaching model and online delivery platform, Hummingbird provides coaching services to businesses such as Motorola, United Healthcare, Leeza Gibbons Inc., and the Muhammad Ali Center. Through its innovative technology platform and coaching programs, Hummingbird provides health, parenting and life coaching to drive real behavior change in individuals and help employers lower healthcare costs. For more information, visit www.hummingbirdcoaching.com.
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