HealthJoy Kicks Off Clinical Coaching

To enhance the user experience and expand HealthJoy’s clinical ecosystem, we’re thrilled to announce the addition of a Clinical Coaching team, a new service that’s now part of our connected navigation platform.

Taking personalized navigation and support to another level, Clinical Coaching will focus on proactive outreach. Engagement is meant to connect members to care programs that can help them achieve their health and wellness goals.

From accountability to inspiration and motivation — Clinical Coaching is a step toward facilitating a better, more holistic health experience and establishing stronger relationships with members.

We’ll be taking a closer look at what makes HealthJoy’s program different, why Clinical Coaching matters, and what’s ahead.

What Is a Clinical Coach?

A Clinical Coach is a trained, certified partner that supports members in setting and achieving health and wellness goals. They develop strong, personal relationships, and help individuals overcome potential obstacles to health improvement. A Clinical Coach also provides: 

• Partnership. Sometimes, people need to know they have someone in their corner. There’s a comfort in having a professional who knows how to get them where they want to go.

• Accountability. A Clinical Coach doesn’t tell members what their goals should be. Instead, the coach is there to flesh out the member’s vision and offer guidance along the way.

• Encouragement. A little support goes a long way. Whether it’s to inspire or motivate, a Clinical Coach is ready to provide words of encouragement.  

One study found that participants in a health coaching program saw improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose levels, among others. Coaching has also improved health-related quality of life and reduced hospital admissions in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, six in 10 Americans live with a chronic condition like heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes.

For Dr. Patricia Pechter, HealthJoy’s Chief Medical Officer, Clinical Coaching highlights the importance of human connection in healthcare. 

“HealthJoy’s mission is to connect people to the care they need,” she said. “Through the lens of Clinical Coaching, we’re really focusing on relationship-based care. We want to help people treat a variety of health concerns from weight management to sleep issues. For individuals with difficult health choices, coaching brings the knowledge, skills, and confidence members need to effectively address and implement any lifestyle and behavioral changes.”

The first chronic health issue the Clinical Coaching team is going to take on? Musculoskeletal pain.

→ Get a Demo: Don’t have Virtual MSK Care within your HealthJoy platform? Launch it off cycle at a $0 per member cost today.

How Does It Work?

For Clinical Coaches to begin proactive outreach, there needs to be an indication that the individual would benefit from the outreach based on information the member has already shared with HealthJoy.

“We’re starting by re-engaging people who started the HealthJoy’s Virtual Musculoskeletal (MSK) Care enrollment intake survey within our app, but for one reason or another, didn’t finish it,” said David Lawrence, HealthJoy’s Vice President, Clinical Product. “An unfinished intake survey indicates that they’re interested in the solution, but it can be difficult asking for help. We want to have meaningful conversations with members to better understand their struggles and offer the kind of assistance they might need to get over the finish line.”

In combination with incomplete MSK intake surveys, in-app provider and facility searches, and claims data also play a role in enabling the Clinical Coaching team to conduct personalized outreach. Moving forward, HealthJoy will apply questionnaires about specific needs for individual members, which will provide additional data to guide the Clinical Coaching team. 

From there, a Clinical Coach can make contact to figure out what kind of health solution they’re seeking, and provide personal navigation and support. 

“Sure, we’re using data,” David said. “But we’re doing so alongside an actual person who’s looking to understand and support the member. That human connection holds great value.”

And Virtual MSK Care seems like the perfect place to start. In the US, MSK-related conditions account for $213 billion in annual treatment, care, and lost wages, making it the third-highest source of claims spend for 85% of employers. Characterized by persistent pain and limitations in mobility, dexterity, and overall level of functioning — MSK issues can affect a person's ability to work. Low back pain, in particular, is the main contributor to the overall burden of musculoskeletal conditions and the reason behind premature exits out of the workforce.

Humans Make the Difference

We're all human and don’t always make the right decisions regarding our health. Many times, life can get hectic or the needs of others take precedence over our own needs. The HealthJoy Clinical Coaching team is a group of deeply caring people that want our members to make their health a top priority. Sometimes people just need a little nudge in the right direction, hold them accountable for their own goals, or feel like they have someone in their corner. The coaching team’s charter is their No. 1 mission.

Through proactive outreach, HealthJoy can spur overall engagement and participation in clinical programming (from HealthJoy or otherwise) — where clients will see an outsized impact on overall costs, clinical outcomes, and improved health. Members will see a caring individual that’s looking out for their health.

“This is a natural progression of what’s to come for HealthJoy,” Dr. Pechter said. “This is just the latest account for us to tackle our mission of guiding members to affordable, high-quality care and improve their health and wellness.”