The Role of Health Coaches

Have you ever thought about why rates of cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses continue to rise, despite increasing healthcare costs?

We tend to normalize illness based on how widespread it is in the United States, but illness is not the normal state of our bodies.

Our bodies want to be well – they are meant to be well.

Despite the high costs of healthcare in the United States, the care Americans receive is not necessarily better than other places.

Doctor’s offices are often booked with multiple appointments back to back. This fast-paced environment can lead patients to feel rushed and like they’re not truly being heard. Or worse, patients may not even bother to fully explain the issues they’re having.

If this all sounds grim, don’t despair!

We have the answer: the role of Health Coaches in the healthcare community.

According to a recent article in The Hill, certain healthcare start-ups have created models known as “holistic care teams.” These teams often include a physician, behavioral health specialist, nurses, a registered dietitian, and Health Coaches.

The model is revolutionary as it encourages patients to take responsibility for their own health while providing support and guidance – two things that are rarely found in conventional healthcare systems.

In addition, this model saves money. One study found that compared to a control group using a more typical healthcare system, hospitalizations are down 37% and healthcare spending is down 12%.

For this idea to work on a large scale and truly intervene with the conventional healthcare system, public-private partnerships have emerged as a way to pay for these holistic care teams.

Great strides are being made to prove that transforming the conventional healthcare system and improving the health of the nation (all while creating jobs in the process) is possible.

It’s now our responsibility to explore how we can help contribute to this change and take action!

What steps can you take to help revolutionize the healthcare system? Are there doctor’s offices or healthcare businesses you can connect with in your area?

Share your thoughts and ideas below! We love hearing from you.

If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, check out the article here.

References

1. http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/healthcare/341296-disruptive-innovation-can-finally-revolutionize-healthcare