Many health plans and employers are banking on health and wellness coaching to stem spending for the chronically ill in their populations and point those at risk for a health crisis toward healthier, less costly behaviors. While tools to identify coaching candidates abound, no straightforward formula for evaluating coaching ROI exists.

However, emerging findings from two health coaching organizations indicate that the structure of a coaching program and in some cases the coaches' own personal attributes can deliver hoped-for participant outcomes in weight management, tobacco cessation, stress management and related health-related savings.

In this special report, "Measuring Change: Evaluating Health and Wellness Coaching Performance, Outcomes and ROI," two health coaching thought leaders present their coaching ROI models and examine the impact of health and wellness coaching on behaviors and the bottom line. They also share anecdotal research that ties coaches' personal attributes to optimal outcomes — information that can influence health and wellness coach hiring strategies.

Part of the Health Coach Collection, a seven-volume series - Save 35% when you order the Health Coach Collection Series.

Ted Borgstadt, founder and chairman of TrestleTree Inc., and Darcy Hurlbert, health and wellness product specialist at Ceridian LifeWorks, provide details on:

• ROI calculations for weight management and tobacco cessation programs;
• Anticipating and responding to ROI expectations from HR and the CFO;
• Using HRAs to measure coaching effectiveness;
• How call frequency and call intervals can influence outcomes;
• Tips for hiring coaches with the three key personal attributes that can optimize coaching results;
• The three dimensions of coaching ROI;
• Case study in coaching ROI based on a largely unmotivated, overweight population;

This report is based on a 2007 audio conference on metrics for evaluating the effectiveness of both health coaching programs and individual health coaches.

Table of Contents

• Striving for Consistent Coaching Outcomes with an Evolving ROI
  • Determining ROI for Weight Management Programs
  • Tobacco Cessation Management ROI
  • New Approaches to ROI
  • Measuring Outcomes Using HRA Data
  • Measuring Presenteeism’s Effect on Population
  • Optimal Calling Frequencies, Spacing
  • Optimal Health Coach Attributes Linked to Better Outcomes
  • What’s Next
• Best Practices in Measuring Health Coaching ROI
  • Analyzing the Actuarial Studies
  • TrestleTree’s Health Coaching Model
  • Case Study in Coaching ROI: J.B. Hunt Transportation
  • Retention and Safety
  • Defining Participation
  • The Three Dimensions of ROI
• Q&A: Ask the Experts
  • Measuring Presenteeism
  • Defining Self-reliance and Individualism
  • Engaging Participants with Incentives
  • Effectiveness of Coaching Attributes
  • The Best Time for HRAs
  • Reported Savings
  • Analyzing Coaching Effectiveness
  • Pre- vs. Post-Disease Management Coaching
  • Measuring ROI by Coaching Method
  • Training Health Coaches
  • Measuring Productivity through Self Reporting
  • Measuring Member Stratification
  • Measuring a Coach’s Performance
  • Telephonic Coaching Performance Evaluation
• For More Information
• About the Authors
• Glossary