With 2016 in the rearview mirror, what will this year hold forpopulation health management programs? Judging by our conversationswith employers and consultants alike, we see three themesemerging.
Total well-being
Employers will continue to expand the concept of wellness beyondjust physical health. Total well-being encompasses the full range ofwellness, including physical, mental, social and financial health. Indeed, a major technologycompany recently told us that mindfulness, positivity andcreativity are its foremost initiatives this year.
This reflects a different way of thinking about health byfocusing on what is of value to the employee, such as happiness,life satisfaction, caring for family, contributing to the communityand preserving the environment.
Examples of total well-being:
Mindfulness can be described very simply as the stateof being in the moment. Practicing mindfulness can help reducesymptoms of anxiety and depression, while helping to improvesleeping and eating habits.
Positivity involves promoting optimism and a gratefulattitude which can be facilitated through stress management andmindfulness programs.
Creativity is a basic human need according to research.Finding ways to stimulate creativity will be a priority this year.While not every job offers significant opportunities for innovationand creativity, employers should allow employees as much control aspossible over how to get their jobs done, while continuallyencouraging new ideas and enthusiasm.
Helping employees connect to a sense of purpose or being a partof something greater than oneself will also drive greaterengagement and sense of community.
Big data
By integrating multiple data sources and applying sophisticatedanalytics, employers will increasingly be able to identify riskfactors that are predictors for chronic disease, better understanddisease progression and assess geographic and social determinantsof health. Leveraging this data will enable insights for targetedstrategy and program recommendations.
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