For brokers and companies looking to evaluate digital mental health offerings for their own EAP, here are eight factors to consider:

Outcomes- What specific and demonstrable outcomes can the company produce, based on significant, lasting clinical change via validated patient reported outcomes, measures and assessments? For reported outcomes, what is the sustained duration?

Cost-effectiveness/ROI – Does the solution demonstrate direct and/or indirect cost savings?

Clinical validation and research – Are the solutions evidence based or simply evidence informed? Have they been clinically evaluated with published trial results, including clinically meaningful outcomes in peer-reviewed journals? Have they been proven in randomly controlled trials? Is there continued investment in research to validate the solutions' efficacy?

Ease of deployment and ease of use – How quickly can the solution be deployed and in use? How is the satisfaction and engagement of users? Are there measurement metrics to support this? What is the level of user experience and acceptance via multiple devices and delivery mechanisms? What is the level of user engagement over time and across demographics and severity spectrum?

Innovation – Does the company have a clear product road map and is it aligned to your needs? Is it simply a point solution, or one that might grow with long-term requirements and the rapidly evolving modals and best practices of health care?

Data – Does the solution enable you to collect and analyze organizational data to better understand your employees' needs and how benefits limitations may be impacting your bottom line?

Commercial and clinical strength – What is the company's track record? How long has the solution been used and by how many customers? What additional industry partnerships does the company have? What industry organizations does the company engage with?

Security /Risk /Privacy- Are there clear data security and privacy policies? Is the solution HIPAA compliant? What security measures are in place for the data collected? Is there a clear user safety and risk protocol, including management, flagging, escalation, and resolution procedures? Is the solution ISO27001 certified? Is there an information governance toolkit? Does the solution have FDA certification? Is there a set of clear design, quality, manufacturing, product management and maintenance best practices?

Digital mental health solutions can offer significant benefits for brokers and companies seeking to extend mental health care to employees. In addition to being less costly than traditional face-to-face treatments, digital mental health solutions can improve employee health and boost a company's bottom line. However, it is imperative to ask the right questions before investing in any type of solution.

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Workplace wellness solutions: 8 factors to consider

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