Mobile devices and online resources can be effective tools to promote wellness, encouraging employees to keep fit, manage chronic conditions and make sound healthcare decisions.
This leads to lower employee benefit costs for both employers and workers and can improve productivity. Healthier employees are often happier as well. Mobile and online tools can reach people effectively, according to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Some employee benefit consultants noted that a variety of approaches have been attempted, including the use of blogs and video series to provide employees with information. Social media can also be used to create communities and software to track wellness progress or chronic condition management and more.
Additionally, telemedicine and health-monitoring services can help to connect patients with physicians. The spread of wellness programs has fueled the rising use of social media, mobile devices and related technologies for health purposes, largely pushed by employers seeking to contain the expenses associated with sponsoring coverage. Experts note that to succeed, part of the challenge is to design an engaging strategy or program.
Regularly providing informational content can be difficult for some companies, so they may need to work with others to maintain the flow of relevant information. For a health and wellness program, it might be useful to discuss exercise, nutrition and other topics as well as health insurance and how to make wise care decisions. This can promote a wider awareness and healthier lifestyle habits.
Mobile technology use can increase impact of wellness tools, methods
Wellness initiatives can engage participants in a number of ways. Tracking employees' health metrics over time can be a step toward encouraging them to set goals and progress toward them, or it might just provide useful starting data. Health screenings and assessments tied to employee benefit costs can be an effective incentive, and one that it is relatively easy for most employees to understand, ensuring low barriers to entry.
Mobile technologies can make it convenient for employees to access data they need, or peruse educational information when they have time without needing to be in any specific place. The internet and mobility also help in the creation of communities. These might be devoted to all participants in a general wellness plan, or structured around a more specific purpose, such as helping people quit smoking or manage diabetes.
