Employers know corporate success starts with and depends on a healthy workforce. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact employees and their wellbeing, many companies plan to increase their investment in health and wellbeing (H&W) programmes. But how can you ensure your spending truly improves employee wellbeing? The Optum 2021 International Wellness in the Workplace Benchmark Study answers this question and more. Consider employee demographics The Optum study asked more than 600 employees of large companies (3,000+ employees) around the world about their satisfaction and engagement w ..read more

Wellness Coaching provides your global employee population with support and encouragement in the form of nonjudgmental coaching. As a wellness coach, I connect employees with tools and resources that align with their health and wellbeing goals. Wellness coaches are credentialed, certified and experienced in your corporate and local cultures. We offer both one-on-one and group coaching sessions to help employees create and realise their goals through these best practices. Building trust and creating accountability As an accredited wellness coach, I focus on creating a confidential space in whic ..read more

Everything about health care is rapidly changing — how we work, how we live, and how we seek and get care. Technology influences the interaction between providers, patients and health plans. It has become vital to propel innovation in how we receive, interact with, and share data and insights — all in a timely manner. This will empower the multitude of recipients to improve access, outcomes, efficiency and performance for all. Consider the following pre- and post-COVID telehealth statistics: Before the COVID-19 public health emergency, ~15K Medicare members/week received telemedicine services ..read more

Is it time to change your health and wellbeing strategy? Two years have passed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, rapid changes have continuously reshaped our work and impacted our health and wellbeing. Attitudes about life and work are not the same as they were before. So, at this point in the pandemic, does it still make sense to revise your health and wellbeing strategy? And what are other organisations doing? In 2021, Optum surveyed 352 large employers around the world to understand how the pandemic continues to impact health and wellbeing (H&W) strategy.1 Optum also ..read more

Humans are tribal by nature. We survived for millions of years because we worked in packs. Whether in our social life or on the job, humans seek connection. We’re motivated by a need to belong and support those we identify with. When our jobs make us feel cared for and valued, we build positive attachments. This aligns with our social wiring and helps us do our best. When employees feel lonely, their productivity and personal health can suffer. Loneliness is the perceived feeling of isolation. It can happen even around other people. The quality of our relationships, not the quantity, causes us ..read more

Navigating the health care system can be challenging for so many. The opportunity to help members make the right care connections is an important part of the Optum® HouseCalls visit. All too often, members are unable to keep up with their primary care visits, or they don’t know where to go for help when significant time has passed. That was the case for this member, who needed help making the connection to essential care. Yuna’s story For some members, finding consistent health care can be challenging — even overwhelming. That was the case when HouseCalls advanced practice clinician Yuna compl ..read more

In ordinary times, it can be hard for members to get vital services. In extraordinary times such as the pandemic, social unrest and weather disasters, it can be impossible. HouseCalls is designed to support members with not only their physical and mental health, but also address social needs that intensify in uncertain times. This is one of many examples of how our flexibility helps members even in challenging circumstances. Mary’s story Visits using video technology have been a helpful way to reach members who are not able to have a traditional in-home visit. For HouseCalls advanced practice ..read more

In ordinary times, it can be hard for members to get vital services. In extraordinary times such as the pandemic, social unrest and weather disasters, it can be impossible. HouseCalls is designed to support members with not only their physical and mental health, but also address social needs that intensify in uncertain times. This is one of many examples of how our flexibility helps members even in challenging circumstances. Mary’s story Visits using video technology have been a helpful way to reach members who are not able to have a traditional in-home visit. For HouseCalls advanced practice ..read more

Because of COVID-19, life’s routines and expectations have undergone a seismic shift. Last year, the pandemic obliged many thousands of employees to become homeworkers. Now, office doors are once again opening and vaccines are becoming more widely available. But it’s safe to say stress is not abating because of a return to the workplace. It falls to responsive organisations to help employees not only cope but thrive — wherever they find themselves in the coming months. COVID-19 has blurred lines in the work world. Some employees who were once used to going into an office every day are still ho ..read more

Providing member-centered care isn’t unusual for our advanced practice clinicians, it’s the norm. This visit is a good example of how the Optum® HouseCalls model enables our members to get laser-focused support — beyond just medical. The added care and connection of a HouseCalls visit can make all the difference in helping members manage their conditions and improve their well-being. Natalie’s story It can be surprising how vital the annual HouseCalls visit can be to a member’s life. HouseCalls advanced practice clinician Natalie witnessed this in a recent member visit. Natalie knew the member ..read more