Digital coaching gives members a chance to learn about us and what we can offer them in a self-directed way. A lot of people can be successful just with digital support, and we know that certain segments of the population prefer to engage that way. We have members who are hesitant to connect with a live coach; it can make them feel more vulnerable than they’re comfortable with. They can make a lot of progress digitally and they can do that in the privacy of their own space and at their own pace.
Some people just do better when they’re connected with a live person. It can be in a group setting where they can contribute as much or as little as they want. They still see the coach’s face and they can interact with other people working toward the same goals. Especially for members in the age groups between 18 and 45, an anonymous group setting gives them both social support and evidence-based strategies they can apply in their daily lives.1
Since we know there’s a degree of comfort using digital tools to get into the sessions, we offer them ways to learn more using other resources in MyActiveHealth at the end of each session. Encouraging people to learn more and become empowered to manage their health is a core part of what we do.
There’s a role for MyActiveHealth even when a member is working telephonically with a nurse or coach. Let’s say you’re a member with a new diagnosis of diabetes. The nurse can walk you through how to prick your finger, but it’s so helpful to be able to send them a video that shows them how to do it.
It may surprise you to learn that people can forget as much as 80% of what the doctor tells them in an appointment. And about half of what they do remember is incorrect.2 Our clinicians can help fill in those gaps and continue the education. Hearing information from a doctor and then again from their ActiveHealth clinician is an important part of learning about their health. Seeing it again in a digital format – whether it’s a video or an article – further reinforces what they’ve heard and helps them build their confidence to manage their health.
Helping people make decisions about their health and health goals often takes a combination of digital and personal support. The MyActiveHealth wellness platform is a convenient, useful tool for members working on their own. But it’s just as valuable for people working with clinicians. Giving people a way to double-check what they’re learning from their health care team and enhance their learning on their own can go a long way toward establishing trust between members and the people working with them.
1 ActiveHealth book of business data, January 2024.
2Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit, 2nd Edition.
Accessed January 11, 2024.
Services are provided by ActiveHealth Management, Inc. Our programs, care team and care managers do not provide diagnostic or direct treatment services. We assist members in getting the care they need, and our program is not a substitute for the medical treatment and/or instructions provided by health care providers.
