An integrated health coaching approach that addresses the needs of those with lifestyle and health behavior changes, along with those with chronic conditions, provides a coaching model that addresses participants' needs across the continuum while delivering results in a reduction of healthcare utilization, improvements in clinical and HEDIS measures and a return on investment.

Listen to pre-conference comments from Dr. Dennis Richling.

During Integrated Health Coaching: The Next Generation in Health Behavior Change Management, a September 20, 2012 webinar at 1:30 pm Eastern, Kelly Merriman, HealthFitness' vice president of service delivery and Dr. Dennis Richling, chief medical and wellness officer at HealthFitness, shared the key features of HealthFitness' integrated health coaching program, from how participants are assessed and assigned to coaches to the program's impact.

You'll get details on:

• The three levels of health coaching within the integrated health coaching model and how individuals are assigned to each level;
• The health risk factors and predictive modeling algorithm used to determine a person's eligibility for coaching;
• How coaches can maximize the interactions between patients and their primary care and specialist physicians to address the health needs of coaching clients;
• The tools used by the health coaches to achieve engagement, behavior change and condition management, including motivational interviewing, positive psychology, appreciative inquiry and stages of change; and
• The key metrics used to evaluate the health coaching model and program effectiveness and results from the program.

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You can listen to this program right in your office and enjoy significant savings — no travel time or hassle; no hotel expenses. It's so convenient! Invite your staff members to gather around a conference table to watch the program.

WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS CONFERENCE?

CEOs, medical directors, disease management directors, managers and coordinators, health coach managers, health coaches, health plan executives, care management nurses, physician executives and business development and strategic planning directors.

ABOUT OUR PANELISTS:

Kelly Merriman is the vice president of service delivery at HealthFitness Corporation, overseeing excellence for all participant services, which include lifestyle and condition management coaching, worksite screening, and engagement and health advocacy services. She has more than 15 years of experience in operations and management in the health sector.

Merriman's unique combination of experience in operations, health coaching and epidemiological research has equipped her to lead people, build teams and expand health management programs. She began her work with HealthFitness as manager of health advising and coaching, and was selected to lead this area during its rapid expansion and the acquisition of new businesses into the service delivery core structure. She has worked to build a top-performing team of health management professionals while instilling a shared commitment to quality, operational effectiveness and health improvement.

Previously, Merriman served as director of assistance for the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health's Research Data Assistance Center, supervising nine research fellows who provided technical support consultation to researchers from the academic, commercial, non-profit and government research sectors. Prior to that, she served as primary epidemiological investigator for the Wisconsin Department of Health to determine the incidence of neonatal Group B Streptococcal disease in the state.

Merriman earned a master's degree in epidemiology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is also a trained personal life coach.

Dr. Dennis Richling

Dr. Dennis Richling describes where most coaching candidates are likely to fall in the health risk continuum.

Dennis Richling, MD, is the chief medical director and wellness officer at HealthFitness Corporation. As chief medical director and wellness officer for HealthFitness, he is responsible for research and outcomes reporting as well as providing clinical oversight for health management services.

Dr. Richling is also the senior medical director for Trustmark Companies, offering clinical oversight for insurance plan, voluntary benefits and benefit administration. His career spans clinical services, wellness product development, community education and programming and healthcare policy research.

He previously served as senior vice president for product management at Alere; president of the Midwest Business Group on Health; and as chief medical officer of health services for the Union Pacific Railroad, which received numerous awards and recognition for its health management services.

Dr. Richling received his medical degree from Creighton University School of Medicine and is a fellow of the Institute of Medicine of Chicago.