5 questions to ask about wellness apps
December 10, 2015 3:05 AM
As employers increasingly realize that wellness doesnt end at 5 p.m., many are looking for ways to engage employees in healthy decisions beyond the workplace walls. A wellness app might seem like an obvious choice, but are they all created equal? Brian Berchtold, vice president of sales and marketing with wellness program vendor hubbub health, provides five questions employers should be asking as they evaluate a wellness program app.
[Image: Fotolia]
[Image: Fotolia]
1. Will it work for employees with diverse health goals?
From the employee who runs triathlons to the one whos never participated in an exercise class, wellness apps must be accessible to everyone. Regardless of where I am on my wellness journey, the app has to speak to me, says Berchtold. It has to be inviting.
[Image: Fotolia]
[Image: Fotolia]
2. Will employees use it?
This question relates to ease of use, says Berchtold. Is this reputable? Can I trust it? How easy is it for [employees] to navigate, he says. Most importantly, how easy is it for me to find things that are unique to my diverse health goals?
[Image: Fotolia]
[Image: Fotolia]
3. Will employees stay motivated and engaged?
Employers need to look at how employees will get recognized for their progress within the app, says Berchtold. Does the app introduce challenges based on where employees are in their health journey? Or does it simply push out the same fitness challenge to everyone?
[Image: Fotolia]
[Image: Fotolia]
4. Can I customize it?
Apps should be more than simply check-in tools, he says. Its about helping [employees] chart [their] progress and chart it in relation to, potentially, a [health plan] premium differential program, he says.
[Image: Fotolia]
[Image: Fotolia]
5. Will it help create a healthy support system?
A good app is an extension of a social interaction of a community, says Berchtold. Instagram and Pinterest are all about expressing, so how can we take that community, that concept, and put it into health-minded challenges?
[Image: Fotolia]
[Image: Fotolia]
