Commentary: Health assessment is still being used in workplace wellness largely as it was 30 years ago – as an annual kick-off event to sort participants into risk-based “swim lanes” for the year. However, devices that enable individuals to track their health throughout the year and other technologies are creating exciting new ways of thinking about this core wellness program component.
The “teachable moment” remains one of the most important potential benefits of a health assessment. Well-designed assessment tools provide a catalyst for lifestyle change by creating receptivity to health-related information and recommendations. In these teachable moments, health improvement messages can be a trigger for taking steps toward behavior changes that reduce health risks and improve health. For example, expertly tailored feedback on an individual’s challenges managing stress or their elevated risk of diabetes can trigger a small first step that ultimately leads to big changes that improve their lives. In many cases, that small first step may be enrolling in a wellness intervention like a health coaching program or worksite challenge.
