Healthcare organizations are realizing they can leverage technology to help personalize the experience with needed motivation and guidance. Consumers benefit from expert information and tools tailored to their individual goals and interests. These personalized resources not only motivate but also guide the consumer through their “decisions of daily living”. They need guidance when determining how to eat more healthy, improve their fitness as well as manage their stress.
“Help me set realistic fitness goals and give me ongoing feedback on my progress.”
“Just tell me what to do to lose the weight.”
“Keep reminding me about ways to lower my cholesterol.”
“Help me find way to improve my sleep.”
“Motivate & Guide Me” Opportunity: Gain commitment, proactively push to reach goals, deliver actionable information, provide decision support tools and share ongoing feedback.
Engagement in Action:
- Wellcoaches offers a high touch service enabled by technology which puts the consumer in control of their plan and progress towards goals. The Wellcoach continues to hold their client “accountable” for making needed changes to reach these goals. Armed with insight about the consumer’s preferences for exercise and diet, the coach constantly pushes for progress incorporating these preferences into the plan. In addition, the Wellcoach serves as a cheerleader celebrating accomplishments along the way.
- Sensei leverages technology to deliver a personalized experience for weight loss. The “virtual dietician” recommends meals based on the consumer’s stated food preferences and lifestyle. Sensei pushes out the fitness message as a reminder for today’s activity plan “motivational messages” showing progress toward the goal and “behavior” messages to focus the consumer on healthy alternatives. MySensei provides access to tools including a shopping list to motivate healthier food choices.
Motivation is individual and varies based on the consumer’s unique set of health issues and readiness for change at that time. Even consumers who are self-motivated need information and tools to guide them and help them confidently navigate the decisions when coming to a fork in the road.
Most consumers need a more comprehensive solution which responds to triggers for need, delivers personalized information and tracks effectiveness to inform future touches.