Health Risk Appraisals are tools that identify and quantify an individual’s risk of morbidity or mortality using demographic, medical and lifestyle information. “Health Risk Appraisals and Medicare”, an evaluation report completed by RAND for CMS, reached the following conclusions.
• Effective Health Risk Assessment (HRA) programs have demonstrated beneficial effects on behavior, physiological variables and general health status
• Interventions that combine Health Risk Assessment (HRA) feedback with the provision of Wellness Plans are most likely to show beneficial effects
• To be effective, Health Risk Assessment (HRA) questionnaires ought to be accompanied by follow-up interventions (e.g., information, support and referrals)
High quality Health Risk Appraisals offer, a computation for individual risk from the following most common diseases and health risk factors.
• Chronic Asthma
• COPD
• Diabetes
• High Blood Pressure
• Ischemic heart disease
• Major depression
• Stroke
• Overweight and obesity
• Use of Tobaccos Products
• Mental health
• Immunizations
The Health Risk Assessment (HRA) collects and analyzes data to predict a individual’s likelihood of experiencing the most common diseases.
Health Risk Appraisals: Demographic characteristics
An individual’s age, sex and ethnicity are indicators of increased risk for certain diseases or conditions. At minimum, the Health Risk Assessment (HRA) ought to collect information, to the extent allowed by law, information on the individual’s age, sex and ethnicity.
The Health Risk Assessment (HRA) ought to include questions addressing the individual’s personal and family history of diseases or risk factors for common diseases or conditions. The Health Risk Assessment (HRA) must include questions to assess health risks related to the personal health characteristics and behaviors listed below.
• Weight
• Diet and Nutrition
• Use of Tobaccos Products
• High Blood Pressure
• Cholesterol
• Physical Fitness
• Alcohol Use
• Traveling by motor vehicle
• Stress Management
• Mental health
Perceived Health Status
The Health Risk Assessment (HRA) ought to include questions that assess An individual’s self-perceived health status. The questions ought to allow an individual to rate their own health status on a relative scale.
Disclosure of use of Health Risk Assessment (HRA) information
The business ought to disclose how the information obtained from the Health Risk Assessment (HRA) will be used and to whom it’ll be disclosed. The business may offer the disclosure and use information within the Health Risk Assessment (HRA) tool or reports or through written communications.
Ability to save/print Health Risk Assessment (HRA) results
Internet-based Health Risk Assessment (HRA) ought to give the individual the ability to save/print his/her Health Risk Assessment (HRA) results. For paper-based Health Risk Appraisals, the business ought to have a mechanism in place for the individual to receive a written copy of the results.
Health Risk Assessment (HRA) Results
Companies ought to offer a printed/printer-friendly web-based report for each individual participant. The report may emphasis on either individual risks for specified diseases or on Wellness.
Health Risk Assessment (HRA) computations may emphasis on either individual risks based on personal risk factors or on overall risk or health. The report ought to offer an explanatory information to assist them understand the outcome. Reports ought to clearly identify specific behaviors that can lower risk for each risk factor, and recommend targets for improvement. Reports ought to include resources (e.g., community programs, web-based resources and materials) that can assist individuals change to a healthier lifestyle. At minimum, the business ought to offer computation for individual risk from the following most common diseases and health risk factors.
• Chronic Asthma
• COPD
• Diabetes
• High Blood Pressure
• Ischemic heart disease
• Major depression
• Stroke
• Overweight and obesity
• Use of Tobaccos Products
• Mental health
• Immunizations
Health Risk Assessment (HRA) report
The Health Risk Assessment (HRA) ought to offer web-based print-friendly results and the ability for the user to print the results. The Health Risk Assessment (HRA) report ought to include a profile of individual risk level for personal diseases or conditions according to age, sex, ethnicity and health risk factors that were identified in the questionnaire. The report ought to clearly identify specific behaviors that can lower the risk for each risk factor and recommend targets for improvements.
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By: Ravi Verma
Posts Tagged ‘Health Risks’
Guidelines for Health Risk Appraisals
December 16th, 2009Insomnia: How Lack of Sleep Can Damage Your Health
November 8th, 2009What is Insomnia?
The average person spends approximately 1/3 of his or her life sleeping. Although we do not yet fully understand either the purpose or the mechanics of sleep, we do know that an insufficient amount can have far-reaching consequences: our work performance, our personal relationships, and our physical and mental health all depend on getting an appropriate amount of rest.
The inability to fall asleep or to stay asleep throughout the night is a condition known as insomnia, and it is among the most common of all medical complaints; approximately 1/3 of all people experience a period of insomnia at least once during their lifetime. Individuals with insomnia typically experience at least one of the following symptoms:
- Difficulties falling asleep;
- Inability to stay asleep, or waking up too early;
- Sleepiness during the day;
- Fatigue or lack of energy;
- Irritability;
- Headache;
- Decreased ability to concentrate;
- Increased errors or accidents;
- Depression and/or anxiety;
- Continual worry about sleep.
Health Risks of Insomnia
If you are not getting the sleep that you need, your insomnia may eventually lead to serious consequences for your health. In the short term, your alertness and focus are impaired, which can have a negative effect on your school or work performance. Relationship problems may result from irritability due to lack of sleep, while fatigue may prevent you from participating in your normal activities.
In the long-term, the complications of insomnia can be even more severe. Hypertension, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and mood disorders are all associated with chronic insomnia; these conditions can be life-threatening, and they will certainly reduce the quality of your life.
What Causes Insomnia?
Insomnia is symptomatic of a large number of physiological disorders; if you are having difficulty sleeping, chances are that an underlying health problem is to blame. Illness, infection, mental health disorders, and medications can all keep you from getting the proper amount of rest. Hormone and neurotransmitter imbalances can affect your body’s ability to fall asleep, and dietary deficiencies can cause insomnia, as well. Exposure to toxic elements such as heavy metals, molds, and other environmental pollutants have also been shown to impair sleep.
Finding the Cause of Insomnia
By determining what is causing your insomnia, your health care provider will be better able to help you design a plan for managing your sleep problem. To find out what is keeping you up at night, your doctor may ask you a series of questions about your lifestyle, your sleeping environment, and even the sleep habits of your partner. A variety of lab tests can also be useful in pinpointing the cause of your insomnia in the event that a health problem is involved.
Managing Insomnia
The first step to getting back to sleep is to treat the underlying cause. Establishing good sleep habits may include nutritional support, exercise, detoxification, and incorporating a relaxation technique into your daily routine.
Good sleep hygiene is important for getting the rest you need. By following the guidelines listed here, you will find yourself drifting off easily, without the constant worry about getting enough sleep every night.
- Stick to a constant sleep schedule, with a consistent bed time and wake-up time;
- Avoid bright lights (including the television and computer) for at least two hours before bedtime;
- Do not exercise within three hours of bedtime;
- Make sure your bedroom is for sleeping – keep the TV, computer, and any other distractions in another room;
- Make sure your sleeping environment is cool, dark and quiet;
- Avoid caffeine, smoking, and alcohol, especially before bed;
- Don’t eat right before you go to bed;
- Try a relaxation exercise such as deep breathing before you turn in.
Over-the-counter and prescription sleep medications are best avoided; they may help you fall asleep, but they can be habit-forming, and they have a variety of negative side effects. By identifying the cause of your insomnia and making some adjustments to your lifestyle, you should be able to overcome your sleep difficulties naturally.
By: Health Remedies
Health and Wellness Coaching
November 3rd, 2009Do you find it challenging to stay motivated when endeavoring to make changes to your health? Are you aware that changes must be made in your daily life but you do not know where to begin? If so then Health and Wellness Coaching might just be the solution you have been seeking.
Health and Wellness Coaching is a service offered by trained professionals who work with you individually to assist you reach your Wellness goals. Health and Wellness Coaching motivates, guides, and supports a person in order to reach sustainable behavioral changes by offering creative solutions to their problems.
Health and Wellness Coaching provides individually designed programs to meet your unique needs by focusing on physical, mental, and emotional health. They assist you become proactive in your life by removing unhealthy behaviors and making Wellness a priority.
Benefits of Health and Wellness Coaching for Your Staff Members
Staff Members can benefit from Health and Wellness Coaching in a variety of ways. Health and Wellness Coaching can assist individuals decrease major health risks in their lives by changing high risk behaviors. Some of the many reasons why employees work with Wellness Coaches are to get in shape, lose a little (or lot) of weight, reduce stress, stop using tobacco, and design balance in their lives. Wellness Coaches aid individuals with current health problems as well as preventing future health issues.
Because each program that a Wellness Coach designs is unique to suit the needs of the individual, they can be sure that it’ll be a program that is right for them. Most busy employees mistakenly believe that they do not have the time for Health and Wellness Coaching. Fortunately Health and Wellness Coaching professionals are able to offer their services in a variety of convenient ways. While electronic Health and Wellness Coaching through the use of e-mails and instant messaging has become a popular method due to its convenience, telephone and face-to-face interactions may also be used. Staff Members have the ability to reach their goals and improve their lives through the assistance of Health and Wellness Coaching.
Benefits of Health and Wellness Coaching for the Company
The overall benefits of Health and Wellness Coaching for a business are remarkable. Staff Member high risk behaviors such as tobacco use and obesity cost companies millions of dollars every year. These high risk behaviors often cause preventable illness and keep employees from coming to work. Health and Wellness Coaching guides, supports, hold individuals accountable, and ensures that they receive continued motivation to assist them reach their Wellness goals and eliminate unhealthy behaviors in their lives.
By implementing Wellness Plans and using Health and Wellness Coaching in their companies, employers reduce the risk of preventable illness in their companies. This improves the overall health of employees, reduces healthcare and insurance costs, decreases absenteeism, and ultimately enhances performance and productivity. When employees experience the benefits of higher levels Wellness in their lives it causes an improvement in job attitude, energy, and morale. Companies that utilize Health and Wellness Coaching for their employees experience the benefits of higher productivity.
Wellness Coach
Wellness incorporates many facets of our daily lives. From the amount of sleep to the water we drink, to the food that we eat and the activity that we maintain, our health is dependent upon many factors of our lifestyle. Working to improve our Wellness can be challenging to reach on our own. That is why we can utilize the assistance of a Wellness Coach.
What’s a Wellness Coach?
A Wellness Coach is a highly educated professional who is trained in behavioral change. Wellness Coaches generally have degrees in Exercise Science, Health Education, Exercise Physiology, Counseling and Education. A Wellness Coach assists individuals in recognizing current health concerns as well as preventing future health related issues. These professionals work with individuals in a variety of ways including; face-to-face, phone, via instant messaging and / or email. The latter of those is also referred to as electronic Health and Wellness Coaching and is the most efficient and cost effective method of working with a Wellness Coach. No matter what method is used for communication a Wellness Coach provides a personalized program specifically designed to address the needs and concerns of each personal client.
In what ways can a Wellness Coach assist me?
Most individuals maintain several healthy habits in their lives. One person may be a fitness enthusiast; another may abstain from alcohol and tobacco; while another may maintain a healthy daily diet. However, overall Wellness is much like a puzzle, and a high level of health is only achieved when each piece of this puzzle is in place. A Wellness Coach will aid an individual in correcting his/her missing piece of the puzzle. An web-based Wellness Coach may address the needs of sleep deprivation, stress management, diet, or any number of health related issues. The Wellness Coach will motivate, guide, and offer valuable resources to offer individuals with the necessary tools to make life changes.
How is a Wellness Coach unique?
A Wellness Coach serves a distinctly different purpose than a personal trainer, a counselor, or a supportive family member or friend. First, a Wellness Coach is an expert in his/her personal field. When a client determines the need for a Wellness Coach he or she will complete a Health Risk Assessment (HRA). based on this assessment the individual will be assigned a Wellness Coach specifically selected to address his/her individual needs. Next, a Wellness Coach is available electronically 24 hours per day. Through web-based communication individuals have the opportunity to contact a Wellness Coach as much or as little as he may like. Communication with a Wellness Coach may range from daily to weekly, and can occur by e-mail, journal or a combination of both. Finally, a Wellness Coach is trained to aid in changing the way that the individual thinks and the way that they view themselves. A Wellness Coach maintains the purpose of helping the individual to work towards achieving a higher quality in life. This happens by addressing the cause of a certain problem rather than simply addressing the effects of a problem. A Wellness Coach will assist individuals recognize their needs, determine goals, and take the necessary steps towards achieving these goals.
While Wellness are growing concerns in our daily lives, it may seem challenging to make the time to educate oneself and address the needs or our well being. Working with the assistance of a Wellness Coach enables us to emphasis on our personal needs and make progress towards changing.
By: ravi triken
