Clinical health coaches, healthcare professionals trained to communicate with patients to engage them in their care, can be valuable in the development of patient-centered medical homes, according to a report by the Iowa Chronic Care Consortium.
The report, "Health Coaching: Transforming Conversations and Care Practices," includes five strategies healthcare professionals can use to advance health coaches' role in healthcare delivery.
1. Prepare for value-based payment. Health coaches can help physician practices meet their value-based goals and achieve higher reimbursement in value-based payment models.
2. Clarify the health coaching role. Leaders need to define health coaches' role to create shared expectations of behavior.
3. Operationalize the coaching function. Hospitals should use health coaches in care transition initiatives to provide personal and clinical support, according to the report.
4. Continue the advancement of coaching skills. Health coaches should have the opportunity to learn new skills and improve their performance in guiding patients through care transitions.
5. Analyze costs and outcomes. Patient-centered medical homes need to demonstrate to payers the cost effectiveness of employing health coaches.
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