Behavior change is the "hub
of the wheel" for any of wellness, demand
management, health promotion, disease
prevention or disease management program
and determines the "traction" or the ultimate
success of any program. This calls for
a transformation of organizational culture,
from a reactive, case-focused, disease-oriented
approach to a proactive, population-based,
health-oriented paradigm. This process
begins with leadership by example. The
development of a MHH organization begins
with personal transformation of the leadership
group and emanates to others inside and
outside of the organization, using a variety
of dissemination, implementation and grassroots
strategies. This initiation process requires
the formation of a MHH leadership group
who represent different stakeholders from
within the organization (CEO, COO, CFO,
Directors of information technology, Directors
of Clinical services, trainers and practitioners),
and even outside of their organization.
The leadership group can also invite a
health buddie (family member or friend)
to take the MHH online course (up to 20
people in a group) and share their experiences
of making a health improvement by exploring
deep change. This same process is replicated
with the employees of the company, so
that they all gain a deeper understanding
of the change process through the direct
experience of using the online learning
process. If they do not have internet
access, they can use the mutual aid and
self-help guidebook: individually or in
small groups, with support of a health
buddie and/or health guide (telephonically
or in person).
With a greater understanding
about the complexity of behavior change,
leaders can enhance their stewardship
in developing cost-effective, high-touch,
high-tech, behavior change programs. Forward-thinking
and cutting-edge health care organizations
will:
- Enhance the ROI among existing programs
- Expand the reach of programs with
lower delivery costs
- Reduce demand on primary and secondary
care services
- Lower health care utilization and
avoidable costs
