Annual comprehensive health assessment events are still very valuable employee engagement tools, with the ability to create “teachable moments” for plan participants and their dependents. Traditional health risk assessments, however, cannot match the dynamic qualities of wearable devices and mobile apps, which now generate and store data about behavioral characteristics such as food consumption, blood pressure, weight, physical activity, sleep and more.
As the scope of available health-related data continues to expand and these devices become even more popular, wellness providers will be challenged to find ways of ensuring that information being captured is used in a HIPAA-compliant manner. The value of these tools in workplace wellness will lie in the ability to integrate relevant data sources and use the data to help members achieve desired wellness goals – especially those with chronic health conditions.
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