A health coach is a wellness professional who supports individuals in developing positive healthy habits through ongoing one-on-one communication, which may occur face-to-face, over the telephone, or electronically. Duke employees working 8 hours or more per week have free access to our health coaching programs.  Read below to determine the best program for you and to enroll.

Typically, communication lasts 15-20 minutes and occurs monthly for the duration of the program. Health coaches can help individuals to hone in on focus areas, provide education, and support individual goals. Examples of health goals are:

• Improve sleep
• Manage stress
• Lose Weight
• Lower cholesterol or blood pressure
• Improve blood sugar
• Change eating habits
• Change exercise habits
• Prepare for metabolic surgery
• Quit smoking

Risk Based Health Coaching

Our risk based health coaching program is provided by health coaches that have a high level of training in managing risk factors for preventable disease.  Coaches for our risk based program are typically registered Dietitians or Registered Nurses, and have the ability to work closely with participants by meeting at various Duke work-sites, in addition to telephone based meetings and email communication. The length of the program is 12 months, and renewal in the program is available for those making progress toward their goals.

You may join our risk based program if you meet any of the following conditions:

• Body Mass Index (BMI) > 30; or history of Gastric Bypass/ Gastric Banding/ Bariatric procedure.
• Total Serum cholesterol (TC) > 240 mg/dL; or Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) > 160 mg/dL; or currently on cholesterol lowering medication; or diagnosis of hyperlipidemia.
• Blood Pressure (systolic) > 130; or (diastolic) > 80; or currently on blood pressure lowering medication; or diagnosis of Stage I/II hypertension.
• Fasting plasma glucose > 105 mg/dL; or post-prandial (non-fasting) plasma glucose > 140 mg/dL; or diagnosis of pre-diabetes or diabetes; or currently taking glucose lowering medication.

To enroll in our risk based coaching program, you will need to complete our online health assessment. In addition, you will need to have your health measures taken by a health professional no more than 3 months prior to enrollment. These measures can be taken free of charge by joining us for a health assessment or by submitting your health measures with supporting documents online during program enrollment. Once these two steps are completed, you may request enrollment in this program.

Prevention Based Health Coaching

Employees who choose this option don't need to have specific risk factors to enroll- a desire to maintain or improve your health is all that is required! The length of the program depends on the month of your enrollment, which is renewed as desired each year in the month of March.

Our prevention based program is delivered remotely over the telephone and through messaging on our secure web-based platform, MyHealth. Health coaches for this program are degreed health professionals with special training in health coaching.

To enroll in our prevention based coaching program, you will need to complete our online health assessment. In addition, you will need to have your health measures taken by a health professional no more than 3 months prior to enrollment. These measures can be taken free of charge by joining us for a health assessment. Alternatively, you may submit your health measures from a recent visit to your health care professional when you fill out the health coaching enrollment form.

Pathways to Change (Pre-Bariatric Procedure Health Coaching)

If you are a benefits eligible employee or dependent with a Duke insurance plan, you may choose to enroll in Pathways to Change, our pre-bariatric procedure health coaching program.  We will work with you for at least 3 months prior to your procedure and will continue to support you with lifestyle changes throughout the following year. Program start is typically initiated after your first visit to the Duke Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery but is available for enrollment at any time.  The program requirements must be completed no more than 6 months prior to the date of surgery. For enrollment instructions, please contact Sally Neve, RD, at 681-0525. Other requirements apply.  Please see Bariatric Surgery Benefits for further information.

Tobacco Quit Coaching

Are you, or someone you love, ready to use less tobacco or quit using tobacco?  Components if this program include:

• Copay-free visits with our provider for consideration of prescribed medication therapies. 
• Low-cost nicotine replacement therapies such as gums, lozenges, or patches.
• Quarterly follow up visits with a tobacco quit coach (in person or telephonic sessions are available).

To enroll in this program, please fill out a registration form or call (919) 684-3136 option 1.