Systems and methods for support of behavioral modification coaching

• US 20070122780A1
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Behavioral Health Strategies of Utah, LLC
• Original Assignee: Behavioral Health Strategies of Utah, LLC
• Inventors: Moon, Darrell, Massey, Kip
• Application Number:
  US11/590,623
• Publication Number:
  US 20070122780A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/236
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F

Abstract

Methods and systems related to providing cost effective behavioral modification and coaching support for individuals. Individuals that are identified as being at risk for being chronically ill or high utilizers of health care services and as motivationally challenged may be targeted for contact by coaches trained in behavioral modification. By using a computer-based system for tracking the individual'"'"'s progress with respect to any number of goals, which may include both health care related goals and non-health related goals desired by the individuals, the motivation of the individuals may be increased. The attitudinal change brought by the visible tracking of successful goals may lead to increased compliance with health care related goals and a decreased usage of health care services.

Claims

1. A method of providing a behavioral modification program to a subject, the method comprising:

providing the subject with access to a computer-based behavior-modification management system to allow the subject to track progress on a selected goal, wherein the computer-based behavior-modification management system maintains information on the subject to allow a behavioral modification coach to track progress and to schedule contacts with the subject;

requiring the subject to create a goal of the subject'"'"'s choice and input the chosen goal into the computer-based behavior-modification management system for tracking;

requiring the subject to enter information into the computer-based behavior-modification management system for tracking compliance of the subject'"'"'s behavior associated with the chosen goal; and

monitoring the compliance of the subject'"'"'s behavior associated with the goal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein requiring the subject to create a goal of the subject'"'"'s choice and input the chosen goal into the computer-based behavior-modification management system for tracking comprises requiring the subject to create a goal which requires the user to perform actions that lead to an improved health condition.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein requiring the subject to create a goal of the subject'"'"'s choice and input the chosen goal into the computer-based behavior-modification management system for tracking comprises requiring the subject to create a goal which does not require the user to perform actions related to improving or maintaining a health condition.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein requiring the subject to enter information into the computer-based behavior-modification management system for tracking compliance of the subject'"'"'s behavior associated with the chosen goal comprises requiring the subject to enter information on a predetermined periodic basis.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein requiring the subject to enter information into the computer-based behavior-modification management system for tracking compliance of the subject'"'"'s behavior associated with the chosen goal comprises having the subject enter information into a remote computer in communication with the computer-based behavior-modification management system, or report the information to a behavior modification coach for entry into the computer system.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein monitoring the compliance of the subject'"'"'s behavior associated with the goal comprises tracking the compliance of the behavior over a given time period.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein tracking the compliance of the behavior over a given time period comprises discussing the compliance with a behavioral modification coach.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein discussing the compliance with a behavioral modification coach comprises communicating with the coach by telephone or by transmitting messages over a computer network.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein tracking the compliance of the behavior over a given time period comprises providing reports to the subject summarizing compliance over a given time period.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing the subject with access to a computer-based behavior-modification management system to allow the subject to track progress on a selected goal, wherein the computer-based behavior-modification management system maintains information on the subject to allow a behavioral modification coach to track progress and to schedule contacts with the subject comprises providing the subject with access to a computer-based behavior-modification management system to which a behavioral modification coach is allowed access to maintain information on the subject.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein providing the subject with access to a computer-based behavior-modification management system to which a behavioral modification coach is allowed access to maintain information on the subject comprises providing the subject with limited access to a computer-based behavior-modification management system which is used to manage contact between the behavior modification coach and the subject.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein providing the subject with limited access to a computer-based behavior-modification management system which is used to manage contact between the behavioral modification coach and the subject comprises providing access to a computer-based behavior-modification management system which is configured to remind the behavioral modification coach to contact the subject on a periodic basis for support of the selected goals and to record and manage notational information on the subject'"'"'s progress input by the coach.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing a subject with access to a computer-based behavior-modification management system to allow the subject to track progress on a selected goal comprises providing every participant in a health plan with access to the computer-based behavior-modification management system as part of a wellness program.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein providing every participant in a health plan with access to the computer-based behavior-modification management system as part of a wellness program further comprises providing those participants who utilize the computer-based behavior-modification management system with an incentive for utilizing the wellness program.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein providing those participants who utilize the computer-based behavior-modification management system with an incentive for utilizing the wellness program initial comprises providing an initial discount on an insurance premium in exchange for accessing the computer-based behavior-modification management system as an initial utilization of the wellness program

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising providing those participants who continue to utilize the computer-based behavior-modification management system with a subsequent discount on an insurance premium in exchange for continued utilization of the computer-based behavior-modification management system.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein continued utilization of the computer-based behavior-modification management system is defined as actively tracking a goal for at least a portion of a year.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing a subject with access to a computer-based behavior-modification management system to allow the subject to track progress on a selected goal comprises:

identifying specific individuals participating in a health care plan as potential high utilizers of health care services who are motivationally challenged;

establishing contact between the identified individuals and behavioral modification coaches;

making the computer-based behavior-modification management system available to the behavioral modification coaches and the identified individuals to allow the identified individuals to track their progress on selected goals and receive instruction and support from the behavioral modification coaches as part of a disease management program.

19. A method of managing a behavioral modification program, the method comprising:

providing a computer-based behavior-modification management system to allow at least one subject to track progress on a selected goal and to maintain information on the at least one subject and to manage the work of a behavioral modification coach;

requiring the at least one subject to create a goal selected by the subject and enter information into the computer-based behavior-modification management system for tracking compliance of the subject'"'"'s behavior associated with the selected goal; and

managing the behavioral modification coach by scheduling the contacts to be made by the behavioral modification coach with the at least one subject.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein providing a computer-based behavior-modification management system to allow at least one subject to track progress on a selected goal and to maintain information on the at least one subject and to manage the work of a behavioral modification coach comprises providing a computer-based behavior-modification management system requiring the at least one subject to create a goal which leads to an improved health condition.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein providing a computer-based behavior-modification management system to allow at least one subject to track progress on a selected goal and to maintain information on the at least one subject and to manage the work of a behavioral modification coach comprises providing a computer-based behavior-modification management system requiring the at least one subject to create a goal which does not require the at least one subject to perform actions related to improving or maintaining a health condition.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein requiring the at least one subject to enter information into the computer-based behavior-modification management system for tracking compliance of the at least one subject'"'"'s behavior associated with the chosen goal comprises having the at least one subject enter information into a remote computer in communication with the computer-based behavior-modification management system, or report the information to a behavioral modification coach for entry into the computer system.

23. The method according to claim 19, wherein managing the behavioral modification coach by scheduling the contacts to be made by the behavioral modification coach with the at least one subject comprises utilizing reminders generated by the computer-based behavior-modification management system to schedule the contacts on a periodic basis for support of a selected goal.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the reminders generated by the computer-based behavior-modification management system are input therein by the behavioral modification coach in a prior session.

25. The method according to claim 19, wherein the computer-based behavior-modification management system is further configured to and manage notational information on the at least one subject'"'"'s progress input by the behavioral modification coach.