"I know that what I do every day makes a difference, and I’m not sure I felt that way in other traditional healthcare settings," says Suzanne Falaschetti, a health coach for Leade Health.

A pioneer in the field of health coaching, Leade Health maintains a unique business model where coaches and participants work together for 12 months in a dedicated partnership. Coaches also enjoy a work-from-home architecture, as opposed to being in a traditional call center. Falaschetti credits the combination of flexibility and dedicated relationships as the cornerstone of Leade Health’s successful approach to behavioral change.

"Most of our coaches would not be interested in working in a call center where we might be asked to pick up a randomly dialed call," notes Falaschetti, who has worked with Leade Health since 2001. "With Leade Health, I have the opportunity to develop a personal working relationship with the plan participant by offering my undivided attention on the phone, without having to sit in a call center where I might hear other people talking."

Falaschetti balances a caseload of approximately 750 members, and her specialty is tobacco cessation. Leade Health coaching programs include iCanQuit™ Tobacco Cessation, iCanChange™ Weight Management and iCanRelax™ Stress Management. Participants get to know their health coach from the very first "triage call," where the coach collects important health history information and develops a health plan based on the participant’s goals. Typically, calls occur most frequently over the first weeks and months as the participant begins to implement behavior changes, and coach and participant build trust and rapport with each other. The frequency tapers down as participants reach milestones, but typically pick back up if a participant gives into old habits.

"We know there are times when they fall back into bad habits, and that’s normal. It can be beneficial to the coaching relationship for them to admit that, and for us as coaches to react in a positive way -- rather than scolding them for falling off the wagon," admits Falaschetti, whose current caseload is comprised of health plan participants. She continued, "It comes down to helping participants take control and responsibility -- helping them to understand and practice their own problem-solving skills in a supportive and safe environment."

Falaschetti contributes successful health coaching to three key elements: remaining empathetic toward the participant, perpetuating trust, and leaving control in the participant’s court. She and other Leade Health coaches empower the participant to "drive the bus," giving them a real sense of accomplishment and self-awareness during the program. With 27% of all tobacco enrollees remaining abstinent after 12 month, the highest quit rates in the industry, the Leade Health coaching philosophy seems to be working well.

Coaches are trained in certain accounts ranging from large health plans to independent employers, and to states with smoking quit lines. Health Coaches are conveniently located in all time zones and regions of the country, giving more flexibility to participants. Over 75% of Leade Health coaches have a Master’s Degree or higher, and coaches average 10 years experience of clinical or coaching experience.

"If I’m doing my job well," Falaschetti adds, "then participants will look forward to my calls."

For additional information on Leade Health, visit www.leadehealth.com.

About Leade Health
Founded in 1990 and based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Leade Health specializes in Health Coaching in the areas of Weight Management, Stress Management, Tobacco Cessation, and Cardiovascular Health. The health coaching firm has earned a reputation for partnership integrity, product innovation and program impact. Leade Health‘s success rates from its signature Health Coaching model achieve outcome results that exceed national norms.

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