VP Live’s pharmacist coaches can support your employees using evidence-based and inclusive approaches to promote health, healing, and wellbeing. With cold and flu season approaching, and our world continuing to navigate through a pandemic, we want to do all we can to stay healthy. While illnesses caused by viruses like the flu or the common cold can temporarily weaken our immune system, there are several things we can do to support it.
At Virgin Pulse, we understand preventing and managing sickness can be a complex topic. For many, both acute and chronic illnesses impact our ability to implement lifestyle changes and adhere to medical advice. Evidence supports that ongoing communication, collaboration, education, and support are needed to achieve results from medications to improve our health. Our pharmacist health coaches help bridge this gap. They listen intently to support and partner with members to empower them to participate in shared decision-making with their providers and be confident, effective advocates for their health. This translates to improved health outcomes, enhanced quality of life, notable member satisfaction, and stronger relationships with health care providers.
Our approach leans into evidence-based prevention methods to help our members live and be well even outside of the typical cold and flu season. In an effort to partner with members to stay healthy and avoid illness, we're inquisitive and curious. We take the time to learn how they currently stay healthy and optimize their immunity to further brainstorm ideas and provide reputable resources.
Our coaches explore and assess the following areas to support members in the prevention and spread of colds and influenza viruses:
Additionally, coaches are in a unique position to help identify and prevent problems with cough and cold products in personal situations such as educating how Over-The-Counter (OTC) medication can impact blood pressure, or supporting a breastfeeding member who is concerned about the safety of OTC cough and cold medicine and needs to navigate which medications are deemed safer than others. At the forefront of these coaching scenarios, coaches are encouraging members to also discuss safer options with their provider, highlighting the importance of discussing all OTC medications/vitamins/supplements to proactively prevent medication therapy problems such as allergic reactions, drug-drug interaction, drug-disease interactions, etc.
With coronavirus variants still looming in some parts of the world, the ability to distinguish between COVID-19 and the common cold and flu continues to be a relevant challenge. Here is a helpful resource from the CDC to help differentiate the common cold, flu, and COVID-19.
Disclaimer: Information presented in this article is not intended to take the place of medical advice.
VP Live Coaching features a whole-person approach that blends lifestyle optimization with specialization in an industry-leading 22 conditions, providing total population health management that helps the healthy stay healthy, improves clinical outcomes, and reduces costs associated with chronic conditions. Members access coaching resources directly through their app and once paired with a coach, they identify their goals for a thriving life and work together to progress toward their vision and achieve their targeted outcomes. To learn more about VP Live, reach out to your Client Success team.
Also part of the VP Live product suite, Next-Steps Consult helps members get the most out of their wellbeing program. It is a concierge-style conversation between member and Health Guide, focused on determining a member’s first or next step in their wellbeing journey and personalized guidance of all that Virgin Pulse and employer benefits have to offer. Our Health Guides uncover the best route for a member based on their health status, motivators, and obstacles, with deep knowledge of client programs and resources.
Laura is a Registered Pharmacist with an MBA from Drake University, a Certified Homeopath, and a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach with a drive and motivation to help people to utilize medications safely and appropriately to get the best outcomes with their personal unique health needs. With an understanding of both sides of the health care spectrum, holistic and allopathic, she strives to take an integrative approach to guide people to resources and answer questions regarding medications, supplements, health conditions using a whole person coaching perspective to elicit what may be good options a person may need.
Morgan is a Registered Pharmacist, and National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach. She has an undergraduate biology degree and a doctorate from the University of Colorado in Pharmacy and has previously worked in clinical and community health settings providing medication therapy management, anti-coagulation care, and community health education. Morgan is passionate about weaving evidence-based medicine supporting individual autonomy. She currently resides in Minnesota, with her husband and 2 children and they are excited to welcome their 3rd child this fall.
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