There’s a lot of debate about the state of the healthcare system in our country. No matter where you sit, it’s obvious that improvements can always be made.

We think one way to consistently improve healthcare across the board is to empower the public to take part in their own healthcare. It’s important for everyone to be actively involved in any health activity they undertake. People’s involvement in their own healthcare can mean:

• They’ll be more compliant with prescriptions, treatments and preventative measures.
• They’ll be more comfortable in a healthcare setting.
• They can help their provider avoid mistakes and errors by asking questions and learning the process.
• They can understand the need for prevention strategies and procedures.

We support participant involvement at all of our wellness events. While it’s true that our events fall outside of the traditional “patient/provider” interaction, we recognize that they can help shape participants’ perceptions of healthcare situations.

For that reason, we want to empower participants to be a part of their wellness experience. The more comfortable they are being active at corporate wellness events, the more comfortable they might be with their own primary care providers.

One way we promote participant involvement is by creating a transparent service provision atmosphere. Transparency allows wellness participants not only to see and hear what you’re doing, but it opens up a two-way flow of communication that fosters questions and communication.

How can you use transparency when working a wellness event?

There are lots of ways to be transparent at a wellness event. All of those start with your attitude. It starts with your willingness to walk through a screening or flu shot WITH a participant, not AT him or her. When you start with a transparent, inviting attitude, the rest flows easily!

Communication with the Participant

From the second a participant sits down at your station or pod, they should be the focus of your attention. Don’t let them feel as though they’re one of one hundred people you’ll see that day (even if that’s true!). Ask how things are going, and speak with them as a fellow human being.

Answer Participant Questions

Preventative services like the wellness events we organize are all about education. A huge part of educating a wellness participant is completely, correctly and kindly answering their questions.

To take it one step further, it’s important to help them feel comfortable enough to ask questions. That means taking time to confirm their understanding of the procedures, being attentive to their reactions, and even directly asking what questions they have.

Explain the Process

There are a lot of steps you’ll take and supplies you’ll use that a wellness participant probably isn’t familiar with. It’s important to help them understand what you’re doing and why you’re doing it.

We ask that you explain the process by verbalizing the steps you take. As you open new pieces of equipment, get things ready and prepare the participant, say what you’re doing out loud. This helps them to see how the steps fit together, but it also helps ensure you don’t miss any steps because you were “going through the motions.”

Any healthcare service—wellness events included—can be intimidating and uncomfortable for those participating. Unfortunately, that often means people aren’t nearly as proactive or involved as they need to be.

At our wellness events, we hope to change that by empowering participants to be part of their screening experience. We hope to provide a comfortable, transparent atmosphere in which communication and questions thrive.

How are you going to maintain transparency at your next wellness event? Offer up your tips and tricks to other contractors in the comments below!