--- title: "Using unlicensed health coaches in DM and HTN. | Sutter Health" description: "Although the health coach program did not change patients' biometrics, physicians and patients reported improved care processes and reduced physician workload." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/using-health-coaches-dm-htn-1055312462" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Research](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research) / 3. [Research publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications) / 4. Using unlicensed health coaches in DM and HTN. # Using unlicensed health coaches to improve care for insured patients with diabetes and hypertension: patient and physician perspectives on recruitment and uptake. Dillon E, Panattoni L, Meehan A, Chuang J, Wilson C, & Tai-Seale M. _Popul Health Manag. \[Epub ahead of print\]_ 2015-12-16 ## Abstract Health coach programs using low-cost unlicensed providers have largely targeted uninsured or underserved populations, raising questions about uptake and effectiveness for insured patients. This observational study evaluated the referral process, uptake, and effectiveness of a health coach program for patients with diabetes and/or hypertension at a multispecialty clinic. Data included appointment observations; interviews with patients, physicians, and health coaches; patient and physician characteristics; and measures of utilization and clinical outcomes. Out of 1313 eligible patients, 308 (23.5%) were referred over a 12-month period and 169 (54.9%) had at least 1 health coach appointment. Although the health coach program did not change patients' biometrics, physicians and patients reported improved care processes and reduced physician workload. Barriers to enrollment included variability in physician referral practices, patient willingness, and scheduling difficulties. Modifications to physician and health coach workflow are needed to determine the program's true effectiveness. [PubMed abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26674597) ## Research topics - [Disease Management](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Disease+Management%5C%22%22) - [Cardiovascular Diseases](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Cardiovascular+Diseases%5C%22%22) - [Diabetes, Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Syndrome](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Diabetes%2C+Insulin+Resistance+and+Metabolic+Syndrome%5C%22%22) - [Health Services](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Health+Services%5C%22%22) ## Related publications [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) - Publication ### [Colesevelam in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and hyperglycemia: a retrospective analysis from an ambulatory care medical network.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/colesevelam-in-treatment-of-hypercholesterolemia-1055312718) Romanelli RJ, Leahy A, Jukes T, Ye X, Qian C, Ishisaka DY. Curr Med Res Opin. 29(12):1747-56. doi: 10.1185/03007995.2013. 2013 Dec 01 - Publication ### [Patients' medication-related experience of care is associated with adherence to cardiometabolic disease therapy in real-world clinical practice.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/pt-experience-of-care-associated-with-cmd-tx-adherence-1055312299) Romanelli RJ, Huang Q, LaMori J, Doshi D, Chung S. Popul Health Manag. doi: 10.1089/pop.2017.0163. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2018 Mar 12 - Publication ### [Pharmacist-led medication management program within a patient-centered medical home.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/pharmacist-led-medication-management-in-pcmh-1055312959) Romanelli RJ, Leahy A, Jukes T, Ishisaka DY. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 72(6):453-9. doi: 10.2146/ajhp140487. 2015 Mar 15 - Publication ### [Workflow standardization of a novel team care model to improve chronic care: a quasi-experimental study.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/std-workflow-team-care-model-improve-chronic-care-1055312331) Panattoni L, Hurlimann L, Wilson C, Durbin M, Tai-Seale M. BMC Health Serv Res. 2017 Apr 19;17(1):286. doi: 10.1186/s12913-017-2240-1. 2017 Apr 19 - Publication ### [Cost estimates for designing and implementing a novel team care model for chronically ill patients.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/cost-estimates-to-design-implement-chronic-care-model-1055312334) Panattoni L, Dillon E, Hurlimann L, Durbin M, Tai-Seale M. J Ambul Care Manage. doi: 10.1097/JAC.0000000000000209. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2017 Sep 25 [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/using-health-coaches-dm-htn-1055312462#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Research publications","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Using unlicensed health coaches in DM and HTN."}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/using-health-coaches-dm-htn-1055312462#medicalscholarlyarticle","name":"Using unlicensed health coaches to improve care for insured patients with diabetes and hypertension: patient and physician perspectives on recruitment and uptake.","headline":"Using unlicensed health coaches in DM and HTN.","abstract":"Health coach programs using low-cost unlicensed providers have largely targeted uninsured or underserved populations, raising questions about uptake and effectiveness for insured patients. This observational study evaluated the referral process, uptake, and effectiveness of a health coach program for patients with diabetes and/or hypertension at a multispecialty clinic. Data included appointment observations; interviews with patients, physicians, and health coaches; patient and physician characteristics; and measures of utilization and clinical outcomes. Out of 1313 eligible patients, 308 (23.5%) were referred over a 12-month period and 169 (54.9%) had at least 1 health coach appointment. Although the health coach program did not change patients' biometrics, physicians and patients reported improved care processes and reduced physician workload. Barriers to enrollment included variability in physician referral practices, patient willingness, and scheduling difficulties. Modifications to physician and health coach workflow are needed to determine the program's true effectiveness.","description":"Although the health coach program did not change patients' biometrics, physicians and patients reported improved care processes and reduced physician workload.","keywords":["Disease Management","Cardiovascular Diseases","Diabetes, Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Syndrome","Health Services"],"datePublished":"2015-12-16","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/using-health-coaches-dm-htn-1055312462","inLanguage":"en-US","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","propertyID":"PMID","value":"26674597"}],"sameAs":["https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26674597/"],"isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"Popul Health Manag"},"author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Dillon E"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Panattoni L"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Meehan A"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Chuang J"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Wilson C"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Tai-Seale M"}],"sourceOrganization":{"@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute"},"about":[{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Disease Management","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Disease+Management%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"},{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Cardiovascular Diseases","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Cardiovascular+Diseases%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"},{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Diabetes, Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Syndrome","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Diabetes%2C+Insulin+Resistance+and+Metabolic+Syndrome%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"},{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Health Services","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Health+Services%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"}],"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/using-health-coaches-dm-htn-1055312462","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/using-health-coaches-dm-htn-1055312462#breadcrumblist"}}} ```