Wellness Plans : Health Risk Appraisals (HRAs).

Health Risk Assessments (HRAs), are an assessment tool or questionnaire scientifically designed to identify health risks and outline information to assist individuals in making healthy changes that impact their health and prevent chronic illness.

HRAs have four standard elements in worksite establishings –

• A Questionnaire

• A Computerized Program to Evaluate Health Risk

• Confidential Individual Reports

• Group Summary Report

Individuals complete a lifestyle questionnaire that includes for example nutrition practices, height and weight, exercise habits, family history, stress perceptions, tobacco use history, and work satisfaction.

Another important feature to consider is readiness to change questions to determine participation interest. Including health testings such as cholesterol and blood pressure (BP) results increases the benefits of an Health Risk Appraisal (HRA) by providing a more precise health assessment and consequently bettering lifestyle choice decisions and health promotion program options.

Notwithstanding, it is crucial that you determine when the HRA may be used without including this information.

The questionnaire information is entered into a computer program and an individual confidential report is generated that summarizes health risks as well as information on how to lower risk factors.

Individual reports are completely confidential. Depending on the reason for beginning the Health Risk Appraisal, it’s important to consider the kind of report the corporation will receive as well.

A group report summarizing major risk factors and recommendations for wellness programs to implement for reduce employee and organization risks provides valuable information for your wellness program.

The Health Risk Appraisals (HRAs) can be used to –

• Bring awareness to individual worker’s health status

• Motivate staff to make healthier lifestyle changes

• Coach high-risk employees

• Plan wellness programs based on the identified needs

• Measure wellness program success by comparing Health Risk Appraisals (HRAs) completed at set intervals like each year.