PacifiCare Behavioral Health Enhances Its Employee Assistance Programs With New, Innovative Online and Telephonic Services
Posted on: Tuesday, 27 December 2005, 09:00 CST
SANTA ANA, Calif., Dec. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- PacifiCare Behavioral Health (PBH) launched a new behavioral health care model that offers online and telephonic services and flexible self-care options.
These include coaching and counseling via phone and self-care via the Web. The enhanced Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) also offer other learning formats including audio and educational workbooks.
"PacifiCare Behavioral Health is aiming to raise the bar and set new standards for Employee Assistance Programs by expanding the channels and choices people have beyond traditional outpatient therapy and alternative/inpatient treatment," said Jerry Vaccaro, M.D., president and chief executive officer of PBH, a subsidiary of Cypress, Calif.-based PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. We are utilizing newer technology and convenience with more flexible options such as telephone coaching and online learning in addition to traditional treatment options. People nationwide now can have more access to support services and improve well-being in a way that best meets their needs and reflects their personal style."
The company's HelpLines connects members with personal coaches for sessions delivered on demand or scheduled at the caller's convenience. All personal coaches are licensed behavioral health professionals and certified as EAP Coaching Specialists (EACS) through the Institute for Life Coach Learning.
"We have seen in member surveys that a majority of callers said they would recommend the service to family and friends -- a response in large part attributed to how beneficial and convenient HelpLines coaching was in helping them resolve their concerns and go on living their lives," Vaccaro added.
The addition of interactive self-care programs to the PBH model helps people overcome everyday challenges with tools that help put them in control. Electronic cognitive behavioral health (eCBT) modules on depression, stress and anxiety, and problem drinking -- cited as some of the costliest conditions in the workplace -- use a traditional clinical foundation in a multimedia environment.
Through the eCBT modules, users receive a personalized content prescription based on answers to PBH's statistically validated assessment tool. The content prescription guides the user to a collection of condition-specific information and resources. One-to-one consultation with a team of specially certified coaches is available by phone if and when users need assistance navigating the modules or resolving specific concerns. PBH assesses service impact and validates outcomes by using screening tools that track progress over time. These objective measures help demonstrate service effectiveness and show patients how much they've improved.
PBH's redesigned portfolio of EAP feature three new configurations to fit a variety of business needs:
Tele-Web EAP A new choice in EAPs and designed for companies with mobile work forces, decentralized operations and those in high-tech fields, Tele-Web combines web-based self-care and telephonic coaching and offers convenient access to licensed, certified telephonic coaches, screening tools and progress checkers, online guided CBT programs, audio lessons, instant messaging with subject matter experts, online searchable databases and other web-based tools. Classic EAP The Classic EAP includes all of PBH's Tele-Web services and traditional face-to-face EAP counseling (in a variety of session models). Also included is a suite of employer services (e.g., management consultations), online HR toolkit, onsite trainings and unlimited critical incident stress management services. Advantage EAP The Advantage EAP offers employers a more comprehensive benefit that includes all of the features of the Classic EAP plus qualified work-life referrals, concierge services, fitness and weight management referrals, a multi-session audio program for anxiety and depression, and a variety of multimedia Life Cycle Kits.
A collection of fee-for-service choices -- such as concierge services, student homework helpline, dependent-care coaching and other value-added options -- give employers the flexibility to custom-design an EAP that best fits their employees' needs.
"We believe our redesigned and expanded EAP portfolio sets a new industry standard with an Employee Assistance Program from PacifiCare Behavioral Health that brings more services to more people," added Dr. Vaccaro. "As services use increases, employers see the benefits in increased workplace productivity and more value for their investment in quality benefits."
About PacifiCare Behavioral Health
PacifiCare Behavioral Health, Inc. provides mental health, chemical dependency and employee assistance services to covered members and maintains a national network of behavioral healthcare practitioners. All PacifiCare Behavioral Health service centers hold three-year, Full Accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), as well as URAC Health Utilization Management and Case Management Accreditation. PacifiCare Behavioral Health is a wholly owned subsidiary of PacifiCare Health Systems, with clients including health plans, union trust funds, employers, school districts and public sector agencies. PacifiCare Behavioral Health is headquartered in Santa Ana, California and online at http://www.pbhi.com/.
About PacifiCare Health Systems
PacifiCare Health Systems is one of the nation's largest consumer health organizations with more than three million health plan members and approximately 10 million specialty plan members nationwide. PacifiCare offers individuals, employers and Medicare beneficiaries a variety of consumer-driven health care and life insurance products. Currently, more than 99 percent of PacifiCare's commercial health plan members are enrolled in plans that have received Excellent Accreditation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). PacifiCare's specialty operations include behavioral health, dental and vision, and complete pharmacy benefit management through its wholly owned subsidiary, Prescription Solutions. More information on PacifiCare Health Systems is available at http://www.pacificare.com/.
Contacts: Brad Lotterman, APR Dan Miller PacifiCare Behavioral Health PacifiCare Health Systems (714) 445-0453 (714) 226-3726 brad.lotterman@phs.com dan.miller@phs.com
PacifiCare Behavioral Health
CONTACT: Brad Lotterman, APR, of PacifiCare Behavioral Health,+1-714-445-0453, brad.lotterman@phs.com, or Dan Miller of PacifiCare HealthSystems, +1-714-226-3726, dan.miller@phs.com
Web site: http://www.pbhi.com/http://www.pacificare.com/
Source: PRNewswire
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