[SPONSORED CONTENT]
In the fast-paced global business landscape, the health and wellbeing of employees on international assignments and business travel are crucial for organisational success.
Traditional healthcare models often fall short in addressing the unique challenges these individuals face, such as cultural adjustments and social isolation.
Social prescribing and lifestyle medicine provide a holistic solution by addressing these issues through community support and healthy lifestyle choices.
Social prescribing
Social prescribing connects individuals with non-medical support within their communities, addressing social determinants of health.
This approach empowers assignees and business travellers to improve their health through lifestyle changes and community engagement, enhancing their overall wellbeing, quality of life, and productivity.
It is particularly effective in managing chronic health conditions by providing personalised interventions such as nutrition counselling and stress management programs.
Additionally, it promotes mental health and resilience by offering access to counselling services and mindfulness programs, which are essential for adapting to new environments.
Lifestyle medicine
Lifestyle medicine complements social prescribing by emphasizing self-care and healthy lifestyle choices.
It focuses on key areas such as nutrition, physical activity, and stress management, supporting sustainable lifestyle changes.
Together, these approaches create a robust framework for health that can significantly benefit globally mobile employees.
Implementation strategies
To effectively implement these strategies, organisations can:
- Form relationships with skilled clinical teams: Work with healthcare carriers who offer access to clinical teams proficient in social prescribing and lifestyle medicine to ensure that employees receive high-quality, personalised care.
- Integrate elements into benefit plans: Incorporate social prescribing elements into benefit plans, such as access to fitness facilities, counselling services, and wellness programs.
- Educate and engage employees: Develop strategies to educate employees about the benefits of social prescribing and lifestyle medicine, increasing participation and awareness. Engaging employees in these health initiatives helps them take control of their wellbeing, leading to better mental and physical health.
- Continuous assessment and refinement: Regularly assess the impact of these health interventions using real-world feedback and data analysis. This ensures that the programs remain effective and relevant and allows for the refinement of strategies as needed.
By prioritising innovative health strategies, organizations may be able to achieve higher success rates in their international operations and foster a supportive and productive workplace culture.
About Dr Shoba Subramanian, BMBS, BMedsci, MRCGP, DRCOG, DipTropMed, DipLM, Medical Director, EMEA
Dr Shoba Subramanian is UnitedHealthcare Global medical director for the Europe, Middle East and Africa regions. She leads clinical teams in the UK, Europe, US and Philippines to help deliver safe medical transportation for assistance and insurance members. Shoba holds diplomas in tropical medicine, lifestyle medicine, and obstetrics and gynaecology, and has considerable knowledge of global healthcare systems – with expertise in travel health, aviation medicine and occupational health.
She is a former GP and advanced life support-certified doctor who has provided remote clinical care for 10 years.
Dr Subramanian is also a member of the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Health Management, the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine, the International Society of Travel Medicine and the European Aero-Medical Institute.
