Ignorance is never bliss, especially when it comes to your health and wellbeing. Preventative care is the cornerstone of a long and healthy life. And today, we’re living in an exciting era where new technologies are revolutionizing how we approach preventative strategies. With cutting-edge tools and unprecedented access to information, we have more power than ever to take proactive steps towards better health.
But even the most advanced technology is not without its flaws. And even the most advanced technology can’t replace human guidance (at least not just yet!). No one knows this better than health coaches. Health coaches are the unsung heroes of preventative care. They help clients build up the strength to pursue daunting, but important, health screenings, and are long-term partners in implementing lifestyle changes that turn test results into real, lasting progress. By connecting data to daily habits, they ensure that insights don’t just sit on paper, they drive transformation.
This is absolutely true when it comes to medically-ordered testing and regular preventative screenings like annual skin checks, colonoscopies and regular mammograms. But health coaches play an even more integral role in self-elected preventative screenings like the increasingly popular Prenuvo scan. In today’s blog, we make the case for why health coaches should always be an integral part of your health and care team!
Preparing for the Test
One of the biggest barriers to preventative care is simply deciding to pursue testing in the first place. This can be especially difficult when it comes to doctor-ordered screenings like mammograms and of course is only further accentuated when we know we’re at risk. That same uncertainty and fear, however, are also present when pursuing elective scans like Prenuvo, a whole-body MRI designed to detect early signs of disease and abnormalities.
With a high price tag and no physician referral required, Prenuvo represents a powerful but often intimidating step toward proactive health and one that’s rapidly gaining attention in the world of preventative medicine. Findings can range from skeletal abnormalities to benign tumors and even aneurysms. This range of unexpected yellow and red flags can be particularly anxiety-provoking, especially since, according to Prenuvo’s website, “nearly all of us have some degree of imaging ‘abnormalities’ and findings.”
This is exactly where health coaches come in. They play a vital role at this early, decision-making stage by helping clients navigate the logistical and emotional complexities of testing. They understand the power of early detection and are uniquely positioned to help clients unpack their fears, clarify their motivations, and build the confidence needed to move forward with testing. By helping clients connect the dots between proactive health choices and long-term wellbeing, coaches turn hesitation into action.
Managing the Waiting Period
Once clients have built up the courage to pursue testing, the waiting period between testing and receiving results can be just as challenging. For some people, this uncertainty can be enough to deter them from even testing at all – an arguably worse outcome than receiving less than ideal results. The emotional weight of the unknown can lead to spiraling thoughts, stress, and even regret. Health coaches are invaluable at helping clients navigate this emotional limbo. They provide grounding support, offer perspective, and equip clients with tools to manage anxiety, so the waiting doesn’t feel paralyzing. Instead, it becomes an opportunity to practice resilience, stay present, and focus on what can be controlled.
Actioning Results
Perhaps the most crucial role health coaches play comes after the results are in. While tests like Prenuvo provide valuable insights – and even offer trained Nurse Practitioners to interpret the results and answer questions, plus the option to share results with your physician – the real work happens at implementation, not interpretation. We’ve always said real health change happens beyond the doctor’s office, and in this case, it’s beyond Prenuvo, too.
The real work happens with health coaching. Health coaches help clients digest their results and translate them into sustainable lifestyle changes. Moreover, health coaches know their clients and can help action results in partnership with patient care teams and in a way that’s personalized and effective. Whether it’s managing risk factors, improving nutrition, or adjusting daily habits, coaches ensure that action follows awareness.
Prenuvo represents a remarkable leap forward in preventative care, offering a powerful glimpse into the future of proactive health monitoring. But Prenuvo and other similar tests without actionable follow-up steps like REAL health coaching is risky. Empowering people with information is powerful, but without structured, long-term support, that power can become overwhelming. The real transformation doesn’t happen in the scan room or the doctor’s office, it happens in the weeks, months and years that follow, and that’s where health coaches shine. They don’t just help interpret data; they help change lives.
If you’re an organization that’s looking to learn more about REAL health coaching and providing these life-altering services to your clients, patients, members or employees, send us a note to team@yourcoach.health (and Prenuvo, we’d love to hear from you :)).
FAQ:
What role does YourCoach play in supporting preventative health through health coaching?
At YourCoach, we provide REAL, ROI-driven health coaching through the largest validated cohort of verified health and wellbeing coaches. Our health coaches help individuals with a variety of health concerns – many of which are related to preventative care, like adherence to regular screenings and implementing risk-reducing habits. If you’re an organization that’s interested in learning more about how we can provide mental health and sustainable behavior change support for your employees, clients, patients and/or members, send us a note to team@yourcoach.health.
How do health coaches help people prepare for preventative screenings like Prenuvo?
The decision to undergo a scan like Prenuvo can be overwhelming. Health coaches help clients unpack hesitancies, tap into motivations, and ultimately empower clients to pursue preventative screenings. By offering support and emphasizing how preventative screenings like Prenuvo can ladder back to their goals, coaches guide individuals toward taking informed, confident steps in their preventative health journey.
Why can’t technology alone support preventative health?
While tools like Prenuvo offer incredible insights, they don’t provide the ongoing behavioral support needed to make those insights actionable. Health coaches bring the human element that tech lacks. They catalyze change with empathy and make health goals more possible. It’s not just about knowing what to change; it’s about having someone in your corner to help make that change real.