Psychotherapy-Trained Miami Native Returns to Sales to Promote Corporate Wellness Via Premium EAP Programs

James Alterman, MBA, puts Psychology Doctorate Title, PsyD, on Hold to Promote Corporate Wellness and Productivity for Premium EAP Firm. Melting His Business and Psychotherapy Training into a New Career Just Made Sense.

San Antonio, TX (PRWEB) September 25, 2005

What does a marketing MBA do who wants to pursue a "helping" career and stay in the business world at the same time. He promotes corporate wellness via the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) business. In fact, educated in political science, marketing and clinical psychology, James believes that keeping employee morale and productivity at the highest levels possible seems to be a noble goal. "It's like having my own individual corporate mission." For him, the EAP offered the best of both worlds, an opportunity to explain BOTH business and stress-related factors for improving individual performance in every company. If a company has an EAP already, he has a three-part goal: To show "We are better, let me prove it to you (via comparison to current services), and give me a chance" (by trying my product for at least a year).

After researching various firms to work for, he found that the best EAP service firms offer: 1) expanded programs like health risk-reduction coaching; 2) expert account managers who "partner" with Human Resources and CFOs for proactive professional productivity management and 3) provide useful information and consultation to address HR challenges. In addition, he found premium EAPs are innovative and can save hundreds of thousands of dollars in self-funded mental wellness risk pools when compared with years when these programs were not in effect. He is finding a considerable number of firms do not have gatekeeper services--which help protect the risk pool's assets from capricious use of psychiatric services that may not be necessary.

With a premium EAP, most problems are solved at that EAP level. Then, if more clinically complex assistance is required, i. e., long-term care beyond the scope of the EAP, a premium provider can still help. Case management and gatekeeper services eliminate wasted healthcare expenditures and ensure employees are directed to the best and most cost effective solution. "It's a case of the right provider being chosen the very first time! When you think it through, it's really like money in the bank."

For example, one particular type of firm, the "Freestanding EAP," has saved Fortune 500 firms significantly in operational expenses. This is accomplished by remaining independent from insurance firms and avoiding any conflict of interest regarding continuity of care and payment issues. "A freestanding EAP can measurably reduce overall benefit plan cost and simultaneously increase the quality of care to clients," says James Alterman, MA, MBA, the trained clinical psychotherapist and a national EAP marketing executive.

In contrast to vertically integrated EAPs, that often own the provider networks receiving their referrals, the "freestanding EAP" never collects payments from employees or from the insurance plan. That allows the free-standing service to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest. Regarding the overall savings achieved with a free standing service, some firms have demonstrated a 93 percent client resolution-rate at the EAP-level for those who come directly to the EAP for assistance. This means about 7 percent or fewer clients are referred into their insurance plan with significant cost savings. ROI with this kind of program is often 4 to 1 or greater when taking cost of disability, workers compensation, absenteeism and other hard expenditures into account. In addition, self-insured risk pool gatekeeper services have been shown to yield 23% savings from non-gatekeeper assisted risk pool benefits products.

James says he feels fortunate in his position as sales executive for a top nationally established, EAP organization that promotes mental and physical wellness with "customized care packages," as James describes them. He has always pursued firms that do not try to do too many things to the detriment of the goal of doing one thing extremely well. Therefore, he is happiest at a firm that specializes and shines as an EAP that enhances corporate wellness and productivity, and, that gives a strong ROI every year. His ideal firm has counselors with the ability to work with everything from substance-dependence to family-related challenges or emotionally difficult situations. For more details about this, he welcomes your call at (312) 238-9257 OR toll free, (866) 694-8781.

Jim emphasizes that innovation is key. This means your EAP should be continually analyzing and evaluating the needs of current and future client companies. He directs all of his marketing campaigns to the CFO or equivalent--because "these folks get it that people who have focus are more motivated to execute the corporate mission than those who are troubled. And, executing that mission should be the CFO's goal. And, in return for having a quality EAP, the bottom line improves.

Premium EAPs constantly "re-tool" and modify their offerings to meet customer needs and conform their services to an evolving market and ever changing workplace culture. Premium EAPs are not tied to huge insurance firms who may self-refer counseling services while failing to protect insurance investment by their client firms.

In contrast to so-called freestanding EAP product companies, who hide in the shadow of large insurance firms, James explained, "freestanding services provide professional account managers who manage the entire business and consultation relationship. Comprehensive, freestanding EAP services help with enhancing the quality of recruitment, retention, morale and productivity. All of this being achieved without a conflict of interest.

A prime directive, James reports, is to "keep employees productive" by offering a full range of consulting services for management and supervisors as well as counseling services. Managers are given expert consultation and support when faced with having to conduct employee interventions for productivity issues. In these cases the EAP consultant and the supervisor work together to solve problems.

Having the appropriate expertise to partner with VPs of Human Resources and Chief Financial Officers who hope to enhance the bottom line every fiscal year requires EAP partners with confirmed experience in the field or some sort of certification. "A firm with experienced or certified EAP consultants is the only way to go", Alterman says. "Firms that integrate EAP and insurance typically do not have super-experienced EAP consultants or Certified Employee Assistance Professionals (CEAPs) providing account management and consulting. This makes problem-solving less efficient and less effective," he explained.

Picture a situation where a work group member or leader begins to disrupt the workplace by churning through personal problems on the business phone at work. Negative emotions are expressed and work piles-up. Other employees "have to take up the slack." This condition can be demoralizing to the rest of the work team in short order. Problems like the one above, absenteeism, poor motivation or communication challenges are issues that can positively be impacted by a professional, freestanding EAP consultant.

A premium, freestanding EAP should be a "behavioral solution provider" and a "risk management tool." It protects a company's largest and most valuable investment, its people, while lowering risk and liability.

Full service programs impact cost on multiple levels, by delivering innovative services like health risk assessments (HRAs) and wellness coaching, highly effective counseling and account management with a personal touch. A sound investment: Ideally, savvy HR, Operations executives and CFOs will choose a high-quality, free-standing (architecturally clean), and innovative EAPs with a proven track record.

The highest quality, freestanding EAPs, have a sense of family and teamwork that should pervade the atmosphere and characterize the culture. This winds-up being "transferable technology" as it works to benefit both clients and their workplaces, alike. Alterman explains: "This is my goal for the EAP services firm that I work with. When it happens, it's so refreshing to feel true customer service running through the veins of your own organization. I like to use the latest technological, audio-visual and internet-based communications tools to enhance marketing and customer service to the max."

Alterman concludes: "We don't make products you can drive around the block. Our entire offering is person-to-person solutions underpinned by a caring attitude. Both people and organizations benefit." At 866-694-8781, you can reach Jim to give you a customized vision of a truly unique EAP experience to enhance the contribution of your most valuable asset, your people.

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