2.) What are your goals?

There is a big difference between reducing medical trend and increasing employee morale as the primary objectives of a wellness program. These only represent two of the myriad of reasons that a company will implement a wellness program. These goals aren't mutually exclusive, but if you have multiple goals, be sure to understand which are most important. Rank them (yes, actually write them down) before making any decisions, and be sure to have input from all decision makers.

3.) What motivational tactics do you plan on employing?

The question of incentive use and what will be the determining factor in earning incentives is likely to be one of the most polarizing questions that you will face.  The answer to this should align seamlessly with your organizational culture and goals. Be sure to have a consensus on this or your program is destined to fail. 

4.) What's your priority?

Unless you have an unlimited budget, when the rubber meets the road, you are likely going to have to prioritize either low risk maintenance (keeping your healthy employees from getting sick) or high risk intervention (engaging your unhealthy with high touch, high cost programs). You will want to have some portion of your program that reaches each, but if pressed, which is a higher priority? Having baseline biometric screening, health risk assessment and/or claims data can make this decision easier.

5.) What message will you convey to your employees?

The answer to this question will likely align closely with your program goals.  If cost containment is the most important goal for your organization, a similar message needs to be communicated to the employee base. The employees should know beyond "what" the wellness program is, "why" it is being implemented and "how" this supports the strategic corporate objectives. 

6.) What are you looking for in a partner?

This question can be answered in many different ways, but it's not something that can be easily prescribed by anyone outside of the organization. In many cases this comes down to a feel. It may come down to a decision of whether you chose a partner with innovative technology or a strong research background. It can feel like comparing apples to oranges, but it is important to know what will drive your decision.

7.) Do you have a supportive foundation?

There are several published research studies that provide components of a supportive environment for wellness programs. These components can go a long way in determining the level of success achieved by your program. Included in this list are components such as written goals, a comprehensive communication strategy and measurement and evaluation of programs. It's worth evaluating these components to determine whether effort should be split to achieve some of these benchmarks.

You might notice this list is devoid of some very basic buying questions. What program components and modalities are we looking for? What is our budget? Will this program work for our employee demographics? These are clearly very important considerations, but these represent a more classic and obvious approach to purchasing. 

Try considering the questions above before asking any of these questions and you are likely to find out far more about yourself, your needs and subsequently find a far more compatible partner.