Workplace Health Services Blog

One of the most common myths in the employer sponsored onsite healthcare clinic industry is that if an onsite health clinic provider is a member of a Health System or affiliated with the local hospital, the provider’s only motivation is to refer employees to the system, increasing employer health costs.

The proverbial “fox in the hen house…”

Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, being a member of a health system enables us to reduce medical expenses in a number of ways.

We clearly understand the Continuum of Care (primary prevention, secondary prevention, specialty care and tertiary care), and where each employee fits within it. Our goal is ensure that every employee receives the most appropriate care at the lowest possible cost – within the healthcare environment of their choice and within their insurance plan network.

If an employee is healthy, we work to keep them that way through Primary Prevention programs which encourage wellness through health screenings, risk assessments and ongoing education. These programs are available onsite at a fixed cost (which is much lower than the “fee for service” costs paid for doctor visits).

Should the employee become sick or injured, our onsite health clinics can provide Secondary Care as well. By offering services ranging from light urgent care to proactive health risk management, we identify and treat most minor medical conditions onsite, which reduces the need to use urgent care clinics and emergency rooms, again lowering employer expenses.

When an employee does reach a “disease state” requiring either Specialty Care (treatment by a specialist) or Tertiary Care (hospitalization), we work with them to find a provider and system that works well for them – based on expertise, location, patient preference and more. Our only motivation is to provide excellent patient care and to improve the health of each individual.

Having an onsite health clinic affiliated with a larger health system, we get the employee to the right specialist (not the most expensive one) for his or her condition. Secondly, we provide that specialist with the employee’s complete medical profile, avoiding costly duplication of testing.

Finally, once the employee has been restored to health, the specialist sends the employee back to us for ongoing monitoring. The specialist also provides all additional information needed for successful follow-up, so the care can be performed at the Onsite Health Clinic at a much lower fixed cost.

This integrated approach not only reduces medical expenses, it improves both employee health and morale. Each employee is receives the right treatment for their condition, and they don’t have to “start over” at each stage of the treatment.

As our client’s will tell you, a well connected fox with the right motivation to improve individual health is the best thing that ever happened to their hens … and their bottom lines.

Photo: Svaldifari

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