On-site
Healthcare Gaining Popularity
[Posted 09/11/2008]
Many
larger companies are expressing new interest in an
old concept: on-site healthcare for employees. A
recent survey found that 29% of large employers had
an on-site health center or planned to open one by
2009, up from 27% in 2006. In the survey, companies
with on-site centers said they were interested
primarily in improving productivity and saving
money.
Center
operators say they can reduce absenteeism, both
from sickness and from long trips to the doctor’s
office in the middle of a workday. Better primary
care can also result in savings by preventing
serious illnesses and reducing emergency room
visits.
On-site healthcare centers vary greatly in size and
scope. Some are staffed by doctors, while others
use nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
Many companies use outside firms to provide
healthcare to maintain the privacy of worker health
issues.
Lale
Iskarpatyoti, group and healthcare practice leader
for Watson Wyatt in Philadelphia, says that while
on-site centers can work for companies with as few
as 500 employees in one place, they typically serve
at least 1,000, and you need 2,500 to 5,000
employees for a pharmacy to make sense.
Related Links:
The Philadelphia Inquirer Article
Related systoc.com News Article
Related Tracker Article on Workplace Wellness
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