On- and near-site clinics were a major topic of discussion at the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions’ annual conference, where physicians and industry experts discussed some of the biggest trends and topics in the healthcare industry.
“Major employers like Apple, Amazon and Utz Quality Foods have recently turned to on-site clinics to help boost employee healthcare engagement and lower costs.” – 'From rising drug prices to mobile clinics, 8 key healthcare trends to watch,' Employee Benefit News (EBN)
In a roundup of the conference, Employee Benefit News (EBN), noted some of the most talked-about subjects on the agenda. Let’s take a look at a few of them and see how on-site care centers can tackle the nation’s most pressing healthcare issues.
When people ignore their health problems, they escalate into bigger problems. Employees who avoid the doctor’s office because it’s too expensive or too inconvenient are more likely to end up in urgent care, the emergency room, or with chronic conditions.
An on- or near-site care center focuses on accessible, unlimited, free primary and preventive care. Employees get the care they need when they need it, so their problems don’t escalate into something more serious and more costly.
Download Now: The Definitive Guide to Evaluating On-Site Clinics
An on- or near-site care center is built to directly serve the needs of a very specific population: your employees. The close relationship between employees and their clinic allows for a unique relationship to form.
On-site care centers foster fertile environments for employee feedback. Through interactive workshops with staff, lunch and learns, and other settings, employees and their representatives have the opportunity to give input and influence operations.
On- or near-site care centers that integrate generic prescription-filling services pave the way for significant pharmacy cost savings. Employers like Seattle Children's have saved millions of dollars through this benefit alone.
Plus, employees get (and take) the medication they need without the added hassle of a trip to their local pharmacy.
Holistic, primary care at an on- or near-site care center is the best way to treat the types of chronic conditions and substance abuse outlined in the CDC’s 6|18 initiative (reducing tobacco use, controlling high blood pressure, preventing unintended pregnancies, controlling asthma, preventing Type-2 diabetes, and improving antibiotic use).
An on- or near-site care center acts as a patient’s medical home, providing concierge, preventive care that helps patients set SMART goals and achieve them through behavior change.
It’s no surprise that the obesity epidemic was one of the principal subjects at the conference. EBN reported that some employers are tackling the problem through financial incentive programs aimed at getting employees to maintain a healthy weight. At Vera, we don’t believe this is the answer.
Fear, facts, and force aren’t a viable way to treat obesity. Instead, providers and health coaches empower patients through empathetic listening and meet them where they’re at to support their own goals for better health. Why? Because the key to better health over the long term is behavior change.
Find out how an on- or near-site care center can address the most pressing healthcare issues at your organization. Download our FREE eBook: The Definitive Guide to Evaluating On-Site Clinics.