Implementation of an employee-family health clinic within a specialty practice

Abstract

<p>Each year U.S. companies spend billions on workforce illness. Companies, including medical clinics, struggle to meet higher insurance premiums associated with chronic disease and an aging workforce.&nbsp; These costs, combined with a lack of accessible health care, can produce catastrophic economic losses for independent medical practices. In 2013 alone my current practice averaged three employee absences per day due to employee or family illness.&nbsp; Utilization of insurance for minor acute illnesses and chronic stable conditions was high, and the organization suffered a 10 percent increase in insurance premiums in 2013. These costs, combined with a lack of access to health care, produced a financial burden for the organization and can produce even more catastrophic economic losses for smaller independent medical practices.</p> <p>A review of published research illustrated the implementation of a work-site employee health clinic could significantly increase employee health and morale, decrease absenteeism, decrease the number of work-site injuries, decrease employee stress levels, and improve production.&nbsp;</p> <p>In 2013, a needs assessment was performed that determined that the company could benefit from offering on-site access to care for the employees and their family members related to the recent increase in absentees and insurance costs.&nbsp; The goals of the clinic would be to offer efficient, on-site, competent care in order to improve patient health outcomes, and employee productivity, and presenteeism, as well as to lower insurance premiums.</p> <p>Cost analysis for the year 2014 revealed an annual cost savings of $70,309.45 in health benefits paid.&nbsp;&nbsp; An additional $30,240.29 annual cost savings was denoted in 2015 for an overall cost savings of $100,549.74 since implementation of the clinic in 2014. This outcome substantiates that there was an increase in utilization of the employee-family health clinic with a dramatic reduction in health benefits paid.&nbsp; The significant decrease in health benefits paid allowed the organization to decrease the costs of insurance premiums for employees.&nbsp; There was a dramatic decrease in employee absences, due to personal or family illnesses, within the first quarter following the opening of the employee-family health clinic.</p> <p>Perhaps the most impactful outcome that would lead other organizations to consider implementing a similar clinic was the demonstrable cost savings that occurred with the implementation of the employee-family health clinic within a specialty practice. &nbsp;Family nurse practitioners who work in specialty practices across the country are uniquely positioned to propose and develop such clinics.</p>