Dan Ross from Med-View rcently posted an interesting article on EBN entitled “5 Ways Worksite Clinics Facilitate Savings“. In his post, Dan mentions the following:
- Removal of time and cost barriers
- Improved doctor/patient communications
- Lower overall healthcare costs
- Worker’s comp cost decrease
- Beneficial to both management and unions
With regard to costs, the article describes prescription cost savings of 15% and worker’s compensation savings of 50% for companies that implement an onsite or near-site clinic. As a point-of-care dispensing enabler, we are a bit partial to the pharmaceutical element of the worksite solution. We’ve seen generic pharmaceutical savings as high as 50% for employers that implement dispensing in an onsite clinic. Some worksite clinic management companies claim a $2 to $3 return for every $1 spent on a direct primary care/onsite clinic. The real dollar savings are significant.
There are also great benefits to employees:
- Faster access to care – the onsite/near-site clinic solution provides great access for employees.
- More convenience – the employee is able to receive direct care, labwork and medications at or near their place of employment. This creates efficiencies for the employer and the convience builds goodwill with the employee.
- Wellness solutions – most employee health center solutions incorporate a wellness element to take a broader view of the employee’s overall health. It is not just about “fixing” them when they are ill, this holistic approach looks at overall outcomes based on lifestyle risks.
- More time with the practitioner – employer sponsored clinics remove the revenue-per-visit incentive under which a traditional practice or urgent care operates. This allows the practitioner to focus on the patient with significantly less time pressure.
Employers are embracing the power of the onsite clinic model to impact healthcare costs and enhance the employee experience. It is an exciting time to explore this benefits option.
