As we head into the future, more and more employers are going to be more proactive about the health of their employees, according to a new survey. This means that by 2020, almost 40% of employers are looking at opening a health center at their offices, hoping to increase employee productivity, health, and on-the-job satisfaction. Here at Welter Healthcare Partners, we understand that employee health is essential to your company’s productivity, and we applaud this progress. nn
Employers are increasingly focused on improving access and quality of care for their workers, according to a new survey.nnWithin the next three years, nearly half of employers plan on implementing high-performance networks (HPN), centers of excellence (COE), onsite or nearby health centers and accountable care organizations (ACO) as ways to provide quality and affordable healthcare options, according to a Willis Towers Watson (WTW) survey released Wednesday morning.nnEighty percent of respondents intend on having COEs within a health plan, a 29% jump year-over-year, and the number of employers who plan on including HPNs more than doubled to 65%.nnBy 2020, almost 40% of employers are looking at opening a health center at their offices, while more than 25% plan to offer one near their facilities.nnThese trends have gained momentum in recent years, as more than 80% of employers with an onsite or near-site health center reported that the move has “succeeded in improving employee access to convenient health care services,” “enhancing employee productivity and bringing absenteeism under control,” while also “delivering and promoting preventive health screening and services, getting ahead of medical issues through early detection and by instilling healthy habits.”nnThe survey also shows that employers are increasingly more concerned with quality of care provided than cost savings as the “most important feature” when considering an HPN.nnSandy Ageloff, managing director, west region health and benefits consulting leader, told HealthLeaders that the survey results indicate that the shifting thought process among employers is being driven by four major paint points.nnThese include the need for better care access, especially around mental health services for employees, providing high quality care, making care cost effective, and concerns about system complexity.nn”I think employers have done a lot to try to improve cost and quality, but what we’re realizing is that employees and their family members are challenged to understand all of the various pieces of the puzzle,” Ageloff said. “Employers are now embracing the need to say, ‘You need to help people navigate through what we’ve done to create beneficial, high-quality programs that provide affordable costs.'”nnComplete and original article published on healthleadersmedia.com.
