"Bill of Health"-Healthcare Comes To The Workplace
Thursday, April 10, 2008SUZANNE PRATT: Some companies are taking a different approach to controlling health care costs. Instead of employees leaving work to go a doctor or a clinic, more firms are bringing healthcare directly to the workplace. As Jeff Yastine reports in tonight's "Bill of Health," onsite health clinics are corporate America's latest answer to the nation's healthcare challenge.
JEFF YASTINE, NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT CORRESPONDENT: Customer service rep Richard Paraiso knows all about trying to take time off from work -- fielding phone calls from customers of Florida Power and Light -- to attend to his own healthcare needs.
RICHARD PARAISO, FPL EMPLOYEE: I found, when I went to regular doctors' offices, I was rushed to go in and out. That was number one. Number two, I think that when you go into a regular doctor's office, I hate to say it, but it's true -- regular doctor's office, you go in, make an appointment and you have to keep the appointment. The doctor really doesn't have to. And sometimes you're sitting there for a very long time waiting and what a waste of time.
YASTINE: Multiply that by Florida Power and Light's 14,000 employees and it adds up to a lot of time lost, a lot of frustrated workers and a reluctance by many to see a doctor because of all the hassles. With that in mind, FPL is part of a growing roster of large firms offering onsite medical clinics. Andy Scibelli, head of employee health and well-being, says the company now has three clinics at its facilities around the state.
ANDY SCIBELLI, EMPLOYEE HEALTH & WELL-BEING PRGM, FPL: The employee can get healthcare during the day. They can walk downstairs, come in to the health center and be back to work within a half hour; whereas, if they went outside, typically about two or three hours they would be gone.
YASTINE: According to surveys, nearly one third of the nation's large employers, from Toyota to Disney and Credit Suisse, offer onsite medical clinic care. But even smaller, more regional companies, like the Florida- based grocery chain Publix, are now offering similar services. Helen Darling, president of the Washington Business Group on Health, says more companies are recognizing that onsite clinics are key factors in attracting and keeping workers.
HELEN DARLING, PRES., NATIONAL BUSINESS GROUP ON HEALTH: From the point of view of productivity and investment in employees and lower turnover, then it's really advantageous. As employers see that, as companies see that, they're much more likely to put it in.
YASTINE: But perhaps the best advertisement for onsite medical clinics, according to FPL's Scibelli, is that they help control costs.
SCIBELLI: Healthcare certainly is an issue and we have seen as a result of these programs, that our per employee costs per year has actually gone down. We've slowed the rate of increase in terms of our healthcare costs.
YASTINE: Experts say the clinics make healthcare more accessible and care can be coordinated with other wellness and nutrition programs. The result is preventive care that keeps employees -- and bottom lines -- healthier. Jeff Yastine, NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT, "Bill of Health."
