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July 31, 2012 at 10:51 AM
U.S. employers with onsite health centers are planning to expand offered services, as well as those who can use the facilities in an effort to keep workers healthy and productive, according to a new report.
Towers Watson, New York (NYSE, NASDAQ: TW), published this finding in its 2012 Onsite Health Center Survey. Conducted in May, the study asked targeted companies to answer 21 questions about their implementation, use and employee perceptions of onsite health centers.
Participants included organizations that currently operate an onsite health center and participated in the 17th Annual Towers Watson/National Business Group on Health Employer Survey on Purchasing Value in Health Care (2012) and the Towers Watson 2011 – 2012 Staying@Work Study. The respondents represent companies with at least 1,000 employees, accounting for a total of 1.7 million employees, and operate in a variety of industry sectors.
The report finds that 62% of most companies establish or keep centers open to eliminate visits to offsite medical providers. Other factors include cost saving (57%) and better access to care (46%).
Services offered at onsite centers can include onsite coaching, immunizations, biometric screenings, physical therapy, pharmacy and other medical services. Of the 74 large employers participating in the survey that have established or are planning to establish onsite health facilities, 81% offer biometric screenings, wellness counseling (73%), urgent care and first-responder services (70% each), and primary care services (63%).
Companies expanding offerings in 2013 plan to add telemedicine, up from 8% that currently offer the service. In addition, 8% plan to add primary care services (63% currently offer); 6% plan to add full, onsite pharmacies (24% currently offer); and 6% plan to add physical therapy (41% currently offer).
