The Company Doctor:How an Old Idea is Keeping Employees Healthy and Lowering Costs for Employers

The Cedar Health and Wellness Center Opens in Monterey County

Many years ago, it was not unusual for large businesses to have a medical professional on staff taking care of minor ailments and illnesses quickly on the work site.  That health delivery model has recently been getting a shot in the arm among agricultural and other employers with the establishment of conveniently-located health and wellness clinics or centers.  With the advent of HealthCare Reform and all the confusion and uncertainly it is creating, the need for employers to take care of workers while controlling health care costs is as critical as ever.

Understanding and examining this challenge, Western Growers Assurance Trust (WGAT) and Pinnacle Claims Management (PCMI) have partnered with HealthStat, a premier provider of onsite primary care facilities, to offer members and plan participants a local, friendly, bilingual, confidential and cost-effective health care option – the Cedar Health and Wellness Center.  While Congress and the Obama Administration failed to consider the unique needs of agriculture during the health care reform debate, WGAT and PCMI have a long history of providing tailored health care solutions that make financial sense for California’s agricultural employers.  The opening of the Cedar Health and Wellness Center is another example of this effort. 

According to a study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, companies can cut health expenses 20 to 55 percent, reduce short-term sick leave by 32 percent, and boost productivity by 52 percent by utilizing clinics such as the Cedar Health and Wellness Center.  Additionally, clinics reduce the need for hospital visits, which account for the single largest category of medical expenses in the nation.  According to a 2005 study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, self-funded employers who encourage their employees to use corporate clinics, can see a return of $3 to $6 for each dollar spent over two to five years.

 “Offering Cedar to employers in Monterey County will help them reduce health care costs while increasing employees' health, well-being and productivity - the perfect win-win,” said Western Growers Insurance Services Sr. Vice President Jasper Hempel.  “The result should mean great savings for employers and a healthier workforce.”    

It’s widely accepted that worker productivity can increase as companies encourage healthy habits for their employees through wellness centers.  For the convenience of employees, at the Cedar Health and Wellness Center there are no forms to fill out, and no claim disputes to deal with.   As opposed to long waits and brief contact with a doctor or health provider, Cedar provides less intimidating visits, generating more dialogue, in English and Spanish, between patients and providers.  Convenient access to this facility means health diagnoses are made sooner and treatment begins almost immediately.  Proactive, preventative consultations are provided and chronic health conditions are better managed.  Doctors or nurse practitioners are available to see patients to help treat minor health issues, check for early stages of more serious conditions, manage chronic conditions like asthma or diabetes, and provide pharmacy services. 

Cedar Health and Wellness Center is managed by HealthStat, a service offered through Western Growers assurance Trust exclusively by Western Growers Insurance Services. For more information, please contact us.

Cedar Health and Wellness Center is located at 955 Blanco Circle, Suite E, Salinas, Calif., 93901.