Sponsored Content by Concentra
The Workplace Health Care Solution
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an adverse effect on today’s workforce.
Thousands of employees have left their companies due to increasingly challenging working conditions or wanting to achieve a better work-life balance.
And with fewer viable candidates left to replace them and productivity declining as a result, this has provided a huge opportunity for older Americans to step into the void.
With experience and a solid skill set, older Americans are known for their strong work ethic, dependability, and loyalty. Many are now choosing to work longer, even into their retirement years, and are looking for more challenging positions where they can apply their knowledge and experience.
But in order to attract older Americans to their workforce, companies need to provide a compelling value proposition, which includes more flexible hours, a friendly and attractive work environment, and, above all, access to high-quality and affordable health care services.
“Older workers certainly place a high value on affordable, quality health care,” said Dr. Janet Cobb, vice president of medical operations at Concentra. “If employers provide a good service, it’s also likely to make them more loyal and committed to working for the company too.”
Finding the Best Provider
To achieve this, companies need to select the best health care provider for their specific workforce needs. Whether using a local occupational health care provider or establishing an on-site clinic, ensuring services are accessible and provided by knowledgeable and experienced clinicians is first and foremost.
“Finding a provider that understands the needs and demands of the company and its employees is key,” said Dr. Cobb. “That may include providing a pharmacist to dispense medicine, a physical therapist, psychologist, dietician, or even an exercise physiologist to help improve an individual’s overall health.
“That in turn, produces a happier and healthier and, therefore, more productive workforce, with reduced sick days and time off, and fewer hospitalizations. So, it’s a win-win for both the employer and employee.”
Mental health has become one of the biggest issues for employers and health care providers in recent years. The problem has only been exacerbated by the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, with long and stressful days spent working from home.
With intense focus on helping employees better manage their health and wellness, many employers are exploring ways to integrate valuable services into their employee offerings.
“Keeping the workforce fit and healthy has become an overriding concern for employers now,” said Dr. Richard Amegadzie, vice president of medical operations for Concentra onsites. “Not only that, but they also want to impact psychological wellbeing by identifying and helping at risk employees get the right treatment and support.”
With many services available, part of the challenge is educating employees about available service offerings and encouraging them to be active participants in maintaining their own good health.
Among the most effective solutions are preventive programs designed to help employers reduce the frequency and severity of injuries. In addition, when injuries do occur, working with a provider that uses early intervention approaches means employee injuries and illnesses can be quickly assessed and treated. The result is better clinical and cost outcomes.
Today, companies are also looking at protecting their employees against infectious diseases such as seasonal flu and any new virus strains that may emerge. By having programs in place to address these threats to workforce health, employers demonstrate their commitment to having a positive impact on the health of their employees.
“If there’s anything we have learned from the pandemic, it’s that prevention is better than treating and managing a problem once it strikes,” said Dr. Cobb. “We are seeing many more employers putting this at the front and center of their health care strategy moving forward.”
Full Suite of Services
Concentra provides the full range of services for employers through its affiliated clinicians who provide occupational medicine, urgent care, physical therapy, and wellness services from nearly 520 medical centers nationwide and more than 130 onsite clinics at employer locations. In addition, Concentra Telemed® enables injured employees to receive treatment wherever they are and whenever they have a need.
“Here at Concentra, we have more than 40 years’ experience in occupational medicine,” said Dr. Amegadzie. “We know the industry as well as Federal and OSHA regulations. We work closely with employers to understand their workforce health needs and their employees’ essential job functions. Then we work collaboratively with them to deliver high quality of services to employees.”
Dr. Cobb added: “Our mission is to improve the health care of America’s workforce one patient at a time. By utilizing the numerous resources we have at our disposal, as well as our depth and wealth of knowledge, we can deliver the best programs and outcomes for employers and their workforces.”
“This is achieved by not only being highly proactive in addressing current needs, but also in identifying potential risks, and providing the education and resources needed to prevent them.”
When addressing the workforce health needs of older Americans, employers can trust Concentra to help them develop and implement programs that will meet their needs.
To learn more about Concentra’s onsite centers, visit https://www.concentra.com/onsite-clinics/
This article was produced by the R&I Brand Studio, a unit of the advertising department of Risk & Insurance, in collaboration with Concentra. The editorial staff of Risk & Insurance had no role in its preparation.