The Herman Trend Alert
December 28, 2022
Helping Employees with Chronic Illness
Many of today's blue-collar workers have chronic diseases. The traditional healthcare system is simply not equipped to help these workers deal with their conditions, and this failure creates unnecessary problems that only intensifies this struggle.
Bucking the Trend
In spite of this situation, there is one company that has devised a clever way of providing the desperately needed help. George Brown is the director of Retro Health, a chain of onsite clinics created by a beverage distributor in Texas and New Mexico. L&F Distributors' 1,200 employees are fortunate to have Retro Health providing medical testing and consultation to the workers, themselves, and their dependents.
A Variety of Chronic Diseases
Not surprising for a beverage distributor, many L&F employees drive delivery trucks or move cases of beer in a warehouse. In the past, they told their supervisors and HR leaders that time and money prevented them from gaining access to healthcare to appropriately handle chronic issues like overweight, diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, and more. They complained that seeing a doctor often included trips across town and waiting for long periods of time.
A Two-Pronged Approach
L&F executives took a dual approach to providing the needed medical care: In 2017, the company constructed nine onsite medical offices right inside their distribution centers. One year later L&F added a suite of mobile tools through which workers may store medical records, co-pay and insurance information, and even receive healthcare advice---health solution provider b.well Connected Health's platform.
Remarkable Results
Though this approach of onsite clinics is not new---I wrote about it years ago mostly in manufacturing, this beverage distributor saw some eye-opening findings: Emergency Department (ED) visits were diminished by 69 percent, overall per-member, per-month health costs were reduced by 22 percent, and utilization of the onsite clinics was increased by 57 percent in the first year.
What's Driving L&F's Success
For the company executive, a major driver of the success is the employees' adoption rate of the b.well solution. We know that disease management saves money and lives and that solution does both. To date, 90 percent of employees have signed up for the tools; since its introduction in 2018, more than 60 percent have used it on a regular basis. In the early days of COVID, the b.well app was a godsend; it was Human Resource's primary channel of communication for prevention information and pandemic updates with employees.
An Unexpected Bonus
The beverage distribution industry typically has high worker turnover. However, the blend of their onsite clinics and the b.well app have not only improved employees' physical wellbeing, but has also helped with employee engagement---and decreased their employee turnover.
Healthier Lives and Reduced Expenses---A Winning Combination
The L&F solution is a recipe of technology that works and convenience for employees. Brown is particularly happy because not only are his people living healthier, but the company is also saving money---and wisely, the company is sharing those cost savings with the employees by keeping their premiums and their deductibles low. Brilliant.
Next Week's Herman Trend Alert: An Update of Dr. Denise Faustman's Type 1 Diabetes Research
Years ago, after my step-son suggested I look into it, I started writing about the breakthrough research into Type 1 Diabetes by Dr. Denise Faustman, MD, PhD of Mass General Hospital. I want to update you on Dr. Faustman's progress---now in human clinical trials. I am also highlighting this research as my nonprofit of the year at the top of the Herman Trend Alert for the week.
Special thanks to HR Executive and Phil Albinus who wrote the article. To read the entire article, visit https://hrexecutive.com/how-one-beverage-distributor-tackled-chronic-employee-illness/?oly_enc_id=4579D6129945I5Y
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