Employees and patient engagement at employer health clinics
Employees and patient engagement at employer health clinics April 25, 2018
Increased participation and increased value in workplace wellness programs for employees are two of the findings in a recent Alight/National Business Group on Health Consumer Health Mindset study on employees and healthcare engagement. In fact, the study found that the number of employees who think they are doing “everything possible to maintain a healthy lifestyle” is up eight percentage points since 2014.
Employees are now more likely to advocate for and engage in their own healthcare decisions. They tend to comparison shop more in regard to their options for employer-provided healthcare plans and continue to ask questions about deductibles and co-pays, so they can be better informed.
The study found that employees are more likely in 2018 than in 2014 to conduct their own research and bring their questions to their primary care physician visits. They are also more likely to question prescribed medications and recommended healthcare treatment plans, to ensure they are appropriate and adequate.
Ray Baumruk, vice president of consumer experience research and insights at Alight Solutions noted that “As we look at the qualitative data around this, we’re continuing to see the mindset shift of the accountability toward personal health.”
When asked specific questions about their employers’ health and wellness programs, a significantly higher percentage of employees (from 2018 to 2014) indicated that they felt the programs:
- Are a good business investment
- Make the company more attractive
- Are one of the reasons the employees stay at their current jobs
A growing number of employers are offering on-site and near-site clinics as well as workplace wellness programs, as incentives to recruit and retain quality talent. These workplace offerings have also been found to be an effective way for employees to improve and maintain their own health, reducing absenteeism and presenteeism (going to work when feeling ill) for employers.
