FOLEY, Ala. — The city of Foley recently added a new benefit for city employees by way of a medical clinic. In a recent interview, we asked Foley Assistant City Administrator/HR Director Sandra Pate to provide insight into the new facility.

Q: Could you tell me the concept of the city’s new employee health clinic?

A: The city continues to research and analyze various ways we can stay on top of increasing health-care costs and at the same time, continue to provide quality health care to our employees without having to pass increased costs along to them. The clinic concept is just one more approach in that goal. The city went fully self-insured in late 2008 and the on-site, employee health care clinic model works very well with fully self-insured entities. We believe the clinic, which includes a wellness and disease management component, is just one more way in which we can better control health care costs for both the city and our employees.

Q: When did it open?

A: The clinic opened on Wednesday, Nov. 13.

Q: What are the operation hours?

A:The hours currently are Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 1-5 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 7-11 a.m.

Q: By whom is it run and how many staff does that include?

A: The city contracted with Symbol Health Solutions LLC to operate the Employee Health Care Clinic and our Wellness and Disease Management Programs. There is a chief medical officer, a medical director, a physician’s assistant and a medical assistant on staff.

Q: Who does the clinic serve?

A: All city of Foley employees and dependents (who are at least 2 years of age) that are currently on our health care plan.

Q: So about how many people would that be that are served by the clinic?

A: We have close to 600 employees and dependents on our health-care plan.

Q: How do people get to use the clinic? Such as, is there a sign-up process?

A: The clinic serves walk-in patients and also a patient can call and make appointment ahead of time.

Q. What kind of situations do people go to the clinic for?

A: The clinic serves as an onsite primary care clinic providing annual health risk assessments, episodic primary care, clinical and behavioral coaching. The clinic also provides chronic disease management and various wellness programs along with onsite medication dispensing for patients of the clinic.

Q: Does this replacement visits to the doctor and pharmacy for those enrolled in that program?

A: Employees are not required to use the clinic and can still use off site physicians and/or pharmacies if they choose. The clinic just provides one more alternative choice that is designed to be a more convenient and affordable option for employees and dependents.

Q: When and how did you all come up with the idea for this clinic?

A: Worksite health-care clinics are an old concept getting a fresh look because of their promising potential to manage health-care costs. They are fairly common in the private sector and are popping up more in the public sector as self-insured governments look for ways to improve employee health and lower annual costs. Recent studies show that of governments serving populations of more than 10,000, 9 percent already provide worksite clinics and 12 percent are considering adding clinic services. Work-place health-care clinics are gaining in popularity all across the United States because they have the potential to create an environment in which there is patient-provider trust and accountability, while achieving employer and employee cost-savings and long-term benefits of improved employee health.

Q: How much did it cost to implement and what did that entail?

A: We used an existing, vacant city building which needed interior and exterior renovations. The cost of those two renovation projects totaled $75,000. Other than that, there were no initial start up costs because the city pays Symbol on a per visit basis.

Q: How much money will this save the city, in comparison with providing traditional healthcare?

A: We are estimating a $240,000 savings for fiscal year 2014.

Q: What are other benefits of the program?

A: The primary benefits of course, are the cost savings to both employer and employees. Another huge benefit is the potential for the improved health of both the employees and their dependents through the disease management and wellness programs offered through the clinic. Other benefits to employees who choose to participate in the clinic and disease management/wellness programs include not having to use their accrued sick leave to visit the clinic. In other words, employees can stay on the clock while utilizing the clinic during work hours. Additionally, patients of the clinic experience zero co-pays for visits to the clinic and zero co-pays for patient medications dispensed through the clinic.

Q: Do people signed up for this program still have health insurance?

A: Yes, the clinic does not replace or in any way effect the employee’s existing health insurance coverage. It just provides one more option for employees by which they can obtaining their health-care services.

Q: Will people have a choice of which clinic to go to if others open?

A: As other clinics open up around the county, we would like to explore the possibility of partnering with them because it provides better access for employee’s who live outside of Foley. However, there are no plans on the table at this time to partner with other entities.

Q: How has the clinic worked out since it opened?

A: We are experiencing an 80 percent participation rate, which is excellent. Employees are excited about the cost-savings that they are already experiencing and are looking forward to experiencing the health benefits of the wellness and disease management programs.

Q. Are you all looking at expanding or changing the program?

A: We plan on extending the clinic hours as we see participation rates increase. We will analyze results over time and, if necessary, we can expand or change program objectives if needed.

Q: Is there anything I’ve neglected to ask that you’d like to add?

A: Creating a culture of health in the workplace starts with senior leadership commitment and our elected officials have been behind our efforts 100% in promoting the health and well-being of our employees. We are very fortunate to be able to offer such a wonderful benefit to our employees.