In the past few years, we have witnessed a resurgence in the number of corporations and organizations that offer on-site health services for their employees, employees’ family members, and even retirees. This trend is attributable to a number of factors. First and foremost is the employer’s need to control spiraling health care costs, but other incentives include reduced sick time and increased employee productivity; adding a relatively inexpensive benefit that helps enhance employee recruitment and retention; the promotion of healthy life styles; the opportunity to offer primary and preventive care in a convenient location; and projecting an image of corporate good citizenship.
While many employers still limit themselves to having a doctor simply provide pre-employment physical exams, others now operate full service primary care clinics at multiple sites where their employees and their family members can get such services as annual physical exams, screening for breast, prostate and skin cancer, flu shots, treatment for minor ailments or injuries, weight loss and smoking cessation programs, and so on. Some even offer the services of psychiatrists and psychologists for the mental health needs of employees and family members.
