Growth of On-Site Healthcare Facilities Likely to Create More Jobs

Liz Perry for Leaders in Healthcare – September 9, 2008

The Philadelphia Inquirer recently highlighted a growing trend among businesses across the country – on-site health care. For example, Northeast Philadelphia’s Cardone Industries Inc. has partnered with Holy Redeemer Health System to build a 2,500-square-foot health center for Cardone employees and their families that will be staffed by Holy Redeemer doctors. Workers who use the center will have a lower insurance co-payment and those who sign up for Cardone's new Exclusive Provider Organization will pay less for their insurance.

Others joining in the trend across the country include Walgreen Co., whose new division is creating a web of health centers in its drugstores and at work sites. Clients include about 30 financial firms on Wall Street, Harrah's Entertainment Inc., Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, and Toyota Motor Corp. The division will also open a 15,000-square-foot health center for Disney World employees next month.

Next week, three Gillette, Wyo. energy companies are opening an 8,400-square-foot health center with 15 staff members for their workers, dependents and retirees.  Johns Hopkins runs about 50 clinics at seven large national companies, including PepsiCo Inc. and Hughes Electronics Inc.

A 2008 Watson Wyatt Worldwide Inc./National Business Group on Health survey found that 29 percent of large employers had an on-site health center or planned to open one by 2009. This trend is expected to produce new jobs, and as it is throughout the healthcare industry, highly qualified, educated professionals will be in high demand.