Caring for Our Team so We Can Care for the Community

Amber Watzka, Erfanul Saker, Jennifer Huettl

Bellin Health is helping take care of the employees that take care of the community by offering access to the healthcare services needed to keep them well.

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We are proud to have a rich, 100-plus year legacy of caring for our communities – care that starts by helping the employees we rely on access the healthcare services needed to keep them well. It’s called Bellin First, and it’s a prevention-first approach that is making a difference in the lives of our team members.

The Bellin First program offers 100 percent coverage for primary care services, physical therapy, lab services and more. This removes cost as a barrier that can sometimes keep covered employees and family members from seeking the care they need, all while improving quality outcomes, improving overall experience and lowering the total cost of care.

“Removing the financial stress of figuring out how to pay for extra costs of managing a chronic condition allows patients to focus on their health, which also improves their mental well-being.”
- Dr. Brad Wozney, Medical Director Population Health – Bellin Region Primary Care Department Chair, Bellin Health

Doing What Is Best for Families Also Creates Better Health

Along with 100 percent coverage of primary care, this plan also includes age-appropriate screenings which helps catch conditions and cancers early. This saves money, and most importantly, it saves lives. We are proud to report a 98 percent compliance rate on breast cancer screenings for our population, which is certainly money well spent.

“We’ve learned that when we do what is best for our employees and their families, it not only creates terrific health outcomes, but it also reduces the financial burden on the health plan and the health system.”
- Chris Elfner, Vice President, Accountable Care, Bellin and Gundersen Health System

Insight Magazine Bellin Health, Left to Right: Dr. Brad Wozney, Medial Director Population Health – Bellin Region, Primary Care Department Chair; Chris Elfner, Vice President, Clinically Integrated Network; Lynne Nelson, Team Leader, Human Resource...

Left to right: Dr. Brad Wozney, Medical Director Population Health – Bellin Region, Primary Care Department Chair, Bellin Health; Chris Elfner, Vice President, Accountable Care, Bellin and Gundersen Health System; Lynne Nelson, Team Leader, Bellin Health

Screening for Social Determinants of Health Creates Care Beyond the Walls

An important component of our care for all patients, including employees, is screening for social determinants of health. By looking at conditions related to the patient’s overall health, including housing, stress management, access to healthy foods and other factors, we can connect patients to other resources that will improve their overall health and well-being and contribute to a healthier population in our community.

Increasing Retention and Reducing Costs

Giving employees the resources they need helps them provide the best healthcare to the patients they serve – and it’s a satisfier that contributes to employee retention, which has improved since the inception of the Bellin First plan.

In addition, because Bellin First includes 100 percent covered visits to FastCare and Urgent Care clinics, employees can take care of themselves and their families as early as possible, and then get back to work. This is good for the employee, as well as the organization.

"Our employees love Bellin first, especially those who have young kids. They don't have to stress when their children have a fever or an earache. Their children get the care they need, and they can make it to work and not have to worry about getting a bill afterwards."

Testing and Evolving To Help Ourselves and Others

As a key partner in helping other employers and businesses develop healthcare plans to benefit their populations, we also share learnings from innovative approaches we have implemented with employees. For example, by offering employees 100 percent covered physical therapy services, we have seen a 75 percent reduction in back surgeries and 10 percent decrease in joint surgeries – results other companies may see as well.

By saving lives before they know they need saving, this innovative approach is helping take care of the healthcare workers who take care of the community. It’s a win-win approach for everyone involved in accessing top-level healthcare, which means a brighter future for employees, their families, patients and the communities we serve.

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Personalized solutions to fit organizations of all sizes. Achieving positive health outcomes at a lower, more affordable cost for all. Contact us to schedule a free strategy and data analysis call.

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