Mobile County Opens Mobile?s First Employee Medical Clinic

Posted on: May 31st, 2012 | News and Announcements

Commissioners Kick-off Wellness Program Mobile County is changing the model for employee health care with the opening of a full-service medical and wellness clinic for its employees - the first of its kind here. The clinic is a partnership between the Mobile County Commission and Infirmary Health. The grand opening is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday June 1 at the new Employee Health Center, located at 3925 Michael Blvd, Suite A. All three commissioners will participate in kicking off the wellness program by taking a health risk assessment during the grand opening. The new clinic will provide all employees enrolled in the existing Mobile County health insurance plan with primary care, routine physicals and lab work, annual health risk assessments, and individualized health maintenance plans ? all at no cost to the employee, with no office co-pay and minimal wait times. ?It?s a win-win proposal for the employee and the taxpayer,? said Mobile County Commissioner Merceria Ludgood. ?Not only can we give our employees more benefits, but we will actually be saving the county in health care costs.? The savings to the county ? which have been realized by other counties that have adopted this model ? come from having a healthier work force. Employees are more likely to attend to health problems when they don?t have upfront costs, such as copays. In addition, employees will be offered free health risk testing that includes a questionnaire, a routine check-up and lab work to identify existing or potential health problems. Based on results, a medical team will put together a health maintenance program designed specifically for the individual. ?This is the kind of medical care that works because it?s personalized and, in this model, everyone has a stake in keeping the patient healthy,? said Mobile County Commission President Connie Hudson. The new program has no impact on the existing health and dental insurance benefit for county employees. The clinic is purely voluntary and exists as another choice for employees already enrolled in the county?s health insurance program. The clinic also is open to spouses and adult children enrolled in the county?s health insurance program as well as retirees and their dependents with county health insurance. Known formally as the Mobile County Commission Employee Health Center, the clinic will be staffed by Infirmary Health, with an on-site doctor and nurse, five days a week. Employees can schedule appointments by phone and, later in the year, through the Internet. ?All of our employees will get the time and attention needed to handle their health care needs, and we?re going to have a better workforce for it,? said Mobile County Commissioner Mike Dean. About 1,750 employees work for the county. The clinic staff will begin seeing patients June 5.