Health clinic on the way [South Bend Tribune, Ind.]

April 09--SOUTH BEND -- South Bend Community School Corp. employees and their spouses and dependents covered by the district's health insurance -- except kids 3 and younger -- should have access to a new near-site health clinic by September.

On Monday, the school board approved an agreement with Activate Healthcare to operate either one centrally located clinic or two smaller ones, one likely on the northwest side of town and the other on the south side.

An array of primary care services, from physical exams and disease management to wellness-related services to care for acute illnesses, such as sore throats and influenza, will be available at no cost.

Additionally, certain laboratory services, medications and immunizations will be provided for free.

The premise driving the district, which is self-insured, to establish the clinic is a simple one: Healthier employees generally incur fewer expensive medical claims.

In the future, school officials have said, some of the health care savings realized by having the clinic could be passed along to employees via lower premiums or incentives for participating in wellness activities.

Curt Novotny, executive director of human resources, said the clinic or clinics will be open 45 to 55 hours per week and will staff two physicians, in addition to nurse practitioners, medical assistants and a wellness coach.

Novotny said the district does not have suitable space for an on-site clinic, so officials are investigating locales near both the school corporation's buildings and employees' homes.

The clinic or clinics will have an examination room or two, a blood draw room, an office for the physicians and a room to store medications.

"You should feel like you're at the doctor's office when you step into this location," he said.

Because of a savings-sharing plan the district struck with Activate, there will be no upfront costs to get the clinic or clinics going.

The school district will pay about $26 per month to Activate for each employee and covered dependent.

Children 3 and younger will not be served at the clinic, Novotny said, because it's believed they should see pediatricians.

Board member Roger Parent said he's been pushing for an on-site or near-site clinic for years and he's happy that it's finally coming to fruition.

A bus driver from the corporation spoke at Monday's meeting, saying she's put off purchasing medications since the fall because she can't afford them. The clinic, she said, will provide an opportunity for her to get care that she otherwise has no budget for.

Jim Szucs, with Teamster's Local 364, which represents office workers, paraprofessionals and food service workers in the district, encouraged the board to move forward with the clinic.

"... Employees are suffering from rising costs of insurance and flat-line wages," he said. "(They) need any economic relief they can obtain."

Board member Bill Sniadecki cast the lone vote against the resolution to contract with Activate, saying he still has questions about the clinic.

For one, he said, he'd like to know where the site or sites will be.

"I want to do everything I can to help employees," Sniadecki said. "But I don't think in the long run this will. So I'm going to vote no just because I don't have enough information."

Staff writer Kim Kilbride:

[email protected]

574-235-6257

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