Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/116226
back office Focus on employee wellness "This onsite clinic is the latest step in our commitment to helping employees improve their health. Employees who are healthier are more engaged and productive, which is good for business." -Mark Richards, Appleton CEO R i si ng h e a lt h c o st s continue to be a major concern for manufacturers. One New North company is hoping to reverse that trend through a unique partnership focused on employee wellness. Earlier this year, Appleton (formerly Appleton Papers) opened a workplace medical clinic on its Appleton campus. Managed by ThedaCare, it's staffed with a primary care physician, registered nurse, a licensed practical nurse and two health coaches. The onsite clinic improves employee access to health care and provides a greater emphasis on lifestyle management programs – such as smoking cessation and weight loss – health coaching and disease management, says Kerry Arent, senior vice president of human resources with Appleton. "We have long been committed to helping our employees improve their health, such as an onsite fitness center. This is just the next step," she says. "Healthy employees have a better quality of life, are more engaged and work more safely. Improved health and wellness can help lower health care costs for employees and our company – a scenario where we win together." Arent says Appleton expects its COURTESY THEDACARE Unique partnership brings health care directly to Appleton (Papers) employees By MaryBeth Matzek Dr. Kay Theyerl, primary care physician with ThedaCare, meets with Appleton President and CEO Mark Richards. Appleton recently partnered with ThedaCare to establish a workplace medical clinic on the company's Wisconsin Avenue campus. insurance rates to come down substantially over time thanks to the onsite clinic and the overall focus on wellness. Appleton employee Frank Potter has already seen the benefit of the onsite clinic. A 40-year employee with the company, he originally went to see the doctor for an injury. They got talking about bigger health goals and he walked out of the appointment with a nicotine replacement prescription to help him break his smoking habit. "You get time with the doctor – not just like a 15-minute "Healthy employees have a better quality of life, are more engaged and work more safely. Improved health and wellness can help lower health care costs for employees and our company – a scenario where we win together." — Kerry Arent, Appleton senior vice president of human resources 20 | / insight on manufacturing • March 2013 w w w.in s i g h t o n m f g .c o m