Sheridan- Brad Meyer hates going to the doctor, but on Wednesday the Biddle Precision Components employee used a free clinic just feet from his work space.
"I think the clinic is wonderful, I just hate going to the doctor," said Meyer, 40. "My wife encouraged me to go and I was completely out of excuses." In July, Biddle added the Indianapolis-based Novia CareClinics to its plant, which manufactures precision-turned components and hydraulic valve spools. The idea to bring a free health-care clinic into the plant sprouted in August 2006, when Human Resource Manager David Milbee attended a Society of Human Resource Management seminar.
"We put the idea on the table and talked about what we could do to reduce health costs and make our employees healthier," said Brian Myers, Biddle president.
In the spring, Myers and Milbee visited a factory that has a free clinic in Knoxville, Tenn. They both thought it was too good to be true, and not long after Biddle contracted with Novia. Biddle already had space for the clinic, so little construction was needed, and the clinic opened July 31.
A doctor or physician assistant is on duty for several hours three days per week, and generic medication is free. The clinic, Myers said, is available to all employees whether they're on Biddle's insurance plan or not, and at no cost to the employee. Family members of employees who are on the company's health-care plan also can get free care at the clinic. The clinic provides basic care, including drawing blood for tests, but the medical professionals aren't specialists and X-rays must be done elsewhere.
Leslie Condre, a vice president at Novia, said her company provides the medical supplies for the clinics, billing companies a one-time fee up to $12,000 for equipment and monthly charges for medications dispensed. The doctors and nurses at the clinic are under contract to Novia.
Myers call having the clinic a great experience. Employees that hadn't been to the doctor in years have visited the clinic, he added. Myers said he's unsure what Biddle's savings will be this year because the clinic started in July, but he is anxious to see what the company will save in 2008.
"This is such a great benefit for our employees now," he said. "We have a healthier and happier work force."
