DEERFIELD, Ill., and WATERTOWN, Mass. — Take Care Health Systems and Tufts Health Plan have opened a workplace health center that offers preventive care, wellness services, symptom care and laboratory services to the health insurer’s employees and contractors.
Called the BeWell Center and located at Tufts Health Plan’s headquarters in Watertown, Mass., the facility is staffed by a nurse practitioner, a medical assistant and a wellness coach and is supported by a local physician, according to Walgreen Co., the parent of retail health clinic operator Take Care Health Systems.
"Tufts Health Plan is ranked among the top health plans in the nation and is known as a leader in health and wellness. We are pleased to build on this relationship by enhancing their workplace offerings," Peter Hotz, Walgreens and Take Care Health Systems group vice president. "This facility will help improve the health of Tufts Health Plan employees while helping keep costs low for both employees and the plan."
The center is available for more than 1,700 Tufts Health Plan employees and adds to the services already provided by a fitness center managed by Take Care Health Systems.
"We are pleased to offer our employees another terrific way to access wellness at the worksite. The BeWell Center complements our WorkingWell Center, which is full and robust with fitness equipment, exercise classes from zumba to yoga, nutrition classes, acupuncture and massage," stated Lois Dehls Cornell, senior vice president of human resources and general counsel for Tufts Health Plan. "Relatively few companies nationwide currently have workplace wellness centers. We strive to serve as a model for employers with a similar mission and focus."
Citing a 2011 report from Towers Watson and the National Business Group on Health, Walgreens said employers are increasingly looking to offer workplace health and wellness services. In a poll of 588 employers, 23% of companies said they now offer workplace health services and another 12% of companies indicated that they plan to begin offering services this year, according to the report.
