Addressing rising health care costs while improving outcomes is no easy task, but some local, innovative partnerships are leading the way in redesigning the health care experience.
Carmel Clay Schools, the eighth largest public school district in Indiana, has a very robust wellness center, which provides a full range of care for its employees and their dependents. However, the district was eager to add a Center of Excellence for orthopedic services to further care for staff.
The solution came in the form of an agreement with Hendricks Regional Health to provide orthopedic treatment to staff members employed by the school corporation and their dependents – roughly 2,600 individuals.
“We are truly honored and fortunate to be able to provide this level of service to support the wellness of our dedicated team and their family members,” said Roger McMichael, Associate Superintendent of Carmel Clay Schools.
The goal of the Carmel Clay Schools Wellness Center is to address the health of staff immediately and hopefully prevent the need for surgery or prolonged care. However, when circumstances arise, and an orthopedic specialist is needed, the patient is immediately referred to the Hendricks Regional Health Orthopedic Center of Excellence for further treatment.
Hendricks Regional Health designed the Center of Excellence to provide exceptional, personalized care rooted in the hospital's values and unique culture. The care is delivered with little to no out-of-pocket cost for staff members at Carmel Clay Schools.
In addition to performing the surgery, Hendricks’ Center of Excellence provides a concierge service that works to make the journey seamless from the initial consultation to every post-surgical consultation. This means patients have a dedicated resource for questions and information, and in some cases, the concierge will arrange hotel accommodations for the patient and their caregiver. The surgery itself carries no out-of-pocket costs for the employee, and employees receive $500 to $1,500 from their employer following surgery.
The program has been a mutually beneficial partnership between the hospital and the school system, McMichael said.
“In the first year, Carmel Clay Schools saved thousands of dollars – but most importantly, the health outcomes for our staff and their families have been outstanding,” he said.
The best part? The surgery team believes patients heal best and quickest while at home. The program also includes coordination with the staff member’s preferred rehab partners so they can get back to feeling their best. The Carmel Clay Schools Wellness Center also provides rehabilitation physical therapy at no cost to the employee.
Dr. Michelle Fenoughty, CEO of Hendricks Regional Health, says she's honored to be part of an organization that puts patients' needs first and looks forward to leading the charge to simplify health care by breaking down barriers and meeting patients where they are.
"We know a one-size-fits-all is no longer a practical model in health care," said Dr. Fenoughty. "Our innovative Orthopedic Center of Excellence is touching every corner of the state, helping employers like Carmel Clay Schools achieve their goal of taking even better care of their employees and their families and saving money at the same time. We've proven it can be done and are setting a new standard with incredible caring partners like Carmel Clay Schools."
The partnership is just the beginning of a growing trend in health care in which hospitals and employers can collaborate to create customized solutions designed to help control costs and improve outcomes by giving employees the tools to become more proactive about their health and wellness.
