SimplyWell

Founded by physicians at The Nebraska Medical Center, SimplyWell provides comprehensive, results-driven population health management services to improve health and lower healthcare costs for employers. SimplyWell’s model empowers employees with the necessary tools to modify personal health risks, including an electronic personal health record to manage their health, access to lab data, tailored patient education, disease monitoring, a nurse call line, and an annual screening.

One of SimplyWell’s 175 employer clients is the Greater Omaha Packing Company, Inc. (GOP). GOP has annual sales of nearly $1 billion and is ranked 5th in beef processing nationally. GOP is 90 percent non-English speaking with 53.3 percent of the population without a primary physician. Since implementing SimplyWell in 2001, GOP has experienced significant improvement in employee engagement as well as measurable clinical improvement. The majority (89 percent) of their employees have elected to participate in SimplyWell, free of charge, in exchange for a comprehensive group medical insurance program including lower deductible and out-of pocket employee expenses with minimal employee contribution to their health plan premium costs.

Results

Repeat participants from 2004 – 2008 experienced a 27% improvement in normal blood pressure readings; 16.7% fewer participants with elevated total cholesterol; 13.2% fewer with elevated LDL levels and 41.3% fewer participants with elevated glucose levels.
From 2001-2008 this group has experienced an average health care cost increase of 2.4%, far below the national average.
In the previous plan year, medical plan costs per employee were $4,259 compared to the industry average of $8,607, resulting in approximately $3.4 million dollars in savings compared to the competition.
As part of their future plans, GOP is opening an onsite clinic staﬀed with qualiﬁed medical professionals to continue this successful program.

*** Submitted by James Canedy, M.D., Medical Director for Executive Physicals, Nebraska Medical Center and President of SimplyWell, LLC., JCanedy@nebraskamed.com.

Published: January 26, 2009