Newsroom

10/6/09

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Early Detection Remains the Key

Concentra Promotes National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Concentra is joining the worldwide effort to help people understand the importance of early detection, which is the key to surviving breast cancer.

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), over 12% of women – or 1 in 8 – will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetimes. The NCI estimates that, this year alone, more than 190,000 women will be diagnosed with new cases of invasive breast cancer. Thanks to early detection, most of these cases will not prove to be fatal. In fact, there are 2,500,000 survivors of breast cancer living in the United States today.

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that usually develops in the ducts or lobules, which are the milk-producing areas of the breast. The cancer is called non-invasive if it is confined to the breast, and is called invasive if it spreads. There are five stages (0, I, II, III, and IV) of invasive breast cancer; the higher the number, the larger the tumor and therefore the more serious the cancer.

What do you need to know about early detection? For starters, the American Cancer Society recommends women:

  • Obtain yearly mammogram screenings beginning at age 40
  • Obtain yearly clinical breast exams
  • Check their breasts regularly for lumps
  • Discuss their risk of breast cancer with their physician

There are several risk factors, such as your age and having a family history of breast cancer, that can increase your risk of breast cancer. And although rare, men are not immune from this disease, so they need to be aware of risk factors, too.

For more information about breast cancer and the importance of early detection:

9/1/09

Cholesterol Awareness Month: Optimal Levels Key to Heart Health

In previous months, Concentra has supported several health initiatives, such as helping you lead a heart-healthy lifestyle. September is Cholesterol Awareness Month, and we join the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in helping raise awareness of this key risk factor for developing coronary heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States.

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that your body produces to perform many body functions. But when you have too much cholesterol in your bloodstream, it can build up on the walls of your blood vessels, including those of the heart. Over time, this build-up can restrict the flow of blood and increase your risk for developing heart disease.

The NIH recommends that adults over 20 years old have their cholesterol levels checked at least once every five years. It’s a relatively simple procedure that involves obtaining a blood sample, and it can be performed by your primary care physician or at any Concentra Medical Center. Your blood is checked for levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (“bad cholesterol”), HDL cholesterol (“good cholesterol”), and triglycerides.

What can you do if you discover you have unhealthy cholesterol levels? Your physician may recommend you do any or all of the following:

  • Increase exercise
  • Reduce the amount of saturated or animal fat and cholesterol in your diet
  • Stop smoking
  • Lose weight
  • Take medication

For more information about cholesterol, download the Concentra Cholesterol Levels flyer. For more information on National Cholesterol Awareness Month, visit the NIH Web site.

7/31/09

National Immunization Awareness Month: Are You Up To Date?

August is National Immunization Awareness Month, and it’s the perfect time to check your immunization record to make sure it’s up to date. We tend to make sure our young children receive their recommended vaccinations, but when it comes to ourselves, we often forget that there are recommended vaccinations for adults and adolescents, too.

Missed vaccinations contribute to the overall disease burden and our increasing health care costs. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates up to $10 billion is spent each year in the U.S. on vaccine-preventable diseases.

What should you do make sure your vaccination record is up-to-date? Concentra recommends the following steps:

  • Keep a record in a safe place of all your vaccinations, noting:
    • the type of vaccination received (e.g. influenza, measles/mumps/rubella, etc.)
    • the date you received each vaccination
  • Obtain a list of recommended vaccinations, such as the one listed in Concentra’s Immunizations: Not Just for Kids flyer to determine if you are up-to-date
  • If you have specific health conditions or risk factors, consult your physician to determine if additional vaccinations are appropriate for you
  • Obtain your vaccinations in a timely manner, as advised

One of the most common vaccinations that adults may let lapse is for tetanus, called the tetanus-diphtheria/tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (or “Td/Tdap”) vaccination. The typical recommendation is for adults to receive a booster shot every 10 years. More information is available in Concentra’s Tetanus flyer.

For more information on vaccinations, ask your physician or visit the CDC Web site.

7/1/09

Making Fitness Fun Can Help Children Get Fit, Stay Healthy

Concentra is joining several national organizations in promoting youth fitness during July. The National Recreation and Park Association is sponsoring several July efforts aimed at promoting fitness among U.S. youth, including National Youth Sports Week.

Concentra fully supports National Youth Sports Week because team sports teach many valuable lessons in addition to fitness, such as teamwork and commitment. Our medical staff supports youth participation in team sports, and we offer sports and camp physicals at our 300-plus medical center locations nationwide. It’s convenient, cost-effective, and no appointment is necessary.

But often before children play team sports, parents have to help them develop healthy habits, such as fitness practices that they can carry with them into adulthood. So instead of your children sitting in front of the TV set after a long day of sitting in school desks, come up with fun ways for them to be active – and join in:

  • Visit a local park
  • Go for a hike or a bike ride
  • Go outside for a “walk and talk”
  • And when planning weekend activities or vacations, include fun activities like swimming, canoeing, or skiing

For more tips on youth fitness, visit National Recreation and Park Association Web site, and you can download the Concentra Fit and Fun flyer.

5/18/09

Aetna and Concentra Announce New Worksite Wellness Offering

Aetna announced a preferred vendor relationship with Concentra that expands the new Aetna Health Connections Direct2You™ offering to include worksite medical centers where experienced physicians and medical specialists provide primary, urgent, and occupational care. This new collaboration, which will be made available to Aetna’s plan sponsors, allows working Americans to receive wellness, prevention, and acute care services at their workplace through Concentra’s innovative delivery methods.

Aetna Health Connections Direct2You currently offers a range of services within the workplace including biometric screenings that measure cholesterol, blood pressure, weight, and height; wellness and preventive care; nutrition and fitness counseling; employee assistance program (EAP) services; prescription drug consultations; and disease management services. The information gathered at the worksite is connected to other health programs purchased by employers, giving them a comprehensive health and wellness picture of their employee populations while assuring the confidentiality of personal health information.

Concentra was selected by Aetna for its leadership in delivering employer health solutions and its ability to improve access to health care services through employer worksite facilities and urgent care centers. Through this collaboration, Concentra will operate worksite medical centers where experienced physicians and medical specialists provide primary, urgent, and occupational care to improve the health and well-being of employees. Combining best-practice strategies to prevent disease and promote healthy lifestyles, Concentra providers will also offer physical therapy, immunizations, and fitness and athletic training at employer-based health centers, helping to increase employee access to and utilization of health and wellness services. Through this arrangement, employers will benefit from a complete, seamless, full-service acute care offering with the ease and convenience of services delivered by Concentra and Aetna.

“Their extensive experience in workplace solutions makes Concentra a valuable addition to the Aetna Health Connections Direct2You offerings,” said Dan Fishbein, M.D., head of New Product Businesses at Aetna. “Aetna and Concentra offer a unique opportunity to help employers enhance their existing employee benefit package by implementing worksite health options that are proven to improve the health of employees and lower the total cost of health care.”

Worksite health programs provide significant results for both employers and employees. Numerous studies conclude that implementation of worksite health programs helps improve both access to care and health program enrollment. As the health of the employee population improves, absenteeism decreases and productivity increases. According to the 2005 Chapman study, programs like the Aetna Health Connections Direct2You worksite health and wellness program, coupled with Concentra medical providers, are shown to yield an ROI of $5-6 per every $1 an employer invests into the program. The key to this model is the effectiveness of face-to-face engagement with employees desiring to improve their overall health and well-being.

“We welcome this opportunity to bring our worksite health solutions to patients through Aetna’s vast member network,” said Mike McCollum, Senior Vice President of Concentra Health Solutions. “The addition of Concentra’s expertise in workplace health care delivery to Aetna’s Direct2You program offers the ability to provide effective wellness programs in a high quality and consistent manner to employees, and is perfectly aligned with our mission of improving America’s health, one patient at a time.”

The new Aetna Health Connections Direct2You program, including Concentra’s worksite services, is available to all Aetna national account customers, regardless of product, platform, or funding. The program is available to Aetna members of the plan sponsor, as well as others that the plan sponsor defines as eligible. Plan sponsors will establish the physical infrastructure of the clinic at their location, with consultation provided by Concentra. Lead times for implementation vary, but average three to four months for completion. The effective date for a worksite clinic is determined by employers and does not have to be tied to health or benefit plan effective dates.

Concentra has developed a reputation as the country’s leading provider of occupational health care by advancing the treatment of workplace injuries. Today, Concentra TotalCare presents a new option in employee health care by targeting the behaviors and issues that lead to poor health and chronic conditions while at the same time yielding a cost-savings to employers.

4/8/09

Fit to Drive: Improving Commercial Driver Health and Productivity

Truck stops may be a great place to gas up or view roadside attractions, but these places can create havoc on truckers’ health. As a guest columnist for TruckExec.com, Dr. Amy Khan explores why truckers are at a greater risk for serious health issues and how wellness programs can be easily implemented to improve health for the long haul.

View full article

4/1/09

National Fitness Month: Making It a Family Affair

April is National Fitness Month, and Concentra is joining the effort by promoting ways to make fitness fun, with a special focus on families.

Why focus on families? Because the habits we learn as children are the habits we carry with us into adulthood. So it’s especially important for parents to focus on developing healthy habits in their children.

And healthy fitness habits are a great place to start. These days, children typically spend a lot of time sitting, whether in their desks at school or in front of the television at home. As parents, we can help by coming up with fun ways for our children to be active – and then joining them in the fun.

Here are a few ideas:

  • Plan a vacation filled with fun activities, like biking or skiing
  • Visit a local park
  • Go for a hike

For more tips to make fitness fun for your family, you can visit the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, or you can download the Concentra Fit and Fun flyer.

3/11/09

Concentra’s Health Care Solution Can Bring Relief to Weakened Auto Industry

In response to a request for additional federal aid by the U.S. auto industry, Concentra proposes a solution that can help reduce health care costs – a major contributing factor to the industry’s financial woes. Concentra, the nation’s largest provider of employer health care, brings to the table a proven, cost-effective program that will lower employee- and retiree-related health care costs, which stands to save the industry and U.S. taxpayers millions of dollars.

For years, the U.S. auto industry has been hampered by complex benefit programs and extensive employer health care costs in comparison to foreign auto manufacturers, including Japanese auto companies with production facilities in the U.S. According to a report by Bloomberg news, a comparison of American automobiles with foreign automobiles shows nearly $1,600 is added to the price of each American car to cover health care costs, whereas only $125 is added to the price of a foreign car for health care. That cost could shrink dramatically with the implementation of Concentra TotalCare™.

Concentra TotalCare is a comprehensive health management program that blends injury and illness care, occupational, environmental, and preventive health services to improve the health and well-being of employees. The program uses early intervention and behavior modification methods to identify potential health risks and promote healthy lifestyles, and focuses on employee health education and employee participation throughout. Some of the nation’s largest employers use Concentra’s TotalCare program to help improve their employees’ access to quality health and wellness services, reduce overall health care spending, reduce worker absenteeism, and develop a culture of health and wellness. Concentra’s TotalCare offering could help bring domestic automakers’ labor costs in line with Japanese manufacturers operating in the U.S.

“We understand the important role the American auto industry plays in the global marketplace and economic structure,” said Jim Greenwood, Concentra CEO. “Concentra welcomes the opportunity to work with the domestic auto manufacturers, the United Auto Workers union, and the various suppliers and distributors, to develop a solution that will improve health and reduce health care costs, in an effort to ensure future viability.”

TotalCare returns the doctor to the workplace with a focus on lowering health risks and preventing the onset of disease. Coupled with wellness professionals, Concentra delivers worksite health and wellness programs that are shown to yield an ROI of $5-6 per every $1 an employer invests into the program – Chapman Study 2005. The key to this model is the effectiveness of face-to-face engagement and support to employees desiring to improve their overall health and well being. Numerous studies conclude that as an employee population’s health improves, absenteeism and productivity drastically improves as well. By making Concentra’s solutions available to the numerous employees who support the U.S. auto industry, domestic automakers could significantly reduce their overall corporate expenses.

So far, the majority of the U.S. auto industry restructuring plans have focused on job reduction, smaller product lines, and reduced marketing efforts. Experts say health care costs are central to reducing operating costs and returning the domestic auto companies to profitability and long-range success.

“In difficult times like these, there are few easy decisions for companies who are trying to remain competitive,” added Greenwood. “Concentra presents an opportunity to significantly impact employer health care costs while improving the health, productivity, and satisfaction of employees.”

During the past 30 years Concentra has been the country’s leading provider of occupational health care, advancing the treatment of workplace injuries, along with a range of physical therapy and rehabilitation services, and other employment-related health care services. Today, Concentra TotalCare presents a new option in employee health care by targeting the behaviors and issues that lead to poor health and chronic conditions; at the same time, it yields a cost-savings to employers. TotalCare is completely customizable to meet the unique needs of each workforce, including the complexities of the auto industry.

For more information about Concentra TotalCare™ and to learn how this comprehensive new program can enhance an existing health benefits program, please contact us.

3/2/09

LivingHeart Healthy: Having the Right Snacks Can Be Key

March is Healthy Heart Month at Concentra, and we join the American Heart Association (AHA) in promoting heart healthier living.

Why focus on preventing heart disease? Because 71 million Americans already suffer some form of heart disease, with the most common condition being high blood pressure. If untreated, heart disease can lead to heart attack, stroke, and death.

While heredity plays a major risk factor for heart disease in some people, most of us are at risk because of making poor lifestyle choices. So it’s a good time to reduce our risk of heart disease by focusing on heart healthy living:

  • Eat a healthy diet low in animal fats, hydrogenated vegetable oil, added sugars, salt, and dietary cholesterol
  • Exercise regularly, typically 20-60 minutes per day, 3-5 times per week
  • Avoid tobacco products and tobacco smoke
  • Limit your alcohol intake: 1 drink/day for women, and 2 drinks/day for men

For more tips on reducing your risk of heart disease, you can visit the American Heart Association or download the Concentra Heart Healthy Lifestyles flyer.

1/29/09

Heart Healthy Month: Having the Right Snacks Can Be Key

February is the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Heart Healthy Month, and Concentra joins in promoting this effort to help everyone eat healthier.

Why focus on snacks? Because too many diets tend to focus only on meals and don’t consider the amount of excess calories consumed from snacks. For example, many diet plans conform to the AHA’s recommendations for meals: limit salt and butter, avoid foods high in fats and calories, avoid whole milk, etc.

But what about between meals? After eating a healthy meal, we often become hungry and are tempted to snack on foods that may not be the best for our health.

It may be difficult to control our desire to snack, but we can control what we snack on, and the AHA has several suggestions for how to stock your pantry:

  • Baked tortilla chips and salsa
  • Homemade trail mix
  • Fresh fruits and vegetables
  • Fruit shake or smoothie
  • Zucchini or pumpkin bread
  
  • Low-fat yogurt
  • Nuts
  • Graham crackers
  • Sugar-free pudding or jello
  • Granola or cereal bars

For more tips on eating healthy snacks, you can visit the American Heart Association or read Concentra’s Healthy Snacks List.

1/9/09

Dallas Selects Concentra to Improve Health and Wellness of Workforce

Concentra was recently selected by the City of Dallas, Texas, to provide preventive, urgent, and acute medical services to city staff, their dependents, and city retirees through its TotalCare™ suite of services. Beginning in January 2009 at Dallas City Hall, Concentra will operate a worksite health and wellness center that emphasizes prevention, wellness, and education.

Concentra was selected by the City of Dallas for its innovative health services offerings, its proven ability to bring quality medical services to employer worksites, and its 14 community-based medical centers located throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area.

Concentra TotalCare blends urgent, acute, and preventive health services to improve the health and well-being of employees. This service also combines best-practice strategies to help prevent disease and promote healthy lifestyles, and it focuses on health education and employee engagement throughout its health improvement programs. Concentra will work with Clínicas Mi Doctor, which operates 12 family practice centers in DFW, to provide medical staff members and select services. The goals of this program are to improve access to quality health and wellness services, reduce the city's overall health care spending, reduce worker absenteeism, and promote preventive and wellness programs throughout the city.

“Concentra has a strong track record of providing worksite health care solutions to some of the largest employers in the country,” said Jim Greenwood, Concentra CEO. “We are proud of our ability to provide skillful, experienced health care services to employees directly, where and when they need them. By improving the health and well-being of City of Dallas employees, we can enhance and strengthen the community.”

The Concentra TotalCare facility will be open weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and will be staffed by a physician, nurse practitioner, and a medical assistant or licensed vocational nurse. Nearly 30,000 individuals – including city staff, their dependents, and city retirees – will have access to a full-service health and wellness offering with the ease and convenience of services managed on-site within Dallas City Hall.

“The City of Dallas is excited about the opportunity to help improve the health and well-being of its staff through the combination of Concentra’s proven health care solutions and Clínicas Mi Doctor’s family practice centers.” said David Etheridge, Director of Human Resources for the City of Dallas. “By establishing an on-site health care facility that is centralized and geared toward providing basic medical services, we hope to positively affect the overall wellness and productivity of the City of Dallas workforce.”

TotalCare presents a new option in employee health care by targeting the behaviors and issues that lead to poor health and chronic illnesses; at the same time, it yields a cost-savings to employers. Because the program is customizable, employers can develop an offering that meets the unique needs of their workforce.

1/2/09

National Healthy Weight Month: Time to Focus on a Weighty Matter

The holiday season is now behind us. All those holiday parties with ample food, desserts, and drink are over for another year. And it’s a great time to focus on your New Year’s resolutions, such as losing pounds.

Why is your weight important? Because being overweight puts a strain on your heart and can lead to serious health problems, such as:

  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Heart disease
  • High blood pressure
  • Sleep apnea
  • Varicose veins

Managing your weight is fundamental to living a healthy life. In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control says over 300,000 lives could be saved each year if all Americans maintained a healthy weight.

The first step is finding out if you are at risk. One measurement is your Body Mass Index (BMI), which identifies you as underweight, healthy, or overweight. You can calculate your BMI either online at the National Heart Lung Blood Institute or manually by referring to the Healthy Weight flyer.

A second measurement is your waist circumference, which can help identify whether you are at a higher risk for developing diabetes or heart disease. You can determine your waist circumference manually by referring to the Concentra Healthy Weight flyer.

If either your BMI or waist circumference are too high, you can decrease them by eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly. Be sure to contact your health care provider with any questions or for more information.

10/1/08

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Early Detection Is Key

The American Cancer Society has named October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It’s the ideal time to make sure that you – and the ones you care about – are taking effective steps for early detection. They recommend that all U.S. women:

  • Obtain yearly mammography screenings, beginning at age 40
  • Obtain yearly clinical breast exams
  • Check their breasts regularly for lumps
  • Discuss their breast cancer risk with their physician

Breast cancer remains the #2 leading cause of death among U.S. women. But more than 2 million women in America are living healthy lives after having been treated for the disease. While rare, men are also at risk for developing breast cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends that both men and women consult their physician if they notice any of the following warning signs:

  • A new, hard lump or thickening in any part of the breast
  • Change in breast size or shape
  • Dimpling or puckering of the skin
  • Swelling, redness, or warmth that does not go away
  • Recurrent pain in a particular part of the breast
  • Pulling in of the nipple
  • Nipple discharge that starts suddenly in one breast
  • An itchy, sore, or scaly area on one nipple

For more information about breast cancer warning signs, talk with your health care provider and read Concentra’s flyer on Breast Cancer Screening.

You can also visit these Web sites: American Cancer Society, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and National Cancer Institute

9/2/08

September is Whole Grains Month: The Whole Value of Whole Grains

The Whole Grains Council has named September as Whole Grains Month, so it’s a great time to check your diet to make sure you’re getting enough whole grains, which have been shown to lower risk for disease.

Whole grains are foods that contain all the essential parts and naturally occurring nutrients of the entire grain seed. Types of whole grains include barley, buckwheat, corn, oats, rice (brown, colored, and wild), and wheat.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that each adult get 3-5 servings of whole grains daily, and children get 2-3 servings daily. But studies show that most Americans eat less than one serving daily, and 40% of Americans never eat whole grains at all.

What are you missing by not including whole grains in your diet? Studies have shown that whole grains in your diet help reduce your risk of disease:

  • Stroke risk reduced 30%
  • Type 2 diabetes risk reduced 21%
  • Heart disease risk reduced 25%

Other benefits include better weight maintenance, reduced risk of asthma, healthier blood pressure levels, and less risk of gum disease. Ask your health care provider or your dietician about including more whole grains in your diet.

For more information:

Medical Expert Panel

At Concentra, we believe innovation within the health care industry is crucial to improving not only the quality of health care that patients receive, but the overall patient experience. That’s why we bring together leading experts in health care to not only oversee our entire medical operations, but to search for new ways to improve our operations in each service we provide, such as TotalCare.

The Integrated Health, Wellness, and Productivity Medical Expert Panel is chaired by Amy J. Khan, M.D., MPH, who also serves as the National Medical Director for TotalCare. Dr. Khan’s vast experience in this field also includes working for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and teaching at the University of Nevada.

Dr. Khan and the other six physicians on the Panel provide medical expertise to assure the delivery of evidenced-based health management approaches to the entire TotalCare service offering. They also address areas of productivity, including addressing risks that affect work absence, work performance, restricted time, and work accommodations.

The Panel also provides oversight in such areas as population health screening, targeted prevention programs, health intervention programs, pre-placement evaluations, management of both work-related and non-work-related injury/illness, and disability management.

Concentra has Medical Expert Panels in three other areas: Infectious Disease and Pandemics, Transportation and Injury, and Urgent Care. Providing quality oversight. Improving medical services. Developing clinical excellence. It’s all part of our continued commitment to improving America’s health, one patient at a time.

7/3/08

The Nationwide Reach of TotalCare

Our Nationwide Reach is another reason why Concentra has grown into the leading health care provider to America’s workers. We can effectively reach 100% of an employer’s population throughout the country, no matter where they work or live.

For example, suppose the XYZ company employs thousands of workers at multiple locations across the country and decides to create its own Health Improvement Program. They would need to find a partner to make sure all their employees could complete their Biometric Screenings in a timely, consistent manner. Concentra can build a program to reach all their employees:

  • Through onsite facilities in the workplace, just as we have done in over 260 workplaces nationwide
  • Through any of our 320+ Concentra Medical Centers (use our Location Finder)
  • Through our onsite medical mobile fleet, which can reach remote facilities and job sites
  • Through our nationwide network of contracted providers and clinical centers

And our nationwide footprint enables us to provide employers with quality throughout TotalCare. For example, we can provide training and classes onsite, telephonically, or online.

Providing quality care where and when your employees need it. Maintaining the same high level of care nationwide. Providing technological support even to remote areas. All ways where our nationwide reach helps us keep our commitment to improve America’s health, one patient at a time.

7/1/08

A Total Health and Wellness Solution from Concentra TotalCare

Concentra TotalCare provides a population-based health promotion approach to the workforce that is designed to support an individual's overall health and well-being. With roughly 75% percent of the health care spending attributed to chronic disease, TotalCare’s focus is to modify health risks through targeted strategies, prevent illness and injury, promote health and productivity, and lower the total cost of health care. By helping employees take an active role in their individual health and wellness, Concentra aims to be a driving force in improving the health of Americans.
Read the article »

6/6/08

Concentra Improves Employee Health with TotalCare

Concentra’s TotalCare program targets behaviors and issues that continue to increase employer health care costs, and worsening the health of American workers. TotalCare decreases health risks through targeted strategies, illness prevention, and health promotion, ultimately lowering employer and employee health care costs.

Using a blend of on-site, clinic-based and virtual tools that integrates primary and preventive care, with occupational and environmental health services, TotalCare addresses health issues while keeping others at bay. With this program, Concentra is committed to improving health care in America and enriching the lives of individuals with a track to better living.
Read the white paper »

5/16/08

Concentra Adds National Expertise to Improve Health Care

Concentra, a leading provider of health care services, has announced the addition of two national experts to lead development of the company’s TotalCare and Urgent Care service lines. Since its founding as an occupational health company in 1979, Concentra has helped employers reduce health care expenditures while working as an advocate for patient health and safety. As consumers become more responsible for a greater proportion of their routine health care costs, and as employers look for ways to improve employee health, productivity, and job satisfaction, Concentra is expanding its offerings with TotalCare and Urgent Care.

Concentra TotalCare

TotalCare is Concentra’s newest service offering that focuses on preventing illness and injury, promoting health and productivity, and lowering the total cost of health care. TotalCare offers employers a customizable menu of primary, preventive, occupational, and environmental services that is focused on their employees’ health. To help communicate the primary elements of this service offering, Concentra TotalCare employs the term “Well. Fit. Safe”: Well encompasses health screening, education, targeted lifestyle interventions, and clinical preventive care; Fit includes fitness assessments, coaching, and enhanced physical activity; and Safe refers to the promotion of environmental health and occupational safety measures.

Amy J. Khan, M.D., MPH, serves as medical director for the company’s TotalCare and Wellness services. She provides support, oversight, leadership, education, and coordination of these services for local medical directors, physicians, and any providers affiliated with Concentra’s health management products. Khan earned her medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine and her Master of Public Health (MPH) from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is specialty boarded in Internal Medicine and General Preventive Medicine & Public Health, and is certified in Addiction Medicine. Prior to joining Concentra, Khan served as a medical officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for six years, identifying at-risk populations, measuring disease burden, and providing prevention recommendations. A recognized expert in population health management and integrated clinical care, she has over a decade of health care delivery experience. She previously directed a multidisciplinary clinical service line within a large managed care organization, which served workers and dependents impaired by substance-use problems, and also developed and managed a heart disease prevention program directed at public safety officers and government workers.

Says Khan, “Concentra developed TotalCare in response to our employer clients who were asking for a comprehensive approach to employee health care. We have a very real opportunity to shift the paradigm of how health care is communicated, delivered, monitored, and measured. By helping employees take increasing responsibility for their individual health and wellness, Concentra can be a driving force in improving the health of Americans.”
Concentra Urgent Care

This year, Concentra began offering urgent care services to the general public in 40 Concentra Medical Centers in eight states. Urgent care provides treatment for injury and illness on a walk-in basis with extended hours and convenient locations near patients’ home and work. Staffed by physicians and offering X-ray and limited lab services on-site, Concentra Urgent Care saves time and money over the emergency room and offers night and weekend coverage for primary care. Concentra continues its national rollout of urgent care services and plans to offer some form of urgent care service in each of its 320-plus medical centers by the middle of 2008.

Alan A. Ayers has joined Concentra as Assistant Vice President of Product Development. He will support the development and implementation of consumer-oriented health care solutions such as Urgent Care. He serves as content advisor to the Urgent Care Association of America and is co-author of Consumer Driven Health Care. Prior to joining the company, Ayers was chief operating officer of a hospital-affiliated urgent care network with eight locations. He has extensive experience in the retail consulting industry with clients including Wal-Mart, McDonald’s, and Bank of America. Ayers graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Mississippi and a Master of Accounting from The Ohio State University.

“Concentra understands the challenges facing health care in the United States and is responding with solutions to make health care more accessible and affordable,” says Ayers. “By adding urgent care to our existing occupational medicine operation, we will significantly enhance our national presence in the consumer health care arena.”

Learn more about Concentra Urgent Care at www.concentraurgentcare.com.