Cooper’s cuts ribbon on healthcare clinics

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Cooper Farms celebrated its new health and wellness clinics with ribbon cutting events at both locations: St. Henry and Van Wert. The clinics, along with a third in Defiance that was previously operational, are a new team member benefit provided by the farm and food company. The clinics provide primary care services, physicals, health coaching, select lab testing, and generic medications to team members on the company’s health plan at no cost.

“I am so proud that Cooper Farms can offer our deserving team members such an awesome benefit,” said Cooper Farms Director of Human Resources and Safety Jack Staugler. “We truly hope and believe it will prove to be a life and health changing experience for them.”

Cooper Farms has partnered with Activate Healthcare, a third-party provider, to offer the comprehensive health and wellness centers to Cooper Farms team members and their families.

Jim Cooper, Cooper Farms CEO, said Staugler was the driving force behind developing clinics for company employees, while also noting he feels the new healthcare clinics will not only keep employees healthier, but also help retain employees.

With the pending retirement of members of the Baby Boom generation, companies are increasingly having to compete for workers in a shrinking labor market.

“It’s a win-win situation,” said Dr. Mahtab Ahmed, a physician with 20 years of experience, noting that employees who have access to free medical care are healthier and, thus, are off work fewer days because of illness. Dr. Ahmed and Bruce Suchland, nurse practitioner, will provide primary health care, along with several nurses, at the Van Wert clinic.

Dr. Ahmed, who spent the last seven years practicing medicine at Paulding County Hospital, compared the normal healthcare process, where a person goes to a family physician and likely has to pay a fee to be examined, to the Cooper Farms/Activate system.

“Here, you can come in, tests are done here, you can get the medicine here, and it’s free; how do you compare with that?” he asked.

Debra Geihsler, principal and co-founder of Activate Healthcare, said the partnership provides benefits to both the employer and employee.

“Adding value to our partner organizations by generating significant cost savings and enabling a healthier workforce are tangible results of the important work we are doing to transform health care,” Geihsler noted. “We are empowering physicians to develop long-term relationships with patients, provide preventive care, educate patients, and activate them to take control of their health.”

The health and wellness centers are patient-centered offices staffed by doctors, nurse practitioners and nurses to provide primary care to those enrolled in the Cooper Farms health plan. Appointments are patient-centered with little to no wait time and extensive face-to-face time with the physician. The dedicated staff will help individuals to become active participants in their own health and wellness. The clinics also feature a lab and pharmacy.

“Our philosophy is to take a holistic approach to health and well-being. We believe physical health cannot be improved without considering the whole person – mind, body and spirit,” said Laura Hoag, Activate’s health promotion director. “Our approach and services address the whole person across the continuum of health, from wellness and prevention, to primary care and chronic condition management.”