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Learning Objective 1: The learner will identify cost effectiveness as a quality outcome measure for nurse-managed health clinics.
Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to describe the implications of cost effective nurse-managed care delivery models for employers.
Purpose: The purpose was to conduct a cost analysis of services provided by a nurse practitioner in a worksite health clinic, and compare it to the company’s out-of-pocket costs for similar health insurance claims within the same timeframe.
Methodology: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive secondary analysis. Encounter data from all company employees who utilized the worksite health clinic or who generated a company health insurance claim for offsite primary care services from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011 were collected and analyzed using descriptive and correlational statistics. The average employee salaries and the annual overhead costs of the workplace clinic were also analyzed.
Findings: In the worksite clinic, 450 visits were logged from August 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011 with an average cost per encounter of $47.82. During the same period, 814 offsite procedural insurance claims were filed and because the company is self-insured, the total out-of-pocket cost to the company was $50,606.77. If these procedures had been performed in the onsite clinic, the out-of-pocket cost to the company would have been $23,814.36.
Implications: Considering the rising costs of healthcare, employers are motivated to curb healthcare spending. Additionally, government agencies are interested in supporting access points to primary care for low-income, underserved populations. Study findings suggests that onsite nurse-managed wellness and primary care services are a promising and innovative way employers can save on healthcare costs while also supporting a healthy and productive workforce.