QuadMed: Transforming Employer Sponsored Health Care Through Workplace Primary Care and Wellness Programs
By creating worksite health clinics that focus on comprehensive primary care and wellness programs, the Wisconsin based printing company Quad/Graphics transformed itself from a purchaser of health insurance to an investor in employee health and productivity. The worksite clinics, managed through its subsidiary QuadMed, place a high priority on patient health and convenience by organizing care so that it is oriented toward prevention and outcomes rather than production. Patient visits, which last 30 minutes or longer, enable physicians to address health prevention needs and promote the company's wellness programs, which promote physical activity, weight loss, smoking cessation, and early identification and control of diabetes, as well as risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The company's health care model has helped to lower costs, improve health outcomes for employees, and enhance their experience of care. All three are goals of the Triple Aim, an Institute of Healthcare Improvement initiative in which QuadMed participates. Note: An earlier version of this case study appeared in the September/October 2009 issue of The Commonwealth Fund's online newsletter, Quality Matters.