WESTBROOK, Maine — Making health care more accessible is the mission behind a health center at one of Maine's largest employers. IDEXX Laboratories has partnered with InterMed to offer various services, from screenings to lab work and physical therapy.
Not only do the services help several thousand employees stay healthy, but they also save lives.
Katisha Walsh is a catering supervisor in the hospitality department at IDEXX. The worldwide company develops, manufactures, and distributes veterinary diagnostics, software, and water testing. Walsh said taking time off work to attend medical appointments used to be challenging, but that's not the case anymore.
"You don't have to take your lunch break to go to your doctor's appointment or leave early and think about how you will make up that time," Walsh explained.
Health care is just a few steps away at little or no cost. The animal products company, one of the state's largest employers, opened its onsite health canter over a decade ago.
The clinic is staffed by InterMed nurse practitioners, nurses, health care navigators, athletic trainers, and physical therapists. It provides an array of services, vaccinations, allergy shots, and behavioral health care tailored to the 3,000-person workforce.
"We provide lab services and sick visits. If you don't feel well, you get seen immediately and get back to work," Melanie Small, director of Workplace Health Services at InterMed, explained.
Health care workers say despite the access, 80 percent of employees are at risk for chronic conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. About 20 percent do not have a primary care doctor, making health screenings so critical.
Michael Johnson, chief human resource officer with IDEXX, said the services go beyond convenience.
"I think we are helping save lives," Johnson said. "I have heard from multiple employees how they have had a condition they didn't even know [about, and] it was diagnosed here."
Roger Poitras, the CEO of InterMed, said he believes bringing health care to the workplace needs to be on the horizon for Maine.
"That is the future of health care—make it more accessible and affordable," Poitras added.
InterMed hopes to work with smaller businesses in Maine with 100 employees or less. The idea is to set up a clinic where employees at several small companies can access health care.
Meanwhile, Walsh said the onsite clinic has helped her achieve better wellness as a busy wife, mother, and employee.
The IDEXX onsite health clinic averages 5,000 visits per year, and each visit saves employees two to four hours away from work.