Kroger partners with hospital to offer employees joint and spine surgeries
Hmmmm….. I can see benefits and pitfalls to this.
http://www.supermarketnews.com/health-wellness/kroger-partners-hospital-offer-employees-joint-and-spine-surgeries
The Kroger Co. has teamed with The Christ Hospital Health Network’s Center of Excellence (COE) program for its employees’ total hip and total knee replacement and spine surgery benefits. The COE program allows employers to contract directly with the Cincinnati-based hospital for specific procedures at a fixed price.
“Kroger is excited to partner with The Christ Hospital to provide the best care for our associates at affordable prices,” said Theresa Monti, vice president of Total Rewards for Cincinnati-based Kroger. “We know healthcare can be complicated and our goal is to make the process easy for our associates. By establishing this partnership, we can ensure the highest-quality providers are available when associates are making decisions about their health.”
According to a report in the Cincinnati Business Courier, Kroger is the largest employer in the Greater Cincinnati Region, with a local workforce of more than 21,000. The chain has more than 440,000 employees nationwide, and about 90,000 of those who are eligible for the retailer’s health plan could be offered the option of having the surgery done in Cincinnati.
According to The Christ Hospital officials, Kroger employees on the company-sponsored healthcare plan will be guided through the joint and spine care process by a nurse navigator who will help them choose a physician; coordinate medical care from diagnosis to recovery; provide information about the procedure; and provide education on everything from the day of surgery to discharge and beyond.
