FCA and St. Vincent Dedicate Family Health and Wellness Center in Kokomo, Indiana

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Jul 26, 2018, 11:30 ET

KOKOMO, Ind., July 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Indiana Governor joins FCA and St. Vincent executives in celebrating first-of-its-kind, near-site health clinic
The FCA Family Health and Wellness Center, powered by St. Vincent, established to serve FCA employees and their families at more than 22,000 people
Clinic officially opens to patients on July 30
Company anticipates improved employee health and immediate cost savings
FCA joins growing trend of large U.S. employers establishing primary care facilities

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, together with FCA Head of Manufacturing for North America Brian Harlow, FCA US Director of Integrated Health Care & Disability Kathleen Neal and St. Vincent Indiana Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Nalli, officially dedicated the FCA Family Health and Wellness Center, powered by St. Vincent, in Kokomo, Indiana, today. Ready to see patients on July 30, the physician-led, primary care clinic will exclusively service FCA employees and their families, totaling more than 22,000 health care members.

The clinic, the first-of-its-kind to be established by a domestic automaker, will provide a personalized experience through comprehensive primary care services and wellness programs at no cost for most FCA employees and their families in the Kokomo and Tipton areas.

"This clinic is key to helping ensure that our current and future employees receive the quality health care they need to build a strong and prosperous Indiana," said Brian Harlow, Head of Manufacturing, FCA – North America. "Our employees will benefit from a dedicated and caring staff, 90 percent of whom are from Kokomo and several who have family members working for FCA. For the staff, this work is personal."

Guests met the "homegrown" staff and toured the clinic after officials cut the ceremonial ribbon.

"Making health care available where people work removes a barrier for improving overall health for employees and their families," said Governor Holcomb. "It's more convenient, it's more affordable, and it has tremendous potential to improve quality of life and attract top talent and investment to this part of the state."

St. Vincent, part of the Ascension health care organization, was selected to operate the clinic. Dedicated to serving Indiana's residents for more than 126 years, St. Vincent will offer FCA employees and their families access to not only primary care providers and wellness services through this new clinic, but also to local specialists at St. Vincent Kokomo and other sites of care across the integrated St. Vincent health system.

"St. Vincent has been actively reimagining how health care is delivered by collaborating and creating new avenues for patients to access convenient options for care when needed – for anything from a sore throat to a serious health problem," said Jonathan Nalli, Chief Executive Officer, St. Vincent. "St. Vincent shares FCA's commitment to wellness and champions preventive care and the importance of catching health conditions early, when treatment has the best chance of being effective. Near-site health clinics like the FCA Family Health & Wellness Center, powered by St. Vincent, are key to making preventive more accessible so we can improve health outcomes in Indiana."

FCA established the Kokomo clinic to create a more personalized and distinct health care experience, in addition to addressing high per capita health care costs and a shortage of primary care physicians in Indiana.

"Approximately 40 percent of our employees do not have a primary care physician, meaning many of them are visiting emergency rooms and urgent care facilities for proactive or preventative treatment," said Kathleen Neal, Director of Integrated Health Care & Disability, FCA US. "This clinic represents the shared vision of FCA and St. Vincent by offering our workforce a convenient, high quality and, most importantly, personalized treatment option. In so doing, it is our goal to have a lasting impact on the health of not only our workforce, but the entire community."

The FCA Family Health and Wellness Center will administer a holistic approach to health across lifestyle, fitness and access to a fully integrated health care system. The clinic will provide a perfect venue for managing chronic conditions such as hypertension. The clinic staff will consist of doctors, nurses, medical assistants, dietitians, exercise physiologists and behavioral health specialists. Staff will also include a physical therapist, x-ray technician, pharmacist, chronic disease manager and patient health advocate. In addition, the clinic will offer phone interpreting and translation services as needed.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, U.S. health care prices have increased a staggering 21.6 percent since 2008, driving companies to identify creative approaches to manage these costs, including developing near-site health clinics. FCA joins a growing trend where 30 percent of large U.S. employers have created clinics as a means of improving employee health and generating related cost savings.

Located at 1765 East Lincoln Road, the clinic is centrally located to the five FCA plants in the area, which comprise one of the largest automotive transmission complexes in the world. Employees interested in scheduling an appointment should call (765) 236-8380 or visit fcawellnesscenter.com.

About FCA Health and Wellness
A long-established innovator in providing programs and services to support the health and wellness of employees and their families, FCA has been recognized nine consecutive years by the National Business Group on Health for programs that enable a healthy workplace and encourage healthy lifestyles for both employees and their families. FCA is committed to "4URHLTH," a program designed to support overall well-being that empowers employees and their families with access to comprehensive tools and resources for leading healthier lifestyles.

Since 1985, the Company's wellness program has evolved to meet the needs of employees and their families. In the fall of 2008, the Company opened an on-site health clinic and pharmacy inside its Auburn Hills, Michigan, headquarters, providing nearly 12,000 Chrysler employees and contractors with convenient access to high-quality medical care. Today, FCA provides a variety of integrated health plans with preventive services. This comprehensive approach to supporting employee well-being includes access to a variety of health-related resources, including UAW benefit representatives, a Health Advocate for salaried employees, an Employee Assistance Program representative for all employees, on-site medical departments, 25 dedicated wellness staff members and many on-site fitness centers.

About FCA Indiana Transmission Operations
Since 2009, FCA US has committed investments of more than $1.9 billion and added more than 4,100 new jobs to its Indiana transmission operations. The five Kokomo- and Tipton-area manufacturing plants (Kokomo Transmission, Kokomo Casting, Indiana Transmission I and II, and Tipton Transmission) produce the four-, six-, eight- and nine-speed transmissions, powering the Company's three newest vehicles: the all-new 2018 Jeep Wrangler, 2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2019 Ram 1500. In addition, Tipton is the manufacturing site for the innovative eFlite dual-motor electrically variable transmission that powers the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, the most efficient minivan of all time.

About St. Vincent
In Indiana, Ascension's St. Vincent operates 20 hospitals in addition to a comprehensive network of affiliated joint ventures, medical practices and clinics that cover a 57-county area and employ more than 15,000 associates. Across the state, St. Vincent provided more than $268 million in community benefit and care of persons living in poverty in fiscal year 2017. Serving Indiana for 136 years, Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension is the largest non-profit health system in the U.S. and the world's largest Catholic health system, operating 2,600 sites of care – including 153 hospitals and more than 50 senior living facilities – in 22 states and the District of Columbia. Visit www.stvincent.org.

About FCA US LLC
FCA US LLC is a North American automaker based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It designs, manufactures, and sells or distributes vehicles under the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep®, Ram, FIAT and Alfa Romeo brands, as well as the SRT performance designation. The Company also distributes Mopar and Alfa Romeo parts and accessories. FCA US is building upon the historic foundations of Chrysler Corp., established in 1925 by industry visionary Walter P. Chrysler and Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino (F.I.A.T.), founded in Italy in 1899 by pioneering entrepreneurs, including Giovanni Agnelli. FCA US is a member of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) family of companies. (NYSE: FCAU/ MTA: FCA).

FCA is an international automotive group listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "FCAU" and on the Mercato Telematico Azionario under the symbol "FCA."

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SOURCE FCA US LLC