BayCare and CHS Create Partnership To Provide Onsite Health Centers For Employees

CLEARWATER, Fla., May 29, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- BayCare Health System and CHS™ Health Services (CHS) have agreed to co-manage two onsite health centers staffed by full-time physicians and nursing staff dedicated entirely for the health system's employees.

These centers, known as TeamCare, will offer a broad range of services, such as urgent and primary care, chronic condition and disease management, screenings, laboratory services, pharmacy and wellness education. By locating TeamCare at or near work campuses, BayCare will make it even easier for its employees to get the care they need, when they need it.

"Providing employees with onsite health centers directly aligns with BayCare's overall strategy to shift from episodic care to a greater focus on overall health, wellness and early detection," said Stephen R. Mason, president/CEO of BayCare, which has 21,000 employees and is the leading health system in the Tampa Bay area. "I've always said that a great place to start our Mission to improve the health of all we serve is with our own team members."

TeamCare will open June 5, near the campuses of St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa and Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater. TeamCare is a pilot program that can expand to more locations in BayCare and other employers in the Tampa Bay area.

The goal of TeamCare is to connect BayCare employees to onsite health, wellness and early detection services that can hopefully prevent serious illness in the future and help them live healthier lives. These health centers also can fill gaps in care, especially for employees who do not have a primary care physician or who may not have time to drive to an off-site location during work hours. TeamCare will be available for members of the BayCare medical plan and their enrolled dependents ages 16 years or older.

The BayCare-CHS strategic alliance represents an emerging trend in the health care industry, where healthcare organizations are innovating to meet internal challenges associated with rising health costs while also focusing on the evolving needs of large and mid-size employers. CHS is a leading national workforce health management company specializing in onsite health care services.

"We see this as a watershed moment and are excited to have the opportunity to partner with BayCare and its highly regarded brand," said Stuart Clark, CEO of CHS. "The resources of a hospital system - combined with those of an organization that specializes in onsite care - makes for a powerful care management model.  BayCare will be a great partner in this endeavor, because they are committed to the mission."

About BayCare Health System

BayCare Health System is a leading community-based health system in the Tampa Bay area. Composed of a network of 10 not-for-profit hospitals, outpatient facilities and services such as imaging, lab, behavioral health and home health care, BayCare provides expert medical care throughout a patient's lifetime. With more than 200 access points conveniently located throughout Tampa Bay, BayCare connects patients to a complete range of preventive, diagnostic and treatment services for any health care need.

BayCare's family of hospitals are: Mease Countryside, Mease Dunedin, Morton Plant, Morton Plant North Bay, St. Anthony's, St. Joseph's, St. Joseph's Children's, St. Joseph's Hospital-North, St. Joseph's Women's, and South Florida Baptist. For more information, visit BayCare on the Web at www.BayCare.org.

About CHS™ Health Services

Founded in 1975, CHS Health Services operates over 130 onsite health centers for large employers in the U.S.  Large corporations look to CHS to positively impact workforce health and productivity through the delivery of efficient primary care, health coaching, pharmacy services, and telemedicine for dispersed workforces nationwide. As a premiere provider of workforce health care, CHS offers experience that, when combined with its deep analytical approach to employee health, helps maximize the effectiveness of every healthcare dollar spent, while ensuring employees have the most proven treatment options. CHS tailors healthcare delivery to employers' overarching benefits strategies and supports each organization with integrated health information systems. For more information, visit www.CHSonsite.com or call 800-638-8083.

SOURCE BayCare Health System