Houston I.S.D. Unveils Health and Wellness Center for Employees

HOUSTON, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Houston Independent School District (Houston I.S.D.), the largest public school system in Texas, is pleased to announce the opening of its new employee health and wellness center. The new center is operated by Concentra, and will offer primary, preventive, and wellness services to all benefits eligible Houston I.S.D. employees.

The new Houston I.S.D. employee health and wellness center is located next to the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center at 4400 W. 18th St.; and will be open Mondays and Fridays 7 AM to 4 PM, and Tuesday through Thursday 9 AM to 6 PM.  The center features approximately 1,500 square feet of space, complete with two exam rooms, a nurse's intake station, and lab. Primary, urgent, preventive and wellness care services will be available at the health and wellness center, in addition to health risk assessments and health screenings. This center is the first of several that Houston I.S.D. will open during this school year.

"We are extremely excited about this new employee health care center which will deliver quality, accessible health care at a low price in a convenient, one-stop setting," said Melinda Garrett, Chief Financial Officer for Houston I.S.D.  "By establishing an on-site health care clinic that is centralized and geared toward providing comprehensive medical services, we hope to positively affect the overall wellness and productivity of our workforce."

The center will be staffed by Concentra, with one overseeing physician, a physician assistant, and two medical assistants. Nearly 25,000 Houston I.S.D. employees will have access to full-service health and wellness offerings with the ease and convenience of services managed through the new center. The clinic will support the school district's long-term goals to improve access to quality health services, reduce overall health care spending, and promote a culture of health and wellness.  

Employers continue to face rising health care costs, while the level of coverage for employees diminishes. This trend is a driving force behind the need for improved health care systems in the nation. The opening of the employee health and wellness center for the Houston I.S.D. represents a new option for employers to offer quality and efficient health care services to employees, while implementing programs that help to reduce the total cost of care.

"We want to revolutionize employer health and wellness programs, delivering comprehensive medical services directly to employees when and where they need them," said President of Concentra Health Solutions Mike McCollum. "We are pleased to be part of an innovative health care program that works to improve the health and well-being of employees."

Concentra's workplace health programs, including those implemented for the Houston I.S.D., present a new option in employee health care by bringing comprehensive health and wellness services directly to employees and promoting a culture of better health.  Because the programs are customizable, employers can develop an offering that meets the unique needs of their workforce.  For more information about Concentra's health improvement programs and to learn how these programs can enhance an existing health benefits offering, visit www.ConcentraTotalCare.com.

About Houston I.S.D.

The Houston Independent School District is the largest school district in Texas and the seventh-largest in the United States with 298 schools and more than 200,000 students. The 301-square-mile district is one of the largest employers in the Houston metropolitan area with nearly 30,000 employees. For more information, visit the HISD Web site at www.houstonisd.org.

About Concentra

Concentra is a leading health care company focused on improving America's health, one patient at a time. Through its affiliated clinicians, the company provides occupational medicine, urgent care, physical therapy, and wellness services to workers and the general public from more than 300 medical centers in 40 states. In addition to these medical center locations, Concentra serves employers by providing a broad range of health advisory services and operating more than 250 worksite medical facilities. Through this complement of services, Concentra intends to raise the standard of health by putting individuals first, treating them with clinical excellence, and focusing on their ongoing wellness. For more information, visit www.Concentra.com.

SOURCE Concentra