Columbine Health Systems expands employee health benefits

Employees will have access to complimentary walk-in health clinics and lifestyle services
Dec. 2, 2014

FORT COLLINS, Colo.  – Columbine Health Systems is teaming up with three community partners to help its employees lead healthier lives.
Joyce Shorthill, the human resources director at Columbine Health, said the expanded plan is an effort to support employees and promote a healthy work-life balance. The company employs nearly 1,400 people throughout northern Colorado. About 1,000 of those employees are eligible for health benefits.Beginning Jan. 1, all Columbine Health employees (and dependents) who are enrolled in the system’s health plan will have access to complimentary care at two walk-in health clinics. They also will be able to take advantage of a full menu of free lifestyle health services that aim to help employees live healthier lives.

The expanded employee health plan is a result of a partnership between Columbine, UCHealth, Associates in Family Medicine and Miramont Lifestyle Fitness.

Columbine Health employees will have two locations to seek care for minor illnesses and injuries for free. The walk-in clinics will offer extended hours into the evenings and on weekends so employees and their families can get the care they need even if they can’t get in to see their primary care provider right away or if something comes up beyond traditional medical office hours.

“This helps eliminate the life challenges of coming to work, staying at work, and being productive at work,” Shorthill said.

The walk-in clinics are UCHealth Walk-in Clinic at 2211 S. College Ave. in Fort Collins, which is managed by Associates in Family Medicine, and UCHealth Urgent Care at 3850 N. Grant Ave., Suite 200, in Loveland, which is managed by UCHealth.

The staff at both clinics will coordinate care with the employees’ primary care providers by sending updates on treatment regimens after each visit and forwarding all lab test results. There will be no charge for the clinic visits, although some charges, such as lab tests, radiology imaging and medical equipment, may be applied to the employee’s insurance plan.

The lifestyles health services component of Columbine Health’s new employee health plan will include one-on-one health coaching, nutritional counseling and exercise counseling for those who have or are at risk for chronic illnesses. These services will be provided by Miramont Lifestyle Fitness and UCHealth at locations in Fort Collins, Loveland and Windsor.

“By providing lifestyle health services, we can give professional assistance to employees trying to improve their health,” Shorthill said.

More and more employers are seeking creative ways to help their employees get healthy and stay healthy, said Jesse Gormley, the director of corporate health and wellness at UCHealth.

Last year, Poudre School District worked with UCHealth, Associates in Family Medicine and Miramont to incorporate access to a free employee health clinic, a wellness program and a lifestyle health management program into its offerings.

“This type of expanded health plan is an innovative way employers can help their employees take charge of their own health,” Gormley said. “Not only can this benefit increase employee satisfaction and productivity, it also can help the employees and the employer save money in the long run.”


About Columbine Health Systems

Columbine Health Systems is a locally owned network of services that includes skilled nursing facilities, independent and assisted living options, rehabilitation and therapy services, home care, pharmacy, and medical equipment and supplies. Columbine Health has served the community since 1971. With two campuses in Fort Collins, one in Loveland and one in Windsor, Columbine Health provides senior clients and their families a chance to create a living environment that caters specifically to their needs and provides a chance to continue living an integrated life. Columbine Health’s staff works at being tuned into the changing needs of the senior population by listening to clients/residents and their families, and by interacting frequently with other community organizations. For more information, visit columbinehealth.com.

About UCHealth

UCHealth is a Front Range health system that delivers the highest quality patient care with the highest quality patient experience. University of Colorado Health combines Memorial Hospital, Poudre Valley Hospital, Medical Center of the Rockies, University of Colorado Hospital and a network of more than 40 medical clinics into one organization dedicated to health and providing unmatched patient care in the Rocky Mountain West. Together, they push the boundaries of medicine, attracting more research funding, hosting more clinical trials and improving health through innovation. For more information, visit uchealth.org.