Accessing high-quality healthcare can be challenging\u2014especially for families managing busy work schedules, school, and health concerns. By adding dedicated wellness centers to their benefits plans, unions and Taft-Hartley funds can help. These centers focus on both physical and mental health, providing personalized, high-quality care for union members and their families, all in one place.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But how do these wellness centers work, and what can members expect when they walk through the door? Let\u2019s explore.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When a union or Taft-Hartley fund establishes a wellness center as part of its benefits, it redefines healthcare accessibility for its members, which could include union workers, retirees, and dependents. These centers adopt an <\/span>advanced primary care<\/span><\/a> approach, delivering holistic, member-focused care rather than maximizing appointment volume; for members, this means shorter wait times, longer visits with providers, and a focus on preventing illnesses, not just treating them.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With a variety of services offered under one roof, onsite wellness centers can also help members get seamless, connected care for both physical and mental health. If specialized care is required, wellness center teams ensure smooth referrals, handling records and scheduling to minimize stress and delay.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Union members have unique healthcare needs, shaped by the demands of their industries and ways of working. Wellness centers are designed to address these specific requirements, offering care that truly fits their lives.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Connected, Collaborative Approach <\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Located near worksites and in the communities where union members live, dedicated wellness centers, also called nearsite wellness centers, go beyond traditional <\/span>primary care<\/span><\/a> clinics\u2014they also bring together services like behavioral health, pharmacy, care navigation, dental, vision, and virtual care and can even include specialized offerings like chiropractic and acupuncture to address the musculoskeletal needs of manual laborers. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Because all of these types of care are available under one roof, providers work as a unified team. This collaborative approach ensures personalized, hassle-free care. No more chasing down medical records or repeating health history for these members\u2014just simple, streamlined healthcare.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A Personalized Experience <\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In many traditional primary care settings, visits are rushed, leaving members with unaddressed concerns and unanswered questions. Because dedicated wellness centers are focused more on high-quality care, they provide extended appointment times of 30 minutes or more, allowing providers to treat not just symptoms but also the root causes of health issues. That includes <\/span>social drivers of health<\/span><\/a> \u2013 the socioeconomic and environmental conditions that can affect members\u2019 well-being \u2013 and particular risks common to the member\u2019s industry or workplace.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Taking extra time to get to know members helps providers build trust that can result in life-saving care, healthier habits, managed chronic conditions, and improved overall wellbeing for unions and their people.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Career-Long Care <\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The average worker stays with their company for <\/span>just under four years<\/span><\/a>, and when a worker changes organizations, their benefits change too. For union workers, transitioning jobs looks different. While they may change jobs, they may stay a member of their union. As long as members stay a part of their union and continue paying dues, they can continue accessing <\/span>union-backed wellness centers<\/span><\/a>, no matter where work takes them.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Wellness centers tied to union benefits provide continuity of care throughout a member\u2019s career and beyond. Younger members can establish good health habits early, reducing the risk of injuries or long-term health problems. Throughout their career, members can get support through regular preventive care and screenings to proactively address health risks. And once they retire, members can continue accessing the care they\u2019ve relied on for years, with support for navigating Medicare and other post-retirement benefits. It\u2019s a lifetime of consistent care.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Quality for all Generations<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n These wellness centers aren\u2019t just for union members\u2014they\u2019re built to serve families, too. They\u2019re built in the neighborhoods where union families live, eliminating the trek across town. Plus, most centers serve dependents of union members ages 2 and up, so whether parents are managing toddlers\u2019 sniffles or teens\u2019 sports physicals, all members of the family can access the same high-quality care in a familiar, convenient setting.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It doesn\u2019t stop there though. Parents can also manage their children\u2019s appointments and health records on member portals alongside their own, simplifying the process of managing healthcare for the family and maximizing meaningful time spent together.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Unmatched Convenience <\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Getting care in the community often means facing long wait times, provider shortages, and hours that don\u2019t align with busy schedules. Wellness centers address these challenges by offering same-day, next-day, and virtual appointments for immediate needs, helping families avoid urgent care and emergency room visits. Extended hours mean that members working night shifts or non-traditional schedules can access care without sacrificing quality, and <\/span>24\/7 virtual primary care<\/span><\/a> can make it easy to get care whenever and wherever members need it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Affordable Healthcare <\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Getting great quality primary care for your family shouldn\u2019t break the bank. When unions provide dedicated wellness centers to their members and their dependents, they can keep care from making a dent in their wallets by featuring low- or no copays for visits. With fewer financial barriers, members and their families can prioritize their health and wellbeing without the extra stress.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Members even see an impact on their spending on community providers. When unions add <\/span>care navigation<\/span><\/a> to the mix, members get expert help on how to find high-value care in the community for procedures, specialty care, and more, while still relying on their trusted primary care provider to quarterback their care journey.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Curious what it\u2019s like to visit a Premise Health wellness center built for union members and their families? Check out this quick video tour and see for yourself how these centers are raising the bar for union healthcare.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nHow Union Wellness Centers Works<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
What It Means for Union Members <\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
What It Means for Union Families <\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
Step Inside a Wellness Center for Union Members<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n