The Impact of Worksite Clinics on Teacher Health Care Utilization and Cost, Self-Reported Health Status, and Student Academic Achievement Growth in a Public School District

• Published in: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine Vol. 60; no. 8; p. e397
• Main Authors: Engberg, John B, Harris-Shapiro, Jon, Hines, David, McCarver, Patti, Liu, Harry H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.08.2018
• ISSN: 1536-5948
• DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001373

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of worksite clinics on health care utilization and cost, self-reported health status, and student achievement growth in a public school district. We used insurance claims, health risk assessment, and student achievement growth data for active teachers during 2007 to 2015. A difference-in-differences approach was applied to measure the impact of worksite clinics. Compared with using a community-based clinic as the usual source of primary care, using a worksite clinic was associated with significantly lower inpatient admissions (53 vs 31 per 1000 teacher years), annual health care cost ($5043 vs $4298 in 2016 US dollars, a difference of $62 per teacher per month), and annual absent work hours (63 vs 61). No significant differences were detected in self-reported health status or student achievement growth. Worksite clinics reduce teacher health care cost and absenteeism.