Employees were treated to breakfast at one of two meetings at Rock Springs Center on April 30th for an update on our Occupational Health Clinic. Earlier this year, the Clinic conducted a survey to find out what employees like about the Clinic services as well as opportunities for enhancement. A whopping 376 employees completed the survey, and those results were shared during the two breakfasts.

Clinic Perception Survey Results
Bobbi Jo Vaughn with ECU Health and Dr. Terryberry, the ECU Health physician and Clinical Medical Director who is currently on site once a week, shared the survey results during the meetings.   

"I must commend you all for such a high number of completed surveys,” said Bobbi Jo. “That speaks volumes to how important the Clinic is to GUC employees.”

Here are key takeaways from the survey results that were shared:

• 84% of employees sought healthcare over the past year, while 69% received care at the GUC Clinic.
• 89% of employees are aware that dependents 13 and up (plus spouses) can use the Clinic, while 88% are aware that they could get some medications for free at the Clinic.
• Overall ratings for Clinic staff courtesy, skill, privacy, ease of scheduling, and convenient available times are in the excellent, very good, and good categories. ECU Health and GUC are also looking through all the survey comments for opportunities on improvement.
• Top five barriers to employees using the Clinic are provider availability, available appointment times, no barriers, COVID testing, and limited services.
• Top five Clinic benefits employees listed are convenience, no co-pay, no sick time, provider onsite, and easy access/fast quality care.
• Top five items that employees feel the Clinic can do to improve are provider availability, better marketing, nothing, improved customer service, and COVID testing requirement.

Moving Forward
Dr. Terryberry and Bobbi Jo, along with General Manager/CEO Tony Cannon each addressed the concern employees have for confidentiality and COVID testing. 

“Federal employment laws regarding confidentiality of medical information are there to protect employees,” said Bobbi Jo. “ECU Health is legally and ethically obligated to keep all personal medical information confidential, and this new space with a separate entrance for the GUC Health Clinic was chosen with privacy in mind.” 

“The only healthcare information that I can see, other than workers compensation claims, is at a very high level, and we’ll share some of that with you today,” said Tony. “As for COVID testing, we are past that now, and every aspect of the Clinic is back to business as usual.”

Dr. Terryberry added, “We are no longer requiring COVID testing as a requirement to be seen at the Clinic. In fact, before I request a test for anything, I get permission from the patient, and that includes COVID.” 

Assistant General Manager / Chief Administrative Officer Chris Padgett concluded the sessions with actionable items and items that are under evaluation as a result of the survey.

“There are some very clear trends in the feedback you provided, so I want to go over what we are going to do with that feedback,” he said. He went on to list the following “actionable” and “under evaluation” items.

Actionable Now:

• Do more to promote and communicate the Clinic’s availability and services.
• Require no sick leave while using the Clinic.
• Continue to ensure the confidentiality of personal health information.
• Eliminate all restrictions related solely to COVID.
• Begin employee experience survey for each visit.

Under Evaluation:

• Expanded provider hours, and
• Doubling down on efforts to provide same-day service and reduce referrals for care offered within the clinic.

“The Health Clinic is now an essential part of GUC’s healthcare program and will continue to grow in that role,” said Chris. “For it to continue improving in the years to come, we need your help and encourage you to complete the surveys after each visit.”

Be on the lookout soon for a new section of Spotlight devoted to our Health Clinic services!