Appleton, ThedaCare a health care team

APPLETON - An area medical group has created a unique partnership in Appleton, with Appleton.

ThedaCare now has an on site clinic at Appleton Papers for employees and their families.

But what makes it unique is the focus on more than just sick care.

For the employees of Appleton Papers, a visit to the doctor is now just a few feet away from the factory.

"It just made sense to get together and try and experiment with something new and see where it can take our wellness program," said Appleton president and CEO Mark Richards.

Richards says the clinic is the latest example of the company's commitment to employee health. Appleton opened its own wellness center in 1995.

One of the things that makes this clinic unique is the patients can come in and spend more time with the doctor who wants to spend more time with the patients, focusing on wellness.

"I can look at a person who comes in for a cold and look at their history and say wow, you have diabetes and high cholesterol and high blood pressure, what are you doing for that would you like to come back and talk about it," said ThedaCare physician Dr. Kay Theyerl.

The clinic has been open for about a month and has already seen more than 100 patients. Including employee Frank Potter.

"I came in for a simple injury and now I am also going to a health coach to better my choices in life to live healthier," he said.

And with the future of healthcare at the national level uncertain, Richards says the ThedaCare partnership benefits the company and its employees.

"We want to manage that in a win-win approach with our employees. How can we manage that and help them while helping the company in giving them the kind of care they need but also help our employees lead healthier lives."

A question asked and answered.

"I can figure out what their life is like, what their barriers are to being healthy and then I can strategize with them to come up with a plan that they can do themselves to empower them, so it's really unique," said Theyerl.

The partnership is a five-year commitment that both sides say will help improve employee health while lowering medical costs. Richards says the company hopes to expand the program to its other facilities around the country in the next few years.