Amazon employees won’t have to go far for relief if they throw out their back while shipping packages across the country. The online shopping giant plans to provide primary care to its workforce through 20 new health centers.
Amazon is partnering with Crossover Health — a national medical group for self-insured employers — to begin work on the health centers, and provide medical staffing. These centers will open in five regions across the U.S. in the coming months, the first of which will be in Las Colinas, Texas. Amazon may decide to open more health centers if the initial 20 are a success, according to a company statement.
“Across the U.S., an increasing number of patients do not have easy access to a primary care physician and instead utilize emergency or urgent care options, which is not only more expensive for patients, but also overlooks important preventative care opportunities,” Darcie Henry, Amazon’s vice president of human resources, said in a statement.
Every health center will be located within a city that houses one of Amazon’s fulfillment centers where packages are assembled for shipment. Through these clinics, Amazon employees and their families will have access to primary care doctors, vaccinations and prescriptions, physical therapy, chiropractic care, behavioral health, health coaching and specialists referrals.
“The idea is we put [the health centers] around a highly dense population of Amazon associates in fulfillment centers so they have access to care,” says Nate Murray, chief revenue officer at Crossover Health. “Amazon prioritized access to care and expanded hours so the health centers could support associates working all shifts.”
Amazon employees can utilize telehealth services through Crossover’s digital platforms as they wait for the health centers to open. Local lawmakers representing areas where an Amazon health center is slated for construction expressed support over the employer’s decision to provide health centers to the workforce in their area.
“I appreciate seeing the collaboration between Amazon and Crossover Health to ensure their employees have access to quality and convenient health care services,” said Rep. Michael C. Burgess of Texas in Amazon’s press release. “The health and wellness opportunities Amazon is providing its employees should spark inspiration for other companies to follow suit in providing similar benefits.”
In addition to full health benefits, Amazon offers their full-time employees education and fertility benefits, in addition to a 50% 401(k) match. The company also allows employees to share their parental leave with their spouse. In June, Amazon partnered with Care.com to provide employees with up to 10 days of company-sponsored emergency child or adult care until Oct. 2.
