This morning in a backstage area behind Epcot, the Walt Disney Company redeemed a prescription for healthy cast members when it opened the Center for Living Well as a one stop shop for primary medical car for 40,000 eligible Cast Members and their families. Disney partnered with Take Care Health Systems a provider of over 375 similar on-site facilities to bring this valuable resource to the cast members of Walt Disney World.
As a primary care center, the Center for Living Well includes Labs, Facilities, Pharmacy, and the ability to handle any urgent care matters. Additionally there are staff members who will help patients to develop the tools required to stay healthy for the long run.
With the Center for Living Well “Cast Members gain a tool for healthier living,” said Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World Resort. “It will make it easier than ever before for them to take advantage of the many health and wellness resources Disney offers.”
President of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Al Weiss, who has been appointed the Executive Champion for health and well being at the Walt Disney Company, said the center will provide cast members Holistic look at health with teaching opportunities. It will also tie-in with other facilities provided around the resort, such as health clubs, to ensure a healthy cast. That makes it a win-win in the long term.
Another benefit of the center is the outreach to the many cast members who come from overseas to work at the resort. Large populations of Haitians, Vietnamese, and Spanish speaking people work around the resort. The center for Living Well features signage in multiple languages, staff members who are fluent in one or more of the common languages, and resources available via telephone for other translation needs. This will no doubt be a big selling point as Disney attempts to attract more workers from these communities.
In addition to cultural sensitivities, they’re also taking privacy into concern. The design and layout of the facility means you’re unlikely to run into your boss while waiting for service. Wait times will be minimized and exam rooms are specially designed to protect the identity of whomever is in the room.
The Center is open to all Disney Cast Members who are enrolled in one of the 5 Cigna plans. It will be open 7 days a week (M-F 7A-7P and S-S 9A-5P) with the pharmacy open the same hours. They are recommending that everyone make appointments, although walk-ups will be accepted.
I have a full set of photos from the event this morning and a tour of the facility over at my flickr account. You can also read the whole press release below the cut.
Grand Opening of State-of-the-Art, On-Site Health and Wellness Center Provides Additional Resources to Help Walt Disney World Cast Members Lead Healthier Lives
Center for Living Well is “one-stop shop” for primary medical care for as many as 40,000 benefits-eligible Cast Members and their families
Hundreds of Walt Disney World Cast Members completed a wellness walk around Epcot just in time to help officially open the Center for Living Well, a state-of-the-art, on-site health and wellness center that will provide eligible Cast Members and their families with a “one-stop shop” for primary medical care and related services, including a pharmacy, lab, basic radiology, and wellness and behavioral health resources.
“The opening of the Center for Living Well is a significant milestone in our journey to help Cast Members and their families lead healthier lives,” said Walt Disney World President Meg Crofton. “This special place will inspire Cast Members to take a proactive approach to their health and provide resources that will make it easier than ever before for them to take advantage of the many health and wellness resources Disney offers.”
Walt Disney World Resort selected Take Care Health Systems (formerly CHD Meridian Healthcare) to operate and provide medical and pharmacy services at the $6 million, 15,000-square-foot facility. As the operator of the Center for Living Well, Take Care Health has committed to providing Cast Members and their dependents who participate in the company’s health plans with:
* high-quality, personalized care facilitated by a multi-lingual staff of credentialed medical professionals;
* enhanced access to services through extended hours, weekend availability, proximity to work and same-day care for more immediate needs;
* coordinated treatment made possible by relationships with specialists and other facilities throughout the region, referral scheduling support and the latest in medical technology, including electronic medical records and prescriptions and digital radiology; and
* privacy and confidentiality, through strict adherence to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and special facility design features, such as a sophisticated white noise system that enables private conversations, the use of pagers to facilitate efficient and discreet communication between patients and staff, and a unique exam room design that prevents others from seeing who is inside the room when the door is open.
“The Center for Living Well represents the best thinking in putting Cast Members first and we’re thrilled to be a part of it,” said Peter M. Hotz, president, Employer Solutions, Take Care Health Systems. “Forward-thinking companies like Walt Disney World are demonstrating that the strongest investment they can make is in the health and well-being of their people. This facility combines the best in medical care, pharmacy services and technology to create a healthcare experience unlike any other.”
Walt Disney World Resort continues to offer a variety of other programs and services designed to promote healthy living among Cast Members including:
o a choice of health care plans that enable eligible Cast and their dependents to select the plan that best meets their needs;
o preventive care benefits that are generally available at no additional cost to plan participants and their covered dependents;
o on-site health and wellness offerings, such as educational and screening opportunities, health fairs and discounts on weight loss programs and gym memberships;
o access to online tools and resources, such as a personal health assessment and a prescription drug price comparison tool; and
o programs to support health plan members with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease.
“Across our organization, Cast Members at all levels have been taking ‘one simple step’ toward a healthier lifestyle using the resources provided by our company,” said Al Weiss, president of worldwide operations for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. “There is a lot of momentum around our wellness journey, and we will continue to engage our Cast Members in new and innovative health and wellness opportunities.”
Cast Members will continue to be able to access other Central Florida health care providers as defined by the health plan they select. Currently, more than 40,000 Walt Disney World Cast Members, plus their dependents, are eligible for health benefits.