Piedmont Health Services Shows Success with Local Health Care Program

Piedmont Health Services has another success story about the program they implemented to provide affordable health care to small businesses.

"It's the middle class that's challenged to figure out how to afford [health care]," he said. "And we're trying to figure out how to come up with something that's the right care for the right price. So that's why I think this is worth it."

Nelson echoed that view: "Our number one commitment as an organization is to bring value to members... And this is an example of us delivering on that commitment."

With initial success, Toomey and Nelson can now look to what is next for the program. Toomey stressed the need to "continue to listen to what people like and don't like about us." He cited the recent opening of a Friday dermatology clinic as an example of the kind of improvement that can result from listening to patients' needs.

But Toomey is positive about the health center's ability to expand its capacity to serve small businesses. The center is adding exam rooms and making other improvements with money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Toomey has also met with the Roxboro Area and Caswell County chambers of commerce and discussed participating in the Small Business Health Service.

In the futures, Nelson and Toomey see more employer involvement.