Concentra opens first occupational medicine urgent care in Boise

The medical care provided is still urgent, but the focus is occupational medicine.

Utilizing a functional recovery approach, Concentra, recognized as the largest occupational medical provider in the country, aims to treat workers injured on the job in a manner that helps get those requiring care back to work more quickly.

The medical provider has now made its way to Idaho with its first clinic in Boise. The group hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony July 22 to celebrate the opening of its flagship location on Federal Way east of Broadway where the former JoAnn’s fabric store once operated.

With plans to expand into Meridian later this year, Concentra, established in Amarillo, Texas, in 1979, bills itself as an outcomes-based occupational health service provider with ties to more than 200,000 employers nationwide.

“The best outcomes happen when our patients, our employers and our clinicians all work together,” said Dr. Scott Cole, the group’s vice president of Medical Operations. “We want to provide a quick and safe return to the workforce for those injured for years to come here in the Treasure Valley.”

Over the past two decades, Cole held positions in Chicago and other Midwest Concentra locations. Now based out of Phoenix he helps oversee 80 clinics, about one-eighth of the 650-plus nationwide, including 410 onsite clinics.

According to Cole, a “data-driven, outcomes-oriented” approach to occupational medicine is what allows Concentra to operate efficiently.

“What separates us is we how we use data on our patients, and how it helps us to see how our clinicians are performing on a quarterly basis,” he said. “Our measures tell us how we can create less disability and get the patient back working quickly and safely.”

And data is a two-way street for both Concentra and the companies they serve.

“Good, bad or ugly, we share everything in our data,” Cole said. “And typically, if they are following our model of early intervention, we are going to see good outcomes. This means lower referral rates for specialists, very low off-work percentages and shorter case durations.”

Likewise, the veteran medical provider emphasized Concentra possesses the “evidence and outcomes” to back up these claims. “We’ve done validation claims studies with insurance carriers and what we found is typically we are about 61 days less days per case cost-wise, and about a 25% cost reduction compared to others. In more than 160 studies, we always come out in the No. 1 spot in these studies.”

The strategic use of data, along with Concentra’s specialized approach to dealing with workplace medical issues was enough to lure Dr. Rebecca Kirsch, who had spent the past 11 years working in the emergency room at Weiser Memorial Hospital, to take on the role of center medical director of the new location.

“I am ER trained, but we’re obviously not an emergency room,” Kirsch said. “What the research has found is that when people are back home or in a more normal setting they do better with their recovery. We’re trying to eliminate a slide of atrophy and get people back functional.”

Staffed by more than 2,300 physicians nationwide, and unlike more traditional urgent care centers, Concentra clinicians practice a “team” approach treating workers injured on the job.

“Here we deal with the acute injury and then follow that acute injury along with physical therapy so that we can get them back to work,” Kirsch said. “The biggest thing is the process.”

Offering more than just a one-and-done visit approach, Kirsch stressed, is the highly productive philosophy for treating patients. “We have such a nice handle on getting people functional here at Concentra. It works better than sending someone home and having them call their doctor and then trying to get in to see a physical therapist, a process that can take much longer.”

In her new role, her ER training serves as a huge asset, as does the opportunity to work alongside physical therapists.

“Being an ER doctor, you are taught that if you see an injury you fix it,” Kirsch said. “And in the ER, we didn’t always have a PT.

“But here at Concentra, the faster you get someone back to movement with physical therapy, the better they will be in terms of being functional.”

From cuts and burns to broken bones, sprains and strains, Concentra positions itself to handle an array of workplace injuries and issues. Physicals, injury prevention programs and even telemedicine are other key offerings Concentra provides the companies it serves.

“Every person we will see here may experience an injury that for them is devastating or traumatic,” she said. “This is definitely less stressful than an emergency room.

“But every job you do, whether it is this or the ER, you are trying to get that patient home to their family and the people they love.”

“Oh yes, people can think of such injuries as catastrophic,” Cole said. “But we ensure they are safe to return to work whether it’s modified duty or back to full duty.”

This sports medicine approach, combining cost reductions and the ability to return workers quickly to their jobs is a process Concentra has fostered for four-plus decades.

“At the end of the day, we know these services combined with clinical expertise and coordinated care and communication can reduce administrative risks for our employers and help them develop increased confidence in running their businesses,” said Doug McAndrew, executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Plus, expanding into a new job market such as the one Boise has to offer helped put the Treasure Valley at the top of the chart for Concentra’s initial entry into the Gem State.

“Boise’s continued growth, expanding workforce and diverse employer community are just some of the reasons why we chose to come here he said. “We felt this industrial area is ideal for us. We are often tucked into other areas and felt this was a perfect site with the Micron project and downtown Boise both close by.”

Boise Mayor Lauren McLean, who spoke briefly and provided a helping hand during the ribbon-cutting ceremony expressed her gratitude for the medical outfit choosing Boise for its first Idaho clinic.

“This location is such a great example of reinvestment in facilities within our city to help meet today’s current needs,” McLean said. “Plus, we are creating new jobs for those coming to Boise. Thank you for investing in Boise. We look forward to the care you will provide to so many residents on behalf of the employers.”

A 29-year veteran of the provider, McAndrew stressed that a number of national employers who operate in the Treasure Valley, including biggies such as Coca-Cola, Amazon, Fed Ex and Waste Management have been “asking” and waiting for Concentra to join the local market.

“Most of the employers we work with nationally know what we try to do by providing urgent care for employers,” he said. “Boise has a growing economy, an expanding workforce with construction going crazy with the number of employers here. We like to work with all industries.”

One of those long connected to Concentra is Western Trailers located on Gowen Road in Boise. What began in 1958 as a trailer building operation now includes several site locations spread throughout Idaho, Oregon and Washington. On its website, the outfit highlights its ability to “thoroughly understand the delicate balance between payload and profit.”

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Safety Coordinator Terri Yost shared how Concentra plays a pivotal role helping to maintain the health and welfare of the company’s workforce.

“The relationship we as employer have with them helps streamline the process for treating our employees,” Yost said. “The Concentra hub is a key factor in the operation to authorize treatment, to review reports and to stay up to date on the status of an employee or any work restrictions.”

And Cole knows the value of strong and vital relationships when taking care of the local workforce.

“We have national employers, but each individual clinic, like this one now led by Dr. Kirsch, will build relationships with the local community,” he said. “That tends to grow the network around our location.”

And with growth in industries across the board comes greater potential for workplace mishaps requiring medical care.

“Our hope is that people and employers will get more invested in occupational medicine by reducing risks and having a safe and more productive workforce,” McAndrew said.

As well as the hope that as the new kid on the medical block, Concentra will soon establish itself as a prime provider for many local companies.

“In a market like Boise, being we’ve never been here, people don’t truly yet understand who we are,” he said. “It’s a huge deal for people to understand how we work to get employees back to work. It’s a differentiator for us.”