Central Iowa executives have a new option for obtaining a comprehensive suite of diagnostic health exams, through a concierge program developed by The Iowa Clinic. 

The Iowa Clinic Executive Health Program offers a highly personalized, integrated approach that enables executives to have multiple tests performed throughout one morning and then sit down with the doctor and a health coach by early afternoon to review the results and develop a personalized health strategy. 

“This is something we’re very excited to be able to offer, as much as we can, for someone in one day,” said Dr. Christina Taylor, a board-certified internist who is one of four physicians in the program. “We have busy lives as well, and we personally understand what it’s like to get these screenings done. It’s difficult to accommodate when you have a busy working life. We want to offer it in one convenient package so they know that they did everything that they needed to.”

The program, which is offered at The Iowa Clinic’s main location at 5950 University Ave. in West Des Moines, is designed to be a convenient local option for executives who otherwise are scheduling comprehensive health checkups at the Mayo Clinic, the Cleveland Clinic or other major metropolitan health facilities. In Greater Des Moines, Mercy Medical Center-Des Moines launched a similar program two years ago. 

“I think business has become increasingly conscious of the value of the health of their employees, and when we looked at the marketplace, one of the investments that businesses make is in their management personnel,” said Ed Brown, CEO of The Iowa Clinic. “When it comes to executive health, most of those individuals have been seeking their health care outside of Iowa at other organizations.

“We felt like we were at a place in our organization where we could not only compete qualitywise, we could also compete costwise with what they were doing and provide the convenience of staying within central Iowa,” Brown said. 

The core program costs $3,300, although additional tests can add to that cost. The portion that is covered by health insurance will vary based upon several factors, some of which include the individual’s specific insurance plan and coverage, age, gender, and timing of past examinations, clinic officials said. Typically, the executive’s company will pay for those costs not covered by the insurance plan.  

Currently, the program is set up to handle just one person per day but it could expand to two per day, depending on demand, Brown said. “We wanted to develop a footprint to allow us to get started. And it can be managed into whatever we see the demand growing into.”

It took months for the clinic to develop and test the program, which is geared to handling just one client per day in a format designed for maximum efficiency and minimal waiting time. Between tests, the executive can relax or get some work done in a private suite equipped with a big-screen TV, secure Wi-Fi, a kitchenette, a private bathroom and other amenities. 

Among the dozen core tests taken in rapid-fire succession are a physical exam, resting EKG, an advanced cardiac stress test, hearing screening and, for women, a pap smear and mammogram. Other tests can include a bone density scan, cardiac calcium scoring and a lung function test.  

While waiting for their test results, clients can choose from a menu of complimentary well-being services that range from a massage or facial to a consultation with a dietician or a plastic surgeon, just to name a few options. The client can also add more procedures, such as a colonoscopy or sleep study, although that would extend the program to a second day.

Each client is personally escorted to each test or specialist by a health coordinator, who several days prior to the appointment conducts a pre-exam health screening and determines what particular health needs or concerns the executive would like to focus on.  

“The health coordinator who escorts them is also a health coach,” said Natalie Spitzig, business development coordinator at The Iowa Clinic. “That’s actually the last appointment, so (the client) can talk to the health coordinator about their health goals.”  

“You show up at the front door and we’re going to absolutely take care of all the rest,” Spitzig said. “We want to make sure that we’re delivering a best-of-class experience with the people and the facilities, and we’ve gotten such positive feedback. We’re really trying to take it to another level.”

Having same-day test results available makes it easy to bring forth health concerns to the client, Taylor said.

“There may be things the patient didn’t know that they needed to work on,” she said. “Maybe they’re pre-diabetic and we really need to do counseling on diet and sugars. So we tie in the patient’s goals with the results so that they’re addressed.” 

Brown said he believes demand will come both from companies that have sought out these services elsewhere in the past as well as from those that haven’t but want to improve the health of their employees. 

“I think the untold benefit of it is the early diagnosis or indication of issues that come out of a program like this, even if it’s on one employee out of 50,” he said. “Those benefits are somewhat immeasurable.”

Mercy offers holistic approach with executive program  
Mercy Medical Center-Des Moines, which introduced an executive health program two years ago, has seen a steady ramp-up with some of Central Iowa’s largest employers.  

“I’ve been extremely pleased,” said Dr. Valerie Stratton, medical director of the Mercy Executive Health Program, who is an internal medicine specialist. “We have people who have gone through Mayo’s program, and they appreciate not having to spend the additional time and expense in going up there.” 

The personalized attention that patients receive through the program is invaluable, Stratton said. For each visit, an individualized schedule is developed based on a review by Stratton of the person’s medical records and risk factors. 

According to a University of Michigan Management Research Center study cited by Mercy, executives who underwent comprehensive physical exams had 20 percent fewer health claims and lost 45 percent fewer workdays to illness than those who did not.

“I think one of the highlights of our program is they end up spending 2½ hours with an internal medicine doctor,” Stratton said. That includes an initial one-hour consultation, a half-hour exam and then an hourlong summary and recommendations at the end of the visit. 

The one-day visit, which typically lasts from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., begins at Mercy’s Westown Internal Medicine Clinic, from which a driver will take the patient to stops at Mercy-West Lakes, Iowa Heart and Mercy West Clinic, where at each stop the patient is escorted to a specialist’s office for his or her appointments. If additional tests are needed, the visit could extend to a second day.  

A unique element of Mercy’s program is that it includes an hourlong consultation with Dr. Darrell Devick, an integrative medicine doctor who advises patients on the latest in nutritional supplements and alternative/complementary medicine. “Our patients have really enjoyed that part of it,” Stratton said. “I like to think of our program as not just a lot of tests lined up, but looking at you holistically.”

In its first 18 months, the program was averaging a little over one executive per week, but that number has increased somewhat and as many as three have been done in one week, she said. Among the companies that have used it are Hy-Vee Inc., Bankers Trust Co., FBL Financial Group, DuPont Pioneer, Principal Financial Group and R&R Realty, as well as small-business owners. 

The core program is priced at $2,450, but the average cost once extra tests are included has been about $3,500, Stratton said. “The unfortunate thing is that insurance won’t pay for a chunk of it,  but that’s where the companies are seeing the value,” she said. “That little investment goes further than just doing the tests.” 

“We’ve spotted some cases like sleep apnea,” Stratton said. “Probably 10 percent coming through have been undiagnosed sleep apnea. We find where people are borderline with cholesterol, and we find early heart disease and are able to be proactive about that.” 

Even in cases where no significant health issues are identified, “I just think we improve their sense of well-being,” she said. “We either reaffirm they’re doing everything  right or help fine-tune it.”

Although Mercy does have two dedicated private lounges set up with TV, snacks and internet for use while executives are waiting, they aren’t offered certain frills such as massages or facial treatments like at The Iowa Clinic. 

“The Midwest people want a good physical; they don’t want too may froufrou things,” she said.