Employee assistance: a business and community hospital partnership

Employers are now providing a variety of healthcare services to combat health problems that affect productivity. These employee assistance programs are designed to improve work performance by providing an approach to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of such illnesses as alcoholism, drug dependence, mental illness and family, martial, financial, and legal difficulties common to all worksites. This article examines the concept, incentives, structure, obstacles, marketing, and cost containment factors that are part of the development of this new partnership between businesses and community hospitals.