Supporting Albuquerque Teachers: Enhancing Healthcare Awareness for a Brighter Future

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M – Healthcare for teachers can be considered a benefit. Teachers can be prone to medical problems specific to their profession. Like other jobs, they, too, need attention to address these health problems. 

Consider reading through this blog if you are a private school owner or administrator. It explains why and how healthcare is vital for your pool of teachers and staff:

• Healthcare for teachers and staff
• Direct primary care benefits
• Cases of teachers and staff without healthcare
• Ways to keep your teachers and staff healthy
• Cost of healthcare for teachers and staff

Why Should You Consider Healthcare For Teachers And Staff?

According to the 2018 American Community Survey, there are almost 500,000 uninsured US teachers. Most of them are millennials, at 48%. Moreover, uninsured teachers aged 39 to 54 increased to 66% from 2017 to 2018.

Teachers and staff without health insurance contend with fee-for-service and out-of-pocket expenses. It’s more expensive than having healthcare coverage. And it can be financially draining, too, especially when they need follow-up care. 

Teachers and staff may avoid visiting a clinician because of this situation. As a result, they may develop long-term illnesses without proper healthcare. Moreover, you may be burdened with frequent sick leaves as a private school owner. Your staff may underperform and be less productive even if they choose not to take sick leave.

A 2018 Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health study proposes regular check-ups. It may prevent diseases and early retirement of teachers. 

Teachers and staff benefit from healthcare in many ways. You can choose from various healthcare insurance coverages. The cost usually depends on the services they offer. However, there is also a more affordable option, like direct primary care (DPC).

What Is Direct Primary Care?

Affordable healthcare in Albuquerque covers acute care and other services. You save costs under DPC provider as a private school owner or administrator. Unlike health insurance, you won’t have to spend on copays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses. 

Additionally, it covers healthcare for your teachers and staff. These are some of the benefits they receive from a DPC provider. 

First, your teachers and staff can get sick at any time. But DPC offers preventive care to lessen the chances of it from happening. Your teachers go through regular check-ups and labs. Identifying a potential health problem stops it before it gets worse.

Second, DPC clinicians give nutrition and health counseling. As a result, it keeps your teachers and staff healthy. Less sick days means less absenteeism and sustained productivity.

Third, there may be cases when your school staff is harboring a long-term illness. DPC has chronic disease management that monitors their specific issues. Examples are migraines, hypertension, and low back pain.

And lastly, Americans spend as much as $1,000 on prescription drugs annually. It’s higher than other developed countries based on surveys. With DPC, your teachers get discounted medicines of up to 50%. They also receive discounts on labs and tests whenever they need them.

What Happens If They Don’t Get The Healthcare They Need?

Different jobs can result in potential medical and health issues. Teachers can experience any of these occupational hazards. If left unchecked, teachers can suffer physically. At the same time, it affects their performance, productivity, and your school’s reputation. 

Studies reveal teachers may develop any of the following:

• Psychosomatic complaints
  
  A 2015 study of 800,000 people teaching in Germany show their health status. It reveals stress-related complaints, including fatigue, headaches, and tension. 

• Musculoskeletal conditions
  
  Muscle and bone conditions occur as teachers spend most of the time standing and pacing in the classroom. Back pain can also happen when teachers sit in front of the computer doing daily paperwork.

• Cardiovascular problem
  
  A 2021 study gathered data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2012. It shows that body mass index and advancing age contributed to the high blood pressure of 148 teachers.

• Voice disorder
  
  A 2019 review of studies from 2000 to 2018 reveals voice disorder in teachers. It points out risk factors like upper airway issues and gender. Other probable risks include loud speaking, frequency of classes, and coffee drinking.

Offering your teachers affordable healthcare in Albuquerque maintains their health. But, at the same time, it prevents them from developing these chronic diseases.

How Do You Keep Your Teachers And Staff Healthy?

According to the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, healthy employees' performance and productivity improve. These are some ways to keep teachers and staff healthy as school owners or administrators.

• Encourage healthy habits
  
  For example, researchers conducted a study among 2,398 school staff enrolled in their wellness program. It shows positive results of healthy habits. 
  
  The staff with high levels of exercise, sleep, and a proper diet of vegetables and fruits reported fewer absences. Moreover, they said they had higher job satisfaction and work performance levels.

• Promote a healthy environment
  
  Your teachers and staff spend most of their waking hours in school. Working in a conducive place makes them comfortable in doing their jobs. At the same time, a healthy environment is as important as diet and lifestyle. 
  
  For example, 3,528 school staff from six state agencies participated in a study. It reveals staff who felt their workplace supported a healthy lifestyle had higher productivity or lower presenteeism.

• Provide healthcare
  
  Some American teachers are considered overworked and underpaid. However, an Economic Policy Institute study reveals that teacher shortage will get worse due to income issues.
  
  Providing healthcare is a welcoming reprieve. It’s a non-wage benefit sought after by teachers and school staff. It retains them and attracts potential candidates to work in your school.

So how much will it cost to keep your teachers and staff healthy?

How much does healthcare for teachers cost?

Healthcare coverage doesn’t have to cost too much. Besides, healthcare providers like DPC offer almost the same services under healthcare insurance. They are more affordable with a fixed monthly rate and, thus, less expensive than health insurance.

For example, Well Life Family Practice offers a fixed monthly rate of $80 per employee per month. You get chronic disease management, discounted labs and medicines, and much more at this rate.

Bottomline

Teachers are at risk of chronic diseases brought about by their work. School staff, like everyone else, need healthcare. DPC offers medical and health services to keep your teachers and school staff healthy. In addition, it’s a retention and recruitment tool that supports productivity and performance. 

Should you wait for the next school year to get affordable healthcare in Albuquerque?