Greenheck's Big Bet on Health Redefines Corporate Wellness

SHELBY, NC – July 23, 2026 – In a move that signals a profound shift in how industrial giants approach employee benefits, manufacturing leader Greenheck Group has unveiled a 12,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art wellness center on its Shelby campus. This comprehensive facility, operated in partnership with direct healthcare leader Premise Health, is more than just a new building; it's a strategic response to the nation's escalating healthcare crisis and a powerful statement about the value of a healthy workforce. For nearly 1,000 local team members and their families, the center promises convenient, high-quality, and affordable healthcare, integrating a clinic, pharmacy, and fitness center just steps from the factory floor.

This initiative isn't a simple perk. It represents a calculated investment in a direct healthcare model that aims to lower costs, improve health outcomes, and create a competitive advantage in talent attraction and retention. As companies grapple with the dual pressures of rising insurance premiums and labor shortages, Greenheck's approach offers a compelling blueprint for the future of corporate wellness.

A Strategic Investment in People and Productivity

The decision to build an on-campus wellness hub is rooted in stark economic realities. With employer health benefit costs projected to jump another 5.8% in the coming year, according to industry reports from firms like Mercer, proactive companies are seeking alternatives to the traditional insurance-based system. Greenheck Group, which operates on a self-funded health plan, has a direct financial incentive to manage care more effectively. Reductions in claims translate directly to corporate savings and help stabilize future premium costs for employees.

This is where the partnership with Premise Health becomes critical. The direct-to-employer (D2E) model bypasses traditional intermediaries, offering a potential return on investment that is hard to ignore. A Premise Health study of over 200,000 members demonstrated an average annual saving of 30%, or $2,434, on total cost of care for attributed members. Industry-wide data suggests the ROI for onsite clinics can range from $1.50 to as much as $6 for every dollar spent.

"At Greenheck Group, we're committed to making healthcare more accessible and affordable for our team members and their families," said Carrie Strobel, the company's Chief Human Resources Officer. This commitment extends beyond cost savings. By providing convenient access to primary and preventive care, the company aims to reduce absenteeism, boost productivity, and foster a healthier, more engaged workforce. The model encourages early intervention, with Premise Health reporting a 27% reduction in emergency room visits and a significant increase in routine office visits among its clients. In a competitive manufacturing landscape, such a tangible investment in employee well-being becomes a powerful tool for attracting and retaining skilled labor.

More Than a Clinic: An Integrated Onsite and Virtual Model

The Greenheck Group Wellness Center is a physical manifestation of a 'whole-person care' philosophy. The sprawling facility offers a comprehensive suite of services under one roof, including primary care, physical therapy, pharmacy services for convenient prescription fulfillment, and care navigation to help members manage complex health needs. This integrated approach is designed to eliminate common barriers to care, such as long travel times, appointment delays, and fragmented services.

Complementing the physical center is Premise Health's robust Digital Wellness Center, powered by the Epic electronic health record platform. This ensures seamless continuity between in-person and virtual appointments. Through the 'My Premise Health' app, employees and their families gain 24/7 access to virtual primary care and behavioral health services across all 50 states. This 'click-and-brick' model provides unparalleled flexibility, catering to different work schedules and the needs of family members.

"The opening of the Shelby wellness center represents the next phase in their ongoing investment in whole-person care, bringing together primary care, preventive services, and expanded access points to better support the health and well-being of their people," noted Beth Ratliff, Chief Operating Officer at Premise Health. The patient experience is central to this model, with average wait times of just five minutes and providers who have more time to build trusting relationships with members—a stark contrast to the often-rushed environment of traditional clinics. This focus on member experience has earned Premise a Net Promoter Score of 92, indicating exceptional patient loyalty and satisfaction.

The Direct Care Disruption

Greenheck's initiative is part of a larger trend disrupting the $4 trillion U.S. healthcare industry. Large employers are increasingly turning to direct healthcare providers like Premise Health to regain control over their healthcare spending and improve the quality of care their employees receive. This model is particularly attractive for self-insured companies, giving them transparency into costs and the ability to tailor services directly to their workforce's needs.

By building dedicated infrastructure, companies can focus on preventive medicine and chronic disease management—key drivers of long-term health costs. The ability to integrate services like primary care, behavioral health, and physical therapy creates a patient-centered medical home that is difficult to replicate in the fragmented traditional system. The scalability of this model, proven by Premise's network of over 900 wellness centers and its powerful digital platform, makes it a viable solution for large, geographically dispersed workforces. This new center in Shelby follows a similar expansion at Greenheck's flagship campus in Schofield, Wisconsin, which serves approximately 2,500 team members, demonstrating the company's long-term commitment to the strategy.

Local Impact in a Company Town

For Shelby and the surrounding Cleveland County, Greenheck Group is more than just an employer; it's a vital economic engine. Since establishing a presence in 2007, the company has invested tens of millions of dollars in the region, including a $58.8 million expansion in 2019 that created over 400 jobs and added more than $16 million in annual payroll to the local economy. The new wellness center is the latest chapter in this long-standing partnership.

While the center is exclusive to Greenheck employees and their families, its presence is expected to have a positive ripple effect. By providing a high-quality, dedicated healthcare option for a significant portion of the local population, the facility may help alleviate demand on other community healthcare resources. Furthermore, such a significant investment in employee quality of life enhances Shelby's attractiveness as a place to live and work, supporting broader community development goals. For the nearly 1,000 families it serves, the center represents a tangible commitment to well-being, anchoring Greenheck not just as a major employer, but as a cornerstone of the community's health.