Worksite Health Centers Show 2-to-1 ROI or Better, Says New Study

What’s Driving Employer Demand for Worksite Health Centers?

Healthcare costs are climbing, according to new data.

And skilled workers are harder to find — and keep.

‍Injury rates remain high in many industries as well.

These pressures are pushing employers to take a harder look at how, where, and when employees receive care.

More companies are turning to worksite health centers as a solution, not as a perk, but rather as a practical strategy to reduce claims, limit downtime, and take control of workforce health.

A worksite health center is an onsite or near-site medical facility staffed by clinical professionals, often including nurses, physical therapists, or ergonomics specialists, who are embedded in the workplace.

These centers are designed to treat injuries, manage return-to-work care, deliver health services, and help prevent issues before they escalate.

The shift toward worksite health center isn’t just about cost containment. It’s about gaining control over outcomes.

When care is delivered onsite, clinicians learn the jobs, the risks, and the work environment firsthand. That insight leads to better decisions, and fewer unexpected outcomes on the claims side.

For most employers, control only matters if it shows up in the numbers. Leadership teams want proof that onsite care improves outcomes and delivers measurable financial return.

Do Worksite Health Centers Deliver ROI?

Plenty of strategies promise to reduce claims and cut costs, but not all of them deliver proof.

Worksite health centers now have it. Alliant Insurance Services and the National Association for Worksite Health Centers (NAWHC) surveyed 108 U.S. employers representing over 2.1 million employees and 466 onsite clinics.

Their goal: measure the real-world impact of embedding care.

What they found was clear, consistent, and hard to ignore.

94% of Employers Surveyed Reported a Positive ROI

In occupational health, almost nothing gets this level of agreement. But in the Alliant and NAWHC 2025 survey, 94% of employers with onsite clinics said they’re getting measurable return on investment.

That’s not pilot-program optimism. It’s sustained value from real-world operations, across industries, company sizes, and risk profiles.

And the returns aren’t modest. Over half of those employers report at least 2:1 ROI, and one in four reach 3:1 or better. At that level, a clinic isn’t just covering costs, it’s generating savings that impact the bottom line.

54% of Employers Surveyed Plan to Expand Staffing or Services

Expansion is one of the strongest indicators of confidence. Employers aren’t expanding clinics because they look good on benefits brochures. They expand when clinics prove they can influence injury rates, claim costs, and productivity.

The shift toward adding physical therapists, ergonomic specialists, and early intervention teams reflects what leading safety programs already know. The greatest gains don’t happen after injuries occur. They happen when care is embedded into daily operations and focused on prevention, rapid response, and guided recovery.

So, what’s driving that employer confidence in worksite health centers? To understand why onsite care is becoming essential, you have to look at how it impacts operations on the ground.

What Are the Business Benefits of Worksite Health Centers?

When onsite care is done right, it doesn’t just treat injuries, it transforms how companies manage risk, control costs, and keep operations running. The most effective worksite health centers don’t just provide convenience. They deliver measurable business impact across safety, productivity, and injury outcomes.

Here’s how that shows up:

Reduced Downtime From Off-Site Medical Visits

Every time an employee leaves work for treatment, operations take a hit. Between travel time, waiting rooms, and follow-up scheduling, a simple visit can cost half a shift or more. With onsite care, workers get seen immediately, no taxis, no delays, no gaps in coverage.

This saves time, but more importantly, it keeps production moving.

Faster Care That Prevents Escalation

Speed matters. A one-day delay in evaluating an injury can turn a minor strain into a recordable, or a sprain into a lost-time claim. Onsite clinics offer same-day response, so injuries get evaluated early, work-relatedness gets documented, and restrictions are managed before problems spiral.

This is how you stay ahead of severity, and avoid claims that drag on for months.

Higher Employee Trust and Treatment Compliance

When care teams are part of the workplace, not just names on a referral list, workers are more likely to speak up early, follow return-to-work plans, and stay engaged in recovery. That trust drives compliance. And compliance drives better outcomes.

It also reduces resistance. When employees believe in the care process, they’re less likely to delay return or involve outside providers or legal counsel. That keeps resolution faster and more predictable.

Better Control Over Safety, Productivity, and Costs

Worksite health centers improve how you manage key operational metrics:

• Support safety goals: Embedded clinicians spot trends and hazards in real time, not just in reports.
  
  
• Manage productivity: Fewer offsite appointments mean more stable coverage and fewer workflow disruptions.
  
  
• Control injury costs: Onsite providers reduce unnecessary referrals and overtreatment while improving documentation from day one.
  

With the right model and the right team, an onsite clinic isn’t just a care option, it’s a strategic asset. It helps reduce claim exposure, protect uptime, and strengthen your workforce. But delivering those results doesn’t happen by accident. It takes the right partner. That’s where Unify comes in.

How Does Unify Health Services Help Employers Get Results?

Unify Health Services delivers onsite and near-site clinical care that helps employers reduce claims, speed recovery, and improve workforce health. We specialize in injury prevention, early intervention, and return-to-work, right at the point of risk.

Unify’s approach isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s built for the realities of your workforce. We connect care directly to operations, with providers who understand the job, the risks, and the outcomes that matter most to your business.

What you get:

• Clinicians trained for the workplace (PTs, ergonomic specialists, and occupational medical professionals)
  
  
• Real-time ROI tracking to show exactly what’s working
  
  
• Tailored services for prevention, injury care, testing, and recovery
  

And the results speak for themselves. Our clients, including Harley-Davidson, Campbell Soup Company, and Coca-Cola Consolidated, have achieved:

• $2M+ in cost avoidance
  
  
• Up to 500% ROI
  
  
• 98% satisfaction

Ready to make onsite care work harder for your business? Let’s talk about what results could look like for your team.

Schedule your consultation with our experienced team today.