(PRWEB) October 15, 2014
Nationally, the economic recovery is slow to catch on, but in Texas the commercial real estate market stands out as a leading growth factor in Texas’ economy. Simply put, demand is out weighing available space and high profile corporate relocations to the Dallas area, such as Toyota and State Farm, have catapulted the developer and construction markets into full recovery.
Nevertheless, there is one piece that Nick Balog, CEO of Austin-based WhiteGlove Health feels is missing from the silver lining that surrounds the Texas commercial real estate market and corporate relocations, "Access to affordable, high quality health care needs to be in place for multitenant buildings and mixed-use developments to thrive. The facts haven’t changed; healthy employees are more productive. How are you going to keep the new employees and tenants healthy and productive in their new environment? That’s a question I think should be top of mind when developing a strategy for corporate relocation."
Healthcare? Rarely does that word come up when developers begin thinking of a new project, but that mindset should change, according to Balog.
It is an age old problem, but it may have a simple solution. In fact, the solution is nothing new – bring the healthcare to the patient. Yes, house calls – or office calls – are back, and the timing for the resurgence of an old idea couldn’t be more on target.
"In my part of the world, exciting projects are sprouting up all over the place. Mixed-use projects with office, retail, and restaurant space seems to be the order of the day – in fact Toyota, State Farm and even the Dallas Cowboys’ new Frisco headquarters plan to be anchor tenants of mixed-used developments," says Jeff Bilich, National Business Development Manager for WhiteGlove Health, and a resident of the booming suburb of Frisco, TX, just north of Dallas.
"Developers of such projects continue to bank on restaurants and retail to attract businesses," states Bilich. "However, if you really want to make your building or project stand out and simultaneously make a meaningful difference in the community, progressive developers are incorporating healthcare. But this is not the traditional delivery model that involves driving to a doctor’s office and waiting for hours – rather it is the kind of healthcare that is brought right to you, at home or at work. Now you have something that will make employees think twice before looking for a new job or a renter think twice about moving."
Michael Roeder, VP of Business Development and Customer Relations for WhiteGlove Health, was instrumental in developing a solution that served the needs of multi-tenant buildings and projects. But the solution had to go beyond convenient, it also had to have minimal impact to the projects bottom line. "Our model is so affordable, a WhiteGlove Health Nurse Practitioner, who can diagnose and prescribe medications for an acute care issue or engage in the ongoing care of a chronic condition, can directly treat employees in your office buildings or the residents in your apartments for less than what you may be charging them for a parking space. Frankly, this solution in a game changer," states Roeder.
WhiteGlove Health has been offering mobile primary care services to corporate employee populations for over seven years.
Since WhiteGlove Health operates in four of the fastest growing metro areas of the country, it made sense to partner with commercial real estate developers to help them attract tenants to their communities while simultaneously supporting the healthcare needs of office workers. "Managing the cost of health care is a universal need," says Roeder, "it affects every company, whether large or small. Even those companies who don’t offer insurance still face the challenge that occurs when an employee becomes ill or develops a chronic condition. In fact the smaller you are, the more exacerbated the cost burden becomes."
Bilich continues, "The true value that businesses see in our service is cost savings from deflected insurance claims, patient compliance in managing 'at risk' or chronic conditions, improvements in employee productivity, reduction of lost time, and the ability to attract new talent. But from the developer perspective, when a business or retailer is looking for new space, if your leasing team presents ideas like this to prospective tenants during the conversation, well now you have found more than just a landlord – you now have a business partner who will help your business succeed. WhiteGlove Health makes this level of conversation possible."
“I couldn’t be more excited about this solution," says Roeder. "It truly solves a problem that affects every business and every individual. WhiteGlove Health is the conduit by which employees, employers and developers ensure the success and health of their businesses."