Bethlehem dedicates new Steel Family Health Care Center in Northwest Indiana
Bethlehem Steel Corporation
For Immediate Release
CHESTERTON, Ind., January 19, 2001 - With the ceremonial snip of a ribbon, the Steel Family Health Care Center was officially declared "open for business" today at Coffee Creek Center in Chesterton, Ind.
The new health care center is a joint venture between Bethlehem Steel Corporation, National Steel and U. S. Steel, and has been established to combat and control rising health care costs for the companies' employees, retirees and their dependents. Together the three companies spend in excess of $122 million annually to provide health care coverage for more than 61,000 people in Northwest Indiana.
CHD Meridian Health Care, a leading provider of directly-contracted health care centers, will manage and administer the Center. CHD Meridian manages more than 40 family health and occupational medicine centers across the country, including U. S. Steel's facility in Merrillville, Ind., and the Bethlehem Steel center in Bethlehem, Pa.
The 15,000 square foot Center houses offices for physician primary care, pediatrics, a laboratory, X-ray and mammography services and a pharmacy. It will offer services to everyone covered under the health care plans of the three companies. Patients who require services that are not provided by the Health Care Center will be referred to specialists in the community and to local hospitals.
Dorothy Stephenson, vice president, human resources for Bethlehem Steel, opened the dedication ceremony by stating "Bethlehem Steel, National Steel and U.S. Steel have joined together to create the Steel Family Health Care Center to provide to our active employees, retirees and their families quality health care and improved patient service in a cost conscious environment. We are confident that the "one-stop" shopping provided by the physicians, laboratory, radiology and pharmacy operations will provide attractive benefits to the beneficiaries of our health and medical plans."
Randall Wynkoop, vice president - benefits administration at U.S. Steel told the group, "One of U.S. Steel's objectives is to provide our employees, retirees, and their families with high quality, primary medical care services in a cost efficient manner. We believe that the Steel Family Health Care Center, with its excellent staff, will provide significant assistance to the Company in achieving this objective. We are confident that the Center will soon have an excellent reputation as an primary medical care facility."
In explaining the operation of the Center, Michael D'Amario, vice president, operations for CHD Meridian Health Care said "CHD Meridian has conducted a broad search for just the right people to staff and operate the Steel Family Health Care Center. We are confident that our four experienced, board certified physicians and qualified, experienced support staff will provide quality, patient centered, cost effective medical care to the active employees, retirees and their dependents of the three steel companies."
Also speaking at the ceremony were Tamara J. Freeman, general manager, safety, health & employee welfare for National Steel and Tom Conway, assistant to president of the international United Steelworkers of America (USWA).
The Center is the first occupant in the Fourth Addition to Lake Erie Land Company's Coffee Creek Center. When in full operation, it is expected to employ as many as seven physicians and approximately 50 support staff. Savings in health care costs are projected to be between 10 and 20 percent annually.