Q and A: Prioritizing Healthcare

What Is Executive Health?

Executive health helps business leaders carve time out of their busy schedules to prioritize healthcare so they can be their best selves.

When you’re in charge of an organization, it’s easy to get caught up in your work. There are a lot of people depending on you in the workplace and oftentimes at home. It’s all too easy to put off doctor’s appointments, especially when you’re feeling healthy. Executive health programs are designed to help business leaders take charge of their health in a minimal amount of time.

How does executive health work?

You may have heard of executive physicals. These are comprehensive annual exams that aim to identify signs of health problems in patients before symptoms occur. Executive health programs pair a comprehensive physical with other VIP services related to overall health and well-being.

While some executive health programs are multi-day events, the program at The Iowa Clinic is designed to help business leaders across Iowa prioritize their health in a single day. This means that you can address all your health concerns and needs in less time than a typical workday.

What are the advantages of the Executive Health Program at The Iowa Clinic?

The goal is to streamline comprehensive healthcare without sacrificing quality. This means all of your necessary appointments and testing are efficiently coordinated and fit into a single day at our West Des Moines campus. You will get a detailed agenda of your day and personal assistance from an executive health coordinator. You also will receive one-on-one, private access to the executive health physician of your choice. Over the course of six to seven hours, you’ll learn more about your health than you’ve possibly ever known before. And if there is a need for follow-up testing or a desire for additional services and consultation, The Iowa Clinic’s executive health team will help you get those scheduled.

What does a Five-Star Care custom-tailored comprehensive health program provide to patients?

The executive health program is very high touch, like a concierge feel. We work on getting those medical records ahead of time. And we coordinate the whole program for our patients. There’s someone greeting you at the door the moment you show up. Your executive health coordinator will take you to appointments, there’s a special suite that you’ll have all to yourself. You’re not spending time sitting around in waiting rooms. At The Iowa Clinic we understand privacy is important to everyone and that’s especially true for executives and high-level employees in a community like Des Moines. You don’t have to worry about encountering people you know or who might recognize you based on your position. Everything is confidential and The Iowa Clinic works to avoid overlap in appointments.

What are the perks of the Executive Health Program for the patient?

Your pressing health needs come first, but an executive health program like the one at The Iowa Clinic also emphasizes comfort throughout the process. Executive-level perks include:

• Concierge service from your executive health coordinator.
• Private lounge for relaxation between appointments.
• Private business office with secure internet access.
• Healthy meals catered for breakfast and lunch, plus refreshments.
• Entertainment area (includes TV, magazines, newspapers and a sofa).
• Secure area to store any valuables you have with you.
• Private shower and dressing area with toiletries and a hairdryer.

Executive health program patients are also treated to a “menu of services” that includes a list of complimentary well-being services to select from. Well-being services range from specialized one-on-one health consultations to more relaxing options like a Swedish massage session.

What can a patient expect during my executive health exam?

Executive physicals begin at 7 a.m. by performing tests and the patient will meet their physician. The patient starts their day with a comprehensive lab panel and urinalysis. From there, the patient heads to cardiology for a vascular screening, then a hearing test is performed. A break is built in so that if any work or calls can be taken care of if necessary. Next, the patient will meet with the executive physician of their choosing, and the patient will spend approximately 45 minutes with them. During this time the patient will discuss their medical history with their physician and answer any questions the executive may have about their health.

Next, the patient will head down to medical imaging. Depending on the patient’s age and gender, we’ll run relevant tests. Examples include cardiac calcium scoring and bone density tests. The patient then returns to cardiology to do a stress echocardiogram.

After that there is some downtime for the patient to participate in a well-being activity of their choice. We give our patients a menu in advance with different well-being options. For instance, you can meet with a dietician or schedule time with a personal trainer. There’s a massage room available in the executive suite if you choose a massage. Next, it’s time for a healthy lunch.

While lunch is happening, behind the scenes we are compiling all the test results. The executive health program includes same-day test results. At 1 p.m. we’ll provide the executive with a patient health report that goes in a binder.

The same physician the patient met with earlier will discuss results and recommendations for next steps. These may include things like behavioral changes, diet and exercise. The patient gets 30 to 35 minutes with their doctor where they can ask any questions that they have. If a patient has any urgent medical issues or needs further testing, our team will address those items.

How does The Iowa Clinic select executive health doctors?

The majority of the executive health doctors at The Iowa Clinic are internal medicine physicians. They focus on healthcare for adults and have familiarity with diagnosing and treating a variety of medical conditions. They also can direct you to the right specialist on an as-needed basis. The physicians are interested in executive health and passionate about preventative care. Our executive health doctors go through a formal interview process, and we also gather peer recommendations. Satisfaction scores are another important part of the executive health program. The Iowa Clinic sends out a short, optional, three-minute survey to patients to complete after their exam.

We consistently have around a 95 percent satisfaction rating among patients and many of them recommend the program to other people. Everyone on the executive health team — from specialists to coordinators — are focused on delivering a five-star experience.

Does insurance cover executive healthcare services?

Executive health is often considered to be a premium healthcare offering, so you’ll need to check in with your insurance provider about coverage if you want to file a claim for your exam. There are several different options for how the executive physical exam for companies and individuals can be structured.

The Iowa Clinic’s executive health department has dedicated team members who work with employers and individuals to discuss billing options and figure out the best solution.

Experience executive health at The Iowa Clinic

Your time and health are important. The executive health program at The Iowa Clinic helps business leaders carve time out of their busy schedules to prioritize healthcare. An investment in your health is like an investment in your business. It pays off now and for years to come.

Call 515.875.9855 to request an appointment or access more information on our website.