By KERRY SMITH, EDITOR, ST. LOUIS CONSTRUCTION NEWS AND REVIEW MAGAZINE
On Thursday, Aug. 28, The St. Louis – Kansas City Carpenters Regional Council celebrated the grand opening of its 10,000-square-foot Carpenters Wellness Center.
Located next to Carpenters headquarters in the 1400 block of Hampton Avenue, the Carpenters Wellness Center was built by St. Louis-based Interface Construction. The building represents a partnership with global health platform innovator Cerner Corporation.
“We’re now able to provide Carpenters and their families a one-stop shop for the majority of their medical and preventive care needs without the cost burdens associated with traditional medical care,” said Al Bond, executive secretary-treasurer. “By providing affordable and convenient care, we hope to improve the overall health of our membership while removing two key barriers, access and cost.”
A second wellness center location will be built soon in Kansas City, according to Bond. The health-specific initiatives are part of the Carpenters’ overall efforts to recruit and retain a skilled workforce, “There’s a looming workforce shortage as baby boomers retire,” Bond said.
“Offering innovative benefits like the Carpenters Wellness Center may help attract new talent to the field while providing a distinct healthcare advantage to our existing members.”
Mike Heckman, vice president of population health services at Cerner, said the company’s partnership with the Carpenters is enthusiastically welcomed. “Opening this wellness center marks an important step toward providing members and their families with quality care tailored to their needs, with a focus on long-term health,” Heckman said. “The Carpenters Union has served the tri-state area for more than 130 years, and we’re bringing many years of workforce experience to help deliver great health outcomes for their members.”