Dr. Daniel C. Randall is the owner of Foothills Veterinary Hospital, PC. Originally purchased in 2005, Dr. Randall now has two locations in Piedmont and Greenville South Carolina.
Growing a Businesses with Great Employee Benefits
From the time Dr. Daniel Randall completed veterinary school, he knew he wanted to own his own business. When the opportunity came to purchase his current practice, Dr. Randall jumped at the chance.
It was a struggling business, but he was up to the challenge. He transformed a one doctor practice into a burgeoning business. And it wasn’t easy. Dr. Randall realized early on that growing meant attracting the best and the brightest employees.
Dr. Randall soon learned that creating a positive and permanent work environment for his employees meant more to them than just rate of pay. “It can’t all be around just a paycheck. That’s the easiest thing somebody else can offer them is just a little bit more pay and there is a limited amount of payroll resources we can commit to.”
He works hard to provide a workplace that is pleasant to be in every day. This includes organizing outside work events like field days and holiday parties. It also includes bonuses and great employee benefits, including retirement and health benefits.
Searching for the Right Employee Health Benefits
In his search for the most affordable employee health benefits, Dr. Randall did his homework.
One option was a group health insurance plan. But with a wide array of employee needs - including different age ranges and medical conditions - an affordable group health insurance policy was not a practical solution for his business.
In addition, rising group insurance premiums and the inconvenience of shopping for another small group health insurance policy to fit all employees’ needs was something that Dr. Randall wanted to avoid in the future.
So, he explored a second option: individual health insurance. He found that with the choices now available on the individual market, his employees were able to get great coverage.
“My employees were able to go to the doctor and get insurance and pay their premiums, which ultimately leads to a healthier workforce. It helps with absenteeism and with stability in general.”
With ZaneHealth, he was able to set up a health benefit plan and reimburse his employees for their individual health insurance premiums. This was a much more flexible arrangement and at a cost his practice could afford.
“We went with Zane Benefits because I was scared to death of getting wedded to one particular little small group insurance plan. I had a really hard time getting enough participation with the employees in the clinic to even make it feasible for us to be a small group.”
Helping Employees Maximize Health Benefits
Dr. Randall found that offering this type of health benefit was not enough. He wanted to help his employees take full advantage of the individual health insurance market.
This was an added challenge when he discovered that his employees were in need of general education about the individual health insurance market itself.
“We talked to them about all of the different plans that are available: the gold, silver, and bronze [plans]. [We] try and help them understand so that when there is an open enrollment period, they do take the initiative and [take] the money available to them.”
In doing this, Dr. Randall has created an environment where his employees feel comfortable asking important questions. Frequently, he brings in a health insurance professional so that his employees have the opportunity to learn more about the health benefit options available to them.
Focusing on Care and Customer Service
With a successful practice and a strong employee base, Dr. Randall can now move away from a growth strategy and focus on his customers.
“We continue to look at how we can make things better and realize what our clients are most concerned about.”
Through his hard work, Dr. Randall has established Foothills Veterinary Hospital as a place that provides quality care to, not only his customers, but to his employees as well.
Key Takeaways from Dr. Randall’s Case Study
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Dr. Randall grew his veterinary practice, in part, by creating a healthy work environment for his employees. This includes offering quality health benefits.
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Individual health insurance offers Dr. Randall’s employees the flexibility to choose their own plan with great coverage. With ZaneHealth, Dr. Randall can now afford to help his employees by providing reimbursement for their premiums.
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Dr. Randall ensures that his employees fully understand the individual health insurance market so they can maximize the use of their health benefits.
Dr. Daniel C. Randall is a native of Aiken, South Carolina. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Clemson University and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree from the University of Georgia School of Veterinary Medicine. Learn more about the Foothills Veterinary Hospital, PC at www.foothills-vet.com.
