Michelle Nevel, development director for Keys AHEC, joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about the organization.
Keys AHEC will host a series of free Lunch and Learn events in October designed to help local business owners, managers and human resources professionals learn more about health services available to their employees and families.
Yhe organization has been serving the Florida Keys since 1990, with its children’s medical clinics operating in the community for 13 years and its dental clinics now entering their fifth year.
“Even though Keys AHEC has been in the community since 1990, there are still so many people out there that are not aware of the services that we provide,” Nevel said.
The Lunch and Learn events are intended particularly for business owners, HR managers, office managers and workplace wellness coordinators who oversee employee benefits.
“These are great services that they can actually share with their employees, so it makes their work easier,” Nevel said. “Things that will cut down their employees’ costs on healthcare services, and then in turn helps the businesses.”
Keys AHEC wants to make sure employers throughout the Florida Keys understand that their employees can access the organization’s services without creating a cost for the business.
“We want to make sure that we get out there and that we see as many people as we possibly can across the entire chain of islands, making sure that they know about these services, that their employees can take advantage of them at no cost to the businesses,” Nevel said.
The Lunch and Learns will be held from noon to 1 p.m. at three locations:
The first event will be Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the Courtyard by Marriott in Marathon.
The second will be Thursday, Oct. 8, at Baker’s Cay Resort in Key Largo.
The final event will be Friday, Oct. 9, at the DoubleTree Resort in Key West.
Each event will last approximately one hour and lunch will be provided.
“We’ll provide lunch, give you a lot of information on some great benefits that you can then take back to your business and share with your employees,” Nevel said.
One of the major programs that will be discussed is Keys AHEC’s school-based children’s medical and dental care.
Nevel said school-age children from pre-K through 12th grade who attend a Monroe County School District school are eligible for the services, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances.
“Just in this past year, we have saved families over a million dollars, and that is just in dental care alone,” Nevel said.
The medical and dental services are provided at schools throughout Monroe County. The mobile dental clinic travels to 10 schools, while medical clinics operate at 10 schools throughout the county.
The program is designed to make healthcare more accessible for families while also reducing the time parents have to spend taking children to appointments.
“The great thing about the clinics are they’re school-based,” Nevel said. “The children can go there, get the care that they need.”
Medical services are provided at no cost, with insurance billed when applicable. Families are not responsible for copays or costs beyond what their insurance pays.
“This isn’t just for people who are uninsured,” Nevel said. “This is a convenience for all parents, and all, of course, business employees throughout the entire Keys that they can get this care right at the school where your child already is.”
Dental services are also offered at a reduced cost, with the highest fee for a dental service being $20. A routine hygiene appointment and cleaning costs $10.
Nevel said having services available at schools can save families both money and time.
“It’s a great convenience, not only making sure the kids are healthy, but also convenient for the parents as well,” she said.
Nevel encouraged local business leaders to attend one of the Lunch and Learn events to learn more about the services available to their employees.
Registration is free, but advance registration is requested. Information is available through Keys AHEC’s website and social media pages.
“AHEC does a lot in the community, and a lot of people aren’t aware about it,” Nevel said. “So, if you can, please attend this lunch and learn, or give us a call or ask us questions. We’re happy to answer any questions about anything that we do for anyone.”
More information and registration are available at keysahec.org and through Keys AHEC’s social media pages.