Better Care, Smarter Spending: How High-Quality Providers Improve Employee Health and Lower Costs

By: Al Codalbu, Senior Vice President, Employer Business

When my daughter needed specialized care, I faced the same challenge many employees do: how do you know which doctor is the best choice? Even working in healthcare, I knew provider quality varies, but without clear data, making the right decision can feel like a guessing game. Fortunately, I had Embold Health's Provider Guide, which gave me the objective insights I needed to find the best provider for her. It made all the difference.

Employees deserve that same level of transparency when making healthcare decisions. And for employers, guiding employees to top-performing doctors isn’t just good for their workforce - it’s smart business.

The Cost of Poor Healthcare Quality

Every year, U.S. employers lose an estimated $575 billion in productivity due to poor quality healthcare . Employees face misdiagnoses, avoidable complications, and unnecessary treatments, all of which drive up costs and disrupt their ability to work.

Yet, 72% of employees want better guidance when choosing a doctor. Too often, they rely on location, name recognition, or online reviews, none of which indicate actual provider quality. Without trusted insights, employees often end up with suboptimal care, costing both them and their employers.

The Power of High-Quality Providers

At Embold Health, we provide objective, data-driven insights that help employees choose top-performing doctors with confidence. The results are clear:

1. Fewer complications: High-quality doctors follow best practices, reducing misdiagnoses, unnecessary procedures, and hospital visits.

2. Lower costs: Employers save money by preventing avoidable treatments, while employees avoid financial and emotional stress.

3. Better outcomes: When employees receive the right care the first time, they stay healthier, more productive, and more engaged at work.

When employees consistently see top-performing providers, everyone benefits - healthier people, reduced costs, and a stronger workforce.

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Transparency and Smarter Decision-Making

Employees don’t know how to identify high-quality doctors, and many assume all providers offer the same level of care. That’s simply not true.

At Embold Health, we bring transparency to provider quality by using evidence-based scoring to show employees who truly delivers the best care. No guesswork - just facts.

Incentives also matter. When employers align financial incentives with high-quality care, it encourages smarter decisions and leads to better health outcomes and long-term cost savings. By rewarding employees for choosing top-performing doctors, companies create a system where better care and smarter spending go hand in hand.

A Personal Perspective

When my daughter needed that care, I turned to Embold’s Provider Guide - a tool that gave me confidence in choosing the right provider. But most employees don’t have that advantage. They’re left guessing, trying to navigate a complex system without clear guidance.

I see this challenge every day. Employers want to improve healthcare for their teams but often feel stuck in a system that prioritizes broad access over quality. Embold changes that. We make provider quality transparent and accessible, helping employees get the right care the first time - leading to healthier people, stronger businesses, and a smarter healthcare system.

A Smarter Way Forward

Let’s be honest - just offering employees access to a broad provider network isn’t enough. Not all doctors provide the same level of care. Employees need more than just access; they need guidance.

That’s where Embold Health comes in. We integrate seamlessly into employer benefits, making it easy for employees to find and choose the best providers. The result? Better health, lower costs, and a better bottom line.

Employers have an opportunity to transform healthcare for their workforce. By prioritizing provider quality over network size, they can drive better care, smarter spending, and healthier employees.

If you’re ready to take a more strategic approach to employee healthcare, Embold Health can help. Let’s build a healthier workforce, together.