SECPA offers FONEMED services to Southeast Colorado

(May 8, 1998) Colorado Springs, Colorado – The Southeast Colorado Power Association is launching a program offering FONEMED mail order discount pharmacy and 24-hour nurse advice services to its members throughout the SECPA service area (Southeast Colorado). This service will include the most comprehensive discount pharmaceutical program in the nation, 24-hour Nurse Advice, and a 24-hour Audio Health Information Library with over 1,800 topics.

FONEMED’s U.S. and International operations are headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In addition to establishing Call Centers abroad, FONEMED markets and manages Medical Call Center Services for US health plans, public utilities, associations, non-profit organizations, businesses, and the military. The FONEMED Medical Call Center provides 24-hour medical advice from Registered Nurses using software designed by National Health Enhancement Systems (NHES), clinical algorithms developed by MICROMEDEXâ , and pediatric guidelines written by Dr. Barton Schmitt of Denver Children's Hospital. The call center also features the largest fully automated Audio Health Information Library in the world.

According to Lloyd Burton, Director of Government Programs at FONEMED, the health industry initially brought medical call center services to large metropolitan areas. Most call centers were originally installed by large hospitals in major cities. Then, insurance companies began offering the service as part of their managed care programs. Again, this focused the service on large enrollments in heavily populated areas. By default this neglected the rural areas.

Burton says it’s gratifying to work with cooperatives. Growing up in rural Nebraska he remembers the linemen of the REA bringing electricity to his grandparents’ farm. It was an exciting time and changed life on the farm as everyone knew it. The first changes were simple, but significant. No more kerosene lamps to read by or hand cranking the cream separator. Working with SECPA will allow us to be a part of bringing a new service to improve life in areas outside of big cities. Burton says, "it’s a real joy to work with the folks at SECPA. These guys are visionary and really have the interests of the co-op members at heart. This is truly a pioneering effort on the part of SECPA to work with FONEMED to make these services available to Southeast Colorado."

Eric Olson, Director of Utilities Sales and a native Coloradoan has worked within the utility industry for the last four years. Olson says, "deregulation and competition throughout the industry has created an opportunity for cooperatives to offer valuable new services to their members." He believes that, by partnering with electric cooperatives, FONEMED can help enhance the quality of life for people in rural America.