Briggs & Stratton building on-site health center

Business Today

POPLAR BLUFF -- Briggs & Stratton officials and area dignitaries broke ground for the Briggs & Stratton Health Center on Feb. 26. The on-site health center will be integrated with the current Briggs & Stratton plant to provide health services for its employees.

Briggs & Stratton, a producer of air-cooled gasoline engines for outdoor power equipment, employs 1,100 workers.

The center, which will open in June, will offer a broad range of primary care services and will be staffed by certified providers. Included in the health center will be a rehabilitation facility, which will be staffed by a certified therapist.

"In an effort to slow the rise in health care costs and provide quality health care service to our employees, Briggs & Stratton is taking the initiative by building this modern facility," said Jeff Mahloch, vice president of human resources at Briggs & Stratton.

The new and innovative Briggs & Stratton Health Center is modeled after the Briggs & Stratton Health Center that has been operating in Milwaukee, Wis., for more than a year. It will be operated by the independent organization Quad/Med, whose parent company, Quad/Graphics, is one of the world's largest printing companies.

"Quad/Med is excited to be a part of this innovative family clinic in Poplar Bluff," said Dr. Leonard Quadracci, corporate medical director at Quad/Graphics.

Quad/Med has more than 12 years experience providing on-site medical care to employees of its parent company Quad/Graphics. It currently manages four clinics for Quad/Graphics and two clinics for Rockwell Automation, as well as the Briggs & Stratton Health Center in Milwaukee.