The Role and Value of Corporate Medical Directors in Employer Benefits Management: Current Perceptions of Corporate Medical Directors and Benefits Professionals

J Occup Environ Med. 2023 Dec 1;65(12):1017-1022. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002970. Epub 2023 Sep 23.

Abstract

Objective: Knowledge of health-related employer benefits is considered a core competency by the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. This study seeks to understand how this translates into practice.

Methods: An electronic survey was e-mailed to members of American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Corporate Medicine and Health and Human Performance Sections; Integrated Benefits Institute; and Employer Health Innovation Roundtable.

Results: One hundred nineteen responses were received, including 54 from corporate medical directors (CMDs) and 43 from employee benefits professionals, from a variety of industries. Fifty percent of CMDs reported expertise in designing benefits, but only 25% are engaged with health benefits. The majority of CMDs thought that their involvement was important, while the majority of benefits professionals thought that it was not important.

Conclusions: Many CMDs report having benefits expertise but being underutilized while others report not having expertise.

MeSH terms

  • Academies and Institutes
  • Humans
  • Occupational Medicine*
  • Physician Executives*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United States