This story is really going to excite you. Premier sent Susan Wilson and I (Renee Thompson) to Charleston, SC on April 24th, 2012 for a Benefitfocus conference entitled “One Place. 2012.” The conference marked the launch of the HR InTouch Marketplace, which allows large and small employers to give their employees the opportunity to “shop” online for their benefits. The platform provided “one place” for employees to view and select all their benefits. It’s great to work for a consulting company that takes the extra step for clients (by researching and offering innovative services such as enrollment and billing). At the conference, the ideas for Premier to service current clients as well as future clients in a superior way were in full swing. Susan and I took part in informative sessions that included information on mobile video and design, avatars as education tools, eBilling (a Benefitfocus entity that allows online invoicing and payment), advanced clinical analysis (analytics technology to help identify high risk individuals, recognize gaps in care and predict future risk to help customers control and lower healthcare costs) as well as how culture proves an important role within a company. Susan and I had the chance to network with other business affiliates at a welcome reception, over meals, at sessions and at a spectacular dinner event held at the Charleston Aquarium. One free night was allocated for all attendees. Susan and I decided to take a horse and carriage tour of Charleston. The history and architecture of the city proved to be truly remarkable. A few hours later we had fried green tomatoes, fried chicken and homemade meatloaf on order at Jestine’s Kitchen – a restaurant that provided authentic, down-right southern food. One recommendation – if you ever visit Charleston, don’t miss out on the southern pralines from Charleston Candy Company! After four days at the conference, Susan and I arrived back in Buffalo with oodles of information to share and a couple of extra pounds to lose. Will Premier opt to use the Benefitfocus platform? Wait and see.
