Choosing the right vendor of workplace services can be an invaluable investment in your company and employees. Here are some questions to ask when evaluating vendors:

• Is there 24-hour access to trained counselors?
• Do they provide short-term, results-oriented counseling ?
• Do they provide customized promotional materials in support of their services?
• Are they utilizing a sophisticated EAP information system?
• Is there a multiple choice of counseling office locations?
• What is their proven capability with customer retention?
• Are they committed to flexibility and customer service?
• Do they offer specialized services like credit and career counseling?
• Do they have a fully trained Critical Incident Team?
• What are their proven methods to contain costs and reduce claims and accidents?
• What is their experience in behavioral risk management strategies?
• Can they provide references?

The Employee Assistance & Workplace Services Advantage	EAWS	Most Area EAPs
Services
Short-term, results-oriented counseling	Yes	Some
Positive drug test/management directed referral capability	Yes	Few
Critical incident response team	Yes	Few
Specialized credit counseling and career assessments	Yes	No
Speakers bureau for specialized organizational/behavioral health workshops	Yes	No
Child and elder care referral service	Yes	No
Integrated EAP/Care Management model	Yes	No
Program Access
Regional network of credentialed affiliate providers which allow for multiple choice locations	Yes	No
Round-the-clock, toll-free access to counselors	Yes	No
Routine appointments schedule with in four working days	Yes	Few
Urgent appointments scheduled within 24 hours	Yes	Few
Unlimited access for face-to-face assessment	Yes	Few
On-Staff Expertise
Bachelors and Masters-level counselors answer the phone between 8:30 am and 9:00 PM weekdays	Yes	No
On-staff specialist in the area of credit/budget problems	Yes	No
Dedicated, full-time training specialist to provide or arrange training or human resource support services in behavioral risk management	Yes	No
Local account manager plays support role	Yes	Some
Variety of masters/doctorate level clinicians who are licensed or certified with a wide range of expertise	Yes	Few
Program Management
Sophisticated EAP information systems which allows for customized reports	Yes	No
Customer satisfaction results	Yes	Few
Return-on-investment study capability	Yes	No
Average utilization rate	8%-10%	4%-5%
Complete confidentiality	Yes	Yes
Rebate for lower than expected utilization	Yes	No
Customized employee communication materials	Yes	Few

For more information, please contact us at:
Employee Assistance & Workplace Services
Chestnut Health Systems
1003 Martin Luther King Dr.
Bloomington, Illinois 61701
(800) 433-7916 voice
(309) 829-2744 fax
workplaceservices@chestnut.org