Henry County has opened a wellness facility for the south metro community's staff that leaders hope will help decrease the healthcare costs of staff.

The Henry Cares Employee Wellness Center will provide county workers with programs on preventative health, behavior modification, health education and employee wellness and productivity. The center, which is open to full-time and part-time workers with no out-of-pocket costs, can also dispense prescriptions and include chronic disease management services.

The center, which has been in the planning for a year, is designed to encourage healthier county employees by helping workers take care of themselves and thereby reducing the need for doctor visits or hospital stays.

“This Wellness Center is going to be a benefit not only to our employees, but also to the taxpayers by reducing some of our claims and reducing our premiums,” County Manager Cheri Hobson-Matthews said.

Cities and counties across the metro area -- including AtlantaCobb and  Gwinnett -- have been opening wellness or fitness centers for municipal employees in an attempt to cut government healthcare costs.