Sun Life Financial’s Canadian Group Benefits division and Medisys Health Group Inc. announced today that they have entered into a new strategic alliance. Together, the two companies will offer a distinct, integrated solution to Sun Life Financial’s Group Benefits customers who need attendance support for their salary continuance sick-leave plans.

With this alliance, Medisys becomes Sun Life’s preferred provider for these services.

“More and more, employers are looking for effective solutions to help them improve productivity and reduce the costs associated with absences,” said Brigitte Parent, vp, group benefits, Sun Life, in a release. “Our alliance with Medisys allows us to set a new industry standard in attendance support. We already have a number of mutual customers with Medisys, and share a common philosophy and approach to attendance support. Now, by combining the skills, experience and technology of our two companies we can go out to the marketplace with a ‘high-tech, high-touch’ solution that no one else is offering.”

Unique features of the new product include early absence notification, expert triage at the outset of each case, proactive case management, facilitating timely access to treatment, and seamless continuum of care for absences that extend to long-term disability.

“Sun Life Financial has established itself as a top-tier player in the Canadian group benefits industry, serving more than five million Canadians through 10,000 group customers,” said Dr. Sheldon Elman, President and CEO, Medisys Health Group. “This alliance not only lets us offer our services to an impressive customer base, but it also gives us access to the significant distribution channel with whom Sun Life Financial does business.”

Medisys’ attendance support programs have proven their effectiveness by lowering the total cost of absenteeism while at the same time increasing employee satisfaction, wellness and productivity and providing an impressive return on investment. Medisys’ diverse and accomplished team of health professionals manage more than 40,000 absences per year, while performing more than 75,000 occupationally-related examinations or assessments annually.