Somerset County will provide health care to county employees, their dependents, and retirees at an on-site health center managed by a private company.

The Somerset County Freeholders voted unanimously to award a contract to Princeton-based Integrity Health, LLC to operate the new health center. Douglas Forrester, a former mayor of West Windsor and the 2005 Republican gubernatorial candidate for New Jersey, is the president of Integrity.

“Somerset County is always looking for first-class innovation in the way we spend taxpayer money and deliver services, so I am proud and excited to announce this new partnership with Integrity Health,” said Somerset County Freeholder Mark Caliguire. “We understand that one of the biggest factors associated with our county budget is the rising cost of health care and we have worked hard over the years to control these costs. By partnering with Integrity Health, we are going to provide better health outcomes for our employees at a lower cost to our taxpayers.”

Caliguire said the process to set up the health center took over a year and the county evaluated companies before choosing Integrity.

Employees will receive primary care services at one location. Officials said this will eliminate expensive and unnecessary emergency room charges and allow primary care to be coordinated with hospitals and specialists to minimize repeat doctor visits.

The new health center will be called the Somerset County Partnership Health Center. The center will provide primary care physicians, lab services, and a full pharmacy. Use of the health center by eligible county employees will be strictly voluntary, officials said. Employees will not pay a copay when visiting the center or receiving prescriptions there. The center will be open seven days a week and staffed by board-certified professionals. The center is scheduled to open later this year.