PHOENIX — A doctor’s office visit doesn’t rank high on the to-do list of many corporate executives.

But an executive’s lack of attention to his or her health can cost a company in several ways.

Corporations with a sick or absent leader may face internal struggles for control, direction or philosophy. In worst-case scenarios, a CEO’s death can trigger a slumping share price or a takeover battle.

“I think (a CEO’s health) is one of the least identified risks an organization has,” said John O’Connell, a professor of international risk management at Thunderbird School of Global Management. “We are talking about the ability of an organization to function without that individual … Without that person, the organization would not be what it is.”

Companies increasingly are choosing to foot the bill for a CEO’s physical exam as a preventive measure. A handful of metro Phoenix health providers, including Mayo Clinic and Banner Health, offer comprehensive screens tailored for the busy lifestyles of corporate executives. Former White House physician Connie Mariano has an executive health concierge service in north Scottsdale that includes 24-hour cell phone and e-mail access.

These executive health screens go beyond the tap the knee, check the blood pressure variety that are standard fare in a doctor’s office setting.

A CEO going through Mayo Clinic’s executive health program, for example, can expect to spend up to two days undergoing a battery of tests. One minute a patient is tackling a rigorous treadmill test, the next sitting down with a physician to discuss relaxation tips to combat a frazzled lifestyle.

The entire program may trigger follow-up tests if doctors detect a potential problem. Or patients could be given a clean bill of health along with diet and lifestyle tips designed to keep things that way.

“It is hard for a company to replace a key employee,” said Dr. Michael Covalciuc, who oversees Mayo Clinic Arizona’s executive health program. “There is always the story of the CEO who has a heart attack … There are things you can do to prevent that.”

Companies nationwide have grappled with the sudden death of a CEO. Last July, defense contractors L-3 Communications briefly flirted with the idea of selling out to a competitor after co-founder Frank Lanza died unexpectedly while recovering from throat surgery.

For a small company, the loss of a key executive can be devastating.

O’Connell, of Thunderbird, said the prospect of losing an executive hits some companies harder than others. Corporations with an identity that is tied up with a figurehead _ such as Chrysler’s Lee Iacocca or News Corp.’s Robert Murdoch _ is especially prone to risk if something happens to that person.

But the potential loss doesn’t apply just to CEOs. Companies can be devastated by the loss of other key executives and employees. For example, a star sales representative with contacts and relationships can be just as valuable to a company.

Corporations typically take steps to prevent such employees and executives from bailing to a competitor by making them sign noncompete contracts. Not all companies do as good a job as emphasizing health screens, O’Connell said.

“In my experience, companies don’t pay enough attention to the (health care) of key employees,” O’Connell said. “Some of these things get overlooked. If they keep getting overlooked, they will keep building up until you can’t take care of them.”

Several major Phoenix area corporations pay for comprehensive exams for their top employers. They bill it not as a perk, but as good business.

Companies, particularly larger publicly traded firms, are taking notice. Metro Phoenix firms such as eFunds, Pinnacle West, Spirit Finance, Viad, Freeport-McMoRan and US Airways all pay for executive physicals, according to SEC filings.

Philip Francis, CEO of PetSmart, gets a comprehensive checkup once a year at Mayo. He finds the physicals invaluable for maintaining his health and believes his health checks make good sense for PetSmart shareholders.

“The point is to go for preventive health,” he said. “I think the differentiator is the fact I get the doctor’s attention for a full hour. I think most places don’t do that.”

Still, companies don’t force executives to go to the doctor. Many companies say it’s an individual’s choice.

More than 2,500 executives and others have participated in Mayo’s executive health program in Arizona as well as in Rochester, Minn., and Jacksonville, Fla.

While the program is tailored for corporate executives, others have joined because of Mayo’s reputation and word of mouth.

Covalciuc estimates that corporations refer and pay for up to 40 percent of the patients for Mayo. Other patients, including retirees, pay their own way for the exams.

Bill Eschenbrenner, a professional golfer who lives in Scottsdale and El Paso, credits the program with saving his life. He was preparing to leave for a winter PGA tour when his Mayo Clinic doctor called him at home and urged him to return to Scottsdale for surgery. An exam led to the discovery of renal cancer, which was removed through surgery that did not require radiation.

“I have never had a doctor call me back at home like that,” Eschenbrenner said. Without the surgery, “I wouldn’t have lived another six months.”

Mayo cited a 2005 study showing its executive health screens have helped many patients identify and correct serious health risks. Just under 5 percent of patients who went through the May program were diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening disease. More than one-third of participants were diagnosed with a serious condition not previously known, and nearly half of participants were warned of risk factors that could lead to a serious condition.

Covalciuc said the Mayo program includes an extensive investigation of a patient’s family medical history, and it stresses preventive measures.

“It is important to understand a patient’s lifestyle,” Covalciuc said. “Stress is a big issue with (executives). We talk about how stress may manifest itself, with diet, headaches and how they sleep and feel.”

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Information from: The Arizona Republic, http://www.azcentral.com

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