Why DICK’S Sporting Goods Chose Lantern for Specialty Care 

When DICK’S Sporting Goods began evaluating specialty care solutions, its benefits team wasn’t simply looking for another healthcare vendor. The goal was to find a partner that could help their teammates access high-quality care during some of life’s most complex health challenges, while also delivering better outcomes, a better experience and better value.

For Tammy Fennessy, Senior Director of Benefits at DICK’S Sporting Goods, that meant finding a partner that looked beyond big-name hospitals, focused on provider quality at the individual level and supported teammates every step of the way through surgery, cancer treatment and infusion therapy.

Looking Beyond the Facility to Find Quality Care

For many employers, evaluating specialty care partners starts with hospitals and facilities. For DICK’s Sporting Goods, it went deeper than that.

“I really appreciate that Lantern started by looking at physicians first,” Fennessy said. “Some competitors really focused more on the facilities. Not all doctors at every facility are quality.”

That physician-first approach stood out because it aligned with DICK’S commitment to delivering the best outcomes for teammates while making healthcare dollars go further. As Fennessy explained, identifying the right physicians and clinicians is critical to ensuring patients receive the highest quality care possible.

Care Navigation Makes a Difference for Employees who Need Surgery, Infusions or Cancer Care

Clinical quality was only part of the equation. DICK’s Sporting Goods also wanted a partner that could help teammates navigate overwhelming healthcare journeys.

“One of the fundamental reasons why we decided to go with Lantern was because the care team makes such a difference when it comes to that personal experience,” Fennessy said.

Whether facing surgery, cancer treatment or ongoing infusions, teammates often find themselves navigating unfamiliar diagnoses, provider choices and treatment options.

“Without having someone by your side, you can get lost in the weeds, make bad decisions, or frankly, not even get the care that you need,” Fennessy said.

A Specialty Care Partnership Built for the Long Haul

Fennessy also pointed to Lantern’s collaborative approach as a major reason for choosing the company.

“The one thing that makes Lantern a market leader is they truly lean into their client,” she said. “The fact that Lantern can look at this and say we’re on a journey that we’re all learning together is a very important component of this.”

That partnership mindset was evident even before launch. Teammates familiar with Lantern from previous employers proactively reached out to share their positive experiences and advocate for the program. Those stories reinforced that DICK’s had selected a solution capable of making a meaningful difference for teammates and their families.

For Fennessy, choosing a specialty care partner ultimately came down to three things: identifying the highest-quality clinicians, supporting teammates through complex care journeys and working with a partner committed to continuous improvement. It’s why they chose Lantern, she said.