Local disease manager Healthways announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Vermont-based Marathon Health.

Through the deal, the New England company will provide acute-care, coaching, advocacy and other services to Healthways employees and their spouses at the latter's Cool Springs headquarters.

According to Marathon’s Web site, the company provides “primary care, health maintenance and prevention, risk reduction, disease management, occupational health, absence management, and pharmacy services.”

In the announcement, an official from Marathon describes the deal as creating a “medical home” in the workplace. The center at Healthways' headquarters is scheduled to open next month.