Employee Biometric Screenings

Workplace health testings can take a variety of forms. Common screening components may include -

o  Blood pressure and heart rate.

o  Cholesterol (typically a finger-stick total cholesterol test, either fasting or non-fasting).

o  Blood glucose (diabetes screening).

o  Height and weight.

o  Percent body fat and/or BMI (BMI).

o  Fitness level.

o  Bone density.

o  Posture assessment.

Considerations when offering workplace screenings -

o  Biometric testings ought to be conducted by qualified, and at times, qualified person.

o  Medical screenings should be conducted in a location that authorizes for privacy and confidentiality.

o  Time for discussion and explanation screening results ought to be allowed as part of the screening process.

o  A process should be in place for referral for participants whose results are indicative of a need for further medical examination.

o  Screenings may be very costly to the overall wellness budget OR there may  be no cost to the health promotion program when participants are willing to cover the cost of the assessment themselves.

For  instance, cholesterol and glucose testing ordinarily costs twenty to twenty-five dollars per person, per exam. Employees might  be willing to pay for screening in exchange for the convenience of having the screening at work.

o  It usually works best to have scheduled appointments at intervals sufficient to allow time for the assessment and a brief discussion of results. Accordingly, a registration and scheduling process should be devised.

o  Some kinds of screening, such as fitness testing, require participants to bring casual clothes in which to do the testing. Workers must be notified of the need to dress in a specific manner for the screening.

o  To ensure high attendance at screening events, it’s advisable to coordinate promotion of the event with reminders to workforce.

o  Supply workers with “screening preparation” guidelines to remind them how to prepare for the most exact screening results.

Resources for workplace screenings -

1. Speak with a wellness consultant or medical testing organization.

2. When worker participation is low for onsite Healthful Benefits screenings, or when offering additional worksite screening is an choice, check with the community health or outreach department of your local hospital, health education department, occupational health department or worksite health department as to screenings they may offer.

3. Local fitness centers may also have licensed staff for some types of screenings, like fitness testing or body fat assessment.