Staff Member Health Testing.

Health testings are important programs to identify chronic illness in their early stages. Once identified, wellness intervention programs can help prevent a illness from progressing.

Working with local hospitals and other organizations, you can obtain information on providing screening and intervention programs that could improve your employees’ health and save your company money in absenteeism, treatment for illness complications, and reduced productivity.

Below are some ideas to help get you began.

Based on your Employee Needs and Interest Survey and the demographics of your workplace, consider offering periodic screenings to find specific health risks such as -

• Blood Pressure (BP) Checks to identify employees with pre-hypertension or hypertension (high blood pressure),

• Cholesterol Screenings for total, HDL (good cholesterol), LDL (bad cholesterol) and/or Triglycerides

• Blood Sugar Screenings fasting or non-fasting to screen for possible diabetes,

• Body composition, such as Body Mass Index  or body fat measures

• Bone density for potential risk of osteoporosis,

• Cancer screenings like, skin examinations, mammograms, or PSA screenings,

• Vision checks for glaucoma, or visual acuity

• Other screenings depending on your worker population and needs

Your local hospital, corporation physician practice, or health department my provide assistance. However, when you have a young workforce you may want to concentrate on programs that’ll keep them healthy rather than screening for early identification of chronic disease.

The focus of your wellness program could  be healthful lifestyle practices to reduce risk and prevent disease.

In addition to the health screenings, consider offering a Health Risk (Assessment|Appraisal} to all staff members. the Health Risk (Assessment|Appraisal} will help to identify factors that might lead to additional risks, like smoking history, stress levels, perception of health, family history, job satisfaction, support systems, and mental health.

Often the screening results are included on the Health Risk (Assessment|Appraisal}, which provides a more comprehensive snap shot of health risks. the summary results provide the important information to plan appropriate interventions.

Wellness Program Interventions

The key to the success of screenings and Health Risk (Assessment|Appraisal}s / Health Risk (Assessment|Appraisal}s is the interventions or follow-up programs. the information from the screenings increases awareness and often motivates staff members to consider making healthier changes.

It’s the follow up interventions that provide the essential support and assistance needed for employees to actually make and maintain those changes.

The interventions can include individual follow-up and ongoing counseling, individual or group health coaching on the risk factors, behavior change programs, and/or organizational support. Examples include -

• Strategies to lower blood pressure

• Managing diabetes

• Taking care of your heart

• Healthy eating

• Weight loss strategies

• Increasing physical activity

• Smoking Cessation

Of course, this is for individual information only. Any follow-up interventions planned by the company would be based on interest expressed by the worker.

Based on the results and your Wellness Committee goals you are able to plan the best strategies for your business and employees. Consider the community resources available to provide services, like health associations, hospitals, healthcare providers, and/or public health agencies.

The Quick Wellness Program Ideas provides Quick program idea tips for your consideration. Additionally refer to Prevention Strategies to determine the best approach for your corporation based on the wellness budget for reach the desired outcomes and objectives established.