Health Promotion Strategies

Worksite medical testings can take a selection of forms. Common screening components may include –

• Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate.

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

• Blood glucose (diabetes screening).

• Height and weight.

• Percent body fat and/or BMI (BMI).

• Fitness level.

• Bone density.

• Posture assessment.

Considerations when offering worksite screenings –

• Health testings ought to be conducted by licensed, and at times, licensed person.

• Medical testings must be conducted in a location that allows for privacy and confidentiality.

• Time for discussion and explanation screening results should be allowed as part of the screening process.

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

• Screenings could be very expensive to the overall wellness budget OR there may  be no cost to the program when participants are willing to cover the cost of the assessment themselves.

For example, cholesterol and glucose testing ordinarily costs twenty to twenty-five dollars per individuals, per exam. Workers may  be willing to pay for screening in exchange for the convenience of having the screening at work.

• It normally works best to have scheduled appointments at intervals sufficient to allow time for the assessment and a brief discussion of results. Hence, a registration and scheduling process ought to be devised.

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

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

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

Resources for worksite screenings –

1. Consult with a wellness consultant or health screening business.

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

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