Worksite Wellness ProgramsWorksite Wellness Programs

Worksite health screenings can take a variety of forms. Common evaluation components may include:

• Blood Pressure and pulse rate.
• Cholesterol (typically a finger-stick total cholesterol test, either fasting or non-fasting).
• Blood glucose (diabetes screening).
• Height and weight.
• Percent body fat and/or BMI (body mass index).
• Fitness level.
• Bone density.
• Posture assessment.

Considerations when offering worksite screenings:

• Health screenings must be conducted by qualified, and at times, licensed individuals.
• Health screenings must be conducted in a location that allows for privacy and confidentiality.
• Time for discussion and explanation screening results must be given as part of the evaluation process.
• A process must be in place for referral for participants whose results are indicative of a need for further medical evaluation.
• Screenings can be very costly to the central wellness budget OR there may be no expenditure to the program if participants are willing to cover the expenditure of the assessment themselves. For example, cholesterol and glucose testing usually costs twenty to twenty-five dollars per person, per exam. Workers may be willing to pay for evaluation in exchange for the convenience of having the evaluation at work.
• It generally works best to have scheduled appointments at intervals sufficient to allow time for the assessment and a brief discussion of results. Therefore, a registration and scheduling process must be devised.
• Some types of evaluation, such as fitness testing, require participants to bring casual clothes in which to do the testing. Workers ought to be notified of the need to dress in a specific manner for the evaluation.
• To ensure high attendance at evaluation events, it is advisable to start promotion of the event with reminders to workers.
• Supply workers with “screening preparation” standard procedures to remind them how to prepare for the most accurate evaluation results.

Resources for worksite screenings:

1. 1. Consult with a wellness consultant or health evaluation company.
2. 2. If employee participation is meager for onsite health screenings, or if offering additional worksite evaluation 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 might offer.
3. 3. Local health clubs may also have qualified employee for some types of screenings, such as fitness testing or body fat measurement.