Employee health screening and preventive care tips for lifelong wellness

According to the National Institutes of Health, preventive care refers to proactive steps, strategies, and measures taken to:

• Keep illness at bay
• Catch problems early
• Minimize the negative impacts of chronic medical conditions

These methods range from healthy lifestyle choices to effective management of existing health conditions. 

During May, we observe many health awareness campaigns, including National Women’s Health Month and Older Americans Month, which promote gender- and age-specific preventive care. Preventive health practices like regular checkups and screenings aim to help people live longer, healthier lives.

The state of preventive care in the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that post-pandemic outpatient wellness visits and screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, and common cancers are significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels. Only 5.3% of adults over 35 received all recommended clinical preventive services in 2020, a decrease of more than 3% from 2015. 

The Healthy People 2030 goal for such services is 11.5%. While women are more likely to maintain preventive care and schedule wellness visits, over 40% of men in the U.S. don’t get an annual physical.

Start with a primary care physician

Encourage your employees to begin their preventive care journey by finding a primary care physician (PCP) and scheduling a physical or well visit to have their blood pressure checked and to get basic lab tests for cholesterol and blood sugar. They can discuss their family and personal health history with their PCP to determine which screenings and health goals are suitable for them. 

In general, annual physicals should include comprehensive health screenings such as:

• Body mass index measurement to assess healthy weight ranges
• Comprehensive physical examination including heart, lung, and abdominal assessments
• Vision and hearing tests to detect early changes in sensory function
• Blood pressure monitoring at every visit or at least once every two years if readings are normal
• Cholesterol screening starting at age 20, repeated every four to six years for low-risk individuals
• Diabetes screening (fasting glucose or HbA1c) every three years for adults over 45 or earlier if risk factors are present
• Skin examination to check for suspicious moles or lesions

Age-specific and sex-specific screening schedules include:

• Women aged 21-65: Cervical cancer screening (Pap smear) every three years; alternatively, every five years with HPV co-testing for ages 30-65
• Women over 40: Annual mammograms for breast cancer screening
• Women over 65: Bone density scan to screen for osteoporosis
• Men over 50: Prostate cancer screening discussion with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and digital rectal exam
• Adults aged 45-75: Colorectal cancer screening with colonoscopy every 10 years; alternatively, annual stool-based tests
• Adults aged 50-80 with smoking history: Annual lung cancer screening with low-dose CT scan

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends certain vaccinations and immunizations for health maintenance, including influenza. Your employees should talk with their doctor about these recommendations if they have any concerns.

Practice preventive health

Be an advocate for employee health and wellness by encouraging them to adhere to the following practices:

• Don’t smoke or use tobacco
• Limit alcohol
• Eat healthy
• Be physically active
• Practice good hygiene
• Prioritize quality sleep
• Manage stress effectively through techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, regular physical activity, or professional counseling when needed

Workplace wellness screenings

Although workplace screenings shouldn’t replace checkups with PCPs, they’re useful in identifying risk factors for diabetes and heart disease such as elevated blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. Consider holding biometric screening events at your workplace for your employees. 

Be sure to frequently promote any wellness services you offer to your employees, such as access to wellness apps, discounts, and health coaching.