Employers today are investing in biometric screening and with good reason. Ever since the pandemic rolled across the globe in the early parts of 2020, employing biometric screening in the workplace has become a necessity.
A biometric screening gives you a glimpse of your health status, and it can also warn you if any changes in your health need to be addressed.
Are you thinking of implementing biometric screening for your workforce? This activity doesn’t just contribute to the employees’ and their dependents’ health. It also helps in lowering healthcare costs. Let’s have a look at what it is, what’s being measured, and how to prepare for one.
What Is a Biometric Screening?
A biometric screening establishes a baseline on the patient’s overall health, so any possible health risks that they may have can be identified. It also helps in preventing several health issues by detecting them early and promoting lifestyle changes for employees.
Biometric screening doesn’t take long and is usually performed at the workplace or in a commercial lab facility. Diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease are just some of the potential health conditions that a biometric screening can alert you on.
Employees’ biometric screening results can help employers in keeping them healthy. When the results show that employees are at risk for particular diseases, employers can provide services that promote lifestyle change through health education.
Although biometric screening has all these benefits, you shouldn’t use it to replace a regular physical exam done by a healthcare practitioner. Biometric screenings do not diagnose diseases. They only alert you of possible health risks.
What Does Biometric Screening Measure; What to Expect?
When you undergo biometric screening, a healthcare provider will draw your blood to measure your cholesterol and triglyceride levels and your fasting blood glucose levels.
Your vital statistics will be measured as well, particularly your height, weight, waist measurement, and BMI (Body Mass Index). They will also measure your resting blood pressure rate and pulse.
When you’re about to undergo biometric screening, these are some of the things you can expect to happen:
- Venipuncture, which is drawing blood from your vein or a needle prick
- Answering a short questionnaire that asks about your medical history
- Having your height and weight measured on a scale
- Having your waist circumference measured with a tape measure
- Have your blood pressure read through a BP cuff around your arm
In some cases, when the results are released, you’ll receive a copy of your results, and a health care practitioner may discuss them with you.
Preparing for a Biometric Screening
Biometric screening programs may vary depending on the company. Employees will be advised ahead of time for any specific preparations that need to be done.
In a typical biometric screening setting, employees may need to fast for eight to twelve hours before testing their blood glucose levels. That means no food or liquid intake in the duration of the fast.
Wearing comfortable clothing can also help, especially when having your blood drawn. Ensure that your shirt can roll up quickly on your arm for venipuncture and your blood pressure reading.
Benefits of Biometric Screening
We often hear the saying, “Prevention is better than the cure.” And that is one of the advantages of biometric screening. It allows employees to know what health conditions they are at risk of having and take precautionary measures to prevent them.
Companies can also benefit from offering biometric screenings because they provide an idea of their workforce’s overall health. With this information, employers will know which specific health programs to offer in the workplace.
Moreover, employees’ privacy is protected. Their employers won’t view their screening results since this would violate the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The information that employers receive is the overall health results of the workforce, not the individual results.
Wrapping Things Up
A Biometric screening can help both employees and employers in their common goal of keeping the workforce healthy. It helps in lowering health costs since it warns employees ahead of the diseases that they may have. Companies can use the information in facilitating lifestyle changes and health education for a healthier work environment.
Want to set up a biometric screening for your workforce? Talk to WellHealth Works today. We offer a number of tailored wellness programs aimed at keeping your employees healthy and productive. Get started today by calling 833-935-9355. You can also visit us at 2115 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33713. We look forward to working with you to safeguard the health of your employees.
Want to know more? Learn about why it’s important to invest in Employee Wellness!
