Employee Health Screens
Employee health screening can be done to proactively protect an employee's health or in compliance with a legal requirement (see Biological Monitoring). Either way, it is a good way of ensuring long-term productivity of your most valuable asset.
Internationally, the philosophy and methods of worksite health promotion (WHP) are gradually being adopted by companies across a wide range of industries. WHP is a combination of personnel development, health promotion, disease prevention, and improving work organisation and environment.
Pathology testing incorporated into an organisation's staff welfare and health maintenance policies can be a valuable and cost-effective adjunct.
Employee health screening can be simple, involving one or two tests, or more complex involving a range of tests and a physical examination. The level of complexity will be determined by the company and the needs of the employees.
Some of the medical problems and/or risk factors that may be detected by pathology testing are:
| Condition | Pathology Tests that may be helpful |
|---|---|
| Heart and arterial disease | Lipid studies (cholesterol and triglycerides), ECG |
| Diabetes | Blood glucose |
| Liver Damage | Liver function tests (LFT) |
| Hepatitis | Hepatitis A, B or C serology |
| Thyroid disease | Thyroid function tests (TFT) |
| Blood disorders (and a wide range of other conditions) | Full blood examination (FBE) |
| Anaemia | Haemoglobin |
| Iron deficiency | Ferritin, FBE, Iron studies |
| Kidney (renal) disease | Urea, electrolytes, creatinine |
| Drug and alcohol abuse | Urine drug & alcohol testing, CDT (alcohol) |
| Arthritis | FBE, ESR, CRP, anti-CCP |
| Obesity | Body Mass Index (BMI), Glucose, Cholesterol, Triglycerides, HDL & LDL |
| Cancers | Pathology Tests that may be helpful |
| Bowel (lower colon) | Occult blood test |
| Cervix | Pap smear |
| Prostate | PSA |
Healthscope Commercial Pathology offers different types of Employee Pathology Health Screening programs.
Level 1 – General Check-up Pathology Health Screen
The core tests selected in level 1 Pathology Health Checks may be used to determine employee's general well-being:
- Lipid Studies – Cholesterol, Triglycerides and HDL/LDL Ratio
- Fasting Glucose Test
- Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) – For Male Employees
Level 2 – Expanded General Check-up Pathology Health Screen
This level of employee check-ups includes core level one pathology tests with addition of haematology and biochemical testing:
- Lipid Studies – Cholesterol, Triglycerides and HDL/LDL Ratio
- Fasting Glucose Test
- Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) – For Male Employees
- Full Blood Examination
- Renal (Kidney) Function Tests
- Liver Function Tests
Level 3 – Full Pathology Health Screen
The full pathology health screen check incorporates multiple investigations. In addition to the other 2 Health Screens, other tests may be added in determining and monitoring risks associated with workplace:
- Lipid Studies – Cholesterol, Triglycerides and HDL/LDL Ratio
- Fasting Glucose Test
- Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) – For Male Employees
- Full Blood Examination
- Renal (Kidney) Function Tests
- Liver Function Test
- Electro Cardio Gram (ECG) - Trace and Report
- Body Mass Index
- Hepatitis B Immunity plus selected Occupational Medical tests
- Lead Level Testing
- Q-Fever