On-site screenings get the conversation started | Segal Benz

Post bike-ride lunch illustrates the value of screenings

A couple months ago, I did the 35-mile Tour d’Organics bike ride with a group of friends in Sebastopol. The ride was gorgeous—and strenuous—and we couldn’t wait to eat lunch when we finished.

So, after riding for more than 3 hours, you wouldn’t think low-fat or low-calorie would be top-of-mind when making a decision about what to eat. But, one friend wondered aloud which entree would have the least cholesterol. This is definitely not a usual topic of conversation for us while looking at a menu. Which wine to order, sure, but cholesterol? Where did that come from?

Well, turns out, he went to an on-site health fair the week before and found out his cholesterol was high—a big surprise. So, we spent the first part of lunch talking about that and what to do about it.

Since then, he’s gone in for a full screening, made some pretty substantial changes to his diet and upped his workouts. And, two other friends who were involved in that post-bike-ride conversation over lunch have gone in for cholesterol screenings and preventive exams as well.

This is exactly why on-site health screenings can make a difference for your employees: they get the conversation started and can easily identify health risks for individuals who wouldn’t otherwise even think to go to the doctor.

They are an easy way to get valuable health information to your employees (especially when your health plans may pick up the bill!). But, do remember the smart things my friend’s employer did at their health fair:

• Provide relevant, easy-to-understand information about the screenings, why they are important and what they mean
• Make sure you have clear info about how employees can get follow-up if an on-site screening identifies an issue
• Give employees incentives for attending health fairs and getting the screenings (nothing is more effective than cash or a cash equivalent, but you could have good success with an inexpensive but fun give-away too)
• Make sure employees understand their preventive care benefits—and make sure you’re educating them about the important screenings they should be getting each year (like mammograms, colon cancer screenings, etc.)