Biometric Workplace Screening for Preventative Health

Biometric screening has become popular as part of occupational health assessments across the country. According to the CDC, biometric screenings are measurements of physical characteristics that can be taken in the workplace and used as part of an assessment to assess an employee’s health status over time.¹

OVERVIEW AND OBJECTIVES OF BIOMETRIC SCREENING

Effective wellness programs typically offer the following educational tools and resources:²:

• Behavior modification programs, such as assistance with diet and nutrition, exercise, health coaching, and smoking cessation.

• Educational programs, such as health fairs and seminars

• Health identification tools, such as biometric screenings including blood pressure, body mass index, cholesterol and glucose levels.

• Workplace lifestyle changes, such as healthier food options and banning tobacco.

The goals of biometric checks are to improve workplace performance and productivity, improve health, and reduce healthcare costs and risks.²It is important to tell employees that screening should not replace a medical examination by a doctor but should be part of managing their health. Additionally, screenings provide information about health risk factors but cannot diagnose diseases. Instead, biometric screenings can encourage employees to improve their health and share the results with a doctor. Employers should continually monitor the success of programs through various effectiveness measures, including how effectively screenings were conducted, the impact on overall health management, and the percentage of employees screened.²

CONSIDERATIONS ON BIOMETRIC SCREENING

There are many factors that go into achieving biometric screening, such as privacy, schedules, and personnel. Most providers require a minimum number of participants to host an on-site event, which can make it difficult for smaller offices.²Options for employees working off-site and in small offices include home self-collection kits, individual home or office screenings, medical kits, and screenings at clinical reference laboratories or health centers emergency. Announce screening events through emails and flyers to increase attendance.

Fasting checks should be conducted at the start of an employee’s shift, and refreshments should be provided afterward. It is important to have an appropriate space for testing, with adequate privacy and staff to discuss the results. During these screenings, blood may be collected either by finger prick and tested immediately with a point-of-care blood testing device, or by a venous blood sample sent to a laboratory for analysis.²Keep in mind that normal ranges for results may vary depending on the laboratory and the patient’s medical history.

Healthcare professionals involved in biometric screenings should be aware of the current objectives (table). For example, updated guidelines for detecting high blood pressure lowered the range from stage 1 hypertension to a systolic blood pressure of 130 to 139 mm Hg or a diastolic blood pressure of 80 to 89 mm Hg.³Patients with elevated test values ​​should be counseled on lifestyle modifications, such as diet and exercise, and referred to a physician for evaluation. It is also important to keep in mind that target values ​​must be individualized for patients with health problems. Results should be discussed with employees and sent with permission to their physician, as a referral recommendation for those who do not have a healthcare provider. Employees should receive copies of all results. Pharmacists and other healthcare professionals can play an important role in monitoring patients as part of an interdisciplinary team.

WHAT STUDIES ON BIOMETRIC SCREENING PROGRAMS SHOW

Data demonstrates that biometric screening as part of wellness programs can have a positive impact on employees.⁵Incentives, such as bonus reductions for employees, can increase participation.⁶Additionally, study results showed that biometric screening can promote patients’ prescription utilization and medication adherence.⁷One study evaluated a 3-year initiative to implement a statewide biometric screening program in New Mexico through a mobile unit.⁵Biometric screening was carried out by community health workers and registered nurses. Patient counseling was provided by nursing staff and videos were shown to promote health and wellness during screenings. The study found that community screening is effective in identifying health risks and improving access to health care services.⁵Community pharmacies can also participate in biometric screening programs.⁸

Jennifer Gershman, PharmD, CPh, is a drug information pharmacist and Pharmacy Times contributor who resides in South Florida.

THE REFERENCES

1. CDC. Glossary of occupational health. CDC website. cdc.gov/workplacehealthpromotion/tools-resources/glossary/glossary.html. Updated February 1, 2018. Accessed June 10, 2018.
2. Biometric health screening for employers: Consensus statement from the Health Improvement Research Organization, the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, and the Continuum of Care Alliance.J Occup Environ Med. 2013;55(10):1244-1251. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0b013e3182a7e975.
3. Whelton PK, Carey RM, Aronow WS et al. 2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA guideline for the prevention, detection, assessment and management of high blood pressure in adults: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Cardiovascular Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.J Am Coll Cardiol.2018;71(19):e127-e248. do i: 10.1016/d. jacc.2017.11.006.
4. American Heart Association. Body mass index in adults (BMI calculator for adults). American Heart Association website. heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/WeightManagement/BodyMassIndex/Body-Mass-Index-In-Adults-BMI-Calculator-for-Adults_UCM_307849_Article.jsp#.WyHeJopJnIU. Updated August 2014. Accessed June 13, 2018.
5. Brown-Connolly NE, Concha JB, English J. Mobile health is worth it! Economic benefit and health impact of a population-based mobile screening program in New Mexico.Telemed JE Health. 2014;20(1):18-23. doi: 10.1089/tmj.2013.0080.
6. Maeng DD, Geng Z, Marshall WM, Hess AL, Tomcavage JF. Analysis of an Employee Wellness Program Based on Biometric Screening and Incentive Bonuses: Enrollment Patterns, Costs, and Outcomes (published online November 14, 2017).Population health management. doi:10.1089/pop.2017.0110.
7. Fronstin P, Roebuck MC. Financial incentives, participation in workplace wellness programs, and use of health care services and expenditures.EBRI thematic file. 2015;(417):1-23.
8. Teeter BS, Braxton-Lloyd K, Armenakis AA, Fox BI, Westrick SC. Adoption of a biometric screening service in community pharmacies: a qualitative study.J Am Pharm Assoc. 2014;54(3):258-266. doi: 10.1331/JAPhA.2014.13203.