According to recent data from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), about 156,199,800 Americans, or around 49% of the country’s total population, receive employer-sponsored health insurance coverage [1]. As healthcare continues to evolve, it is important for employers to address the impact that conditions like colorectal cancer can have on their company as well as their employees.
About one in three adults between 50 to 75 years have not been tested for colorectal cancer as recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) [2]. Since colorectal cancer is one of the most treatable cancers when found early, it is crucial to encourage employees to participate in screening. Offering LetsGetChecked’s at-home Colon Cancer Screening Test as a part of employer wellness programs or health benefits can aid in breaking down barriers to screening engagement and fostering a healthier and more productive workforce.
Why employers should care about screening participation
Employers that invest in health benefits and preventive health programs are investing in their employees. Many people spend a majority of their day at work, making the workplace an important place to promote health screening and prevent disease. There is a tremendous opportunity for employers to increase awareness of the need for colorectal cancer screenings and help employees engage with colorectal cancer screenings. Providing employees with the resources and tools they need to proactively manage and improve their health results in better health outcomes and reduces immediate and future healthcare costs.
While increasing colorectal cancer screenings accessibility and awareness is the right thing to do for employees and their families, it can also save employers money by reducing costs associated with treatment, absenteeism, and productivity losses. Providing colon cancer screening tests as a part of an employee health benefits program can also help your workforce feel valued. Offering key health screenings to your employees shows them that you are invested in their overall health and their future. Supporting employee health and wellness can help foster a healthy workforce and retain top talent as healthy employees are generally more productive and satisfied with their jobs.
How employers can increase screening engagement
Encouraging colorectal cancer screening uptake in the workforce requires ongoing support from employers. Recognizing the benefits of screening should become a part of organizational change and corporate culture. Employers should determine workplace barriers to screening engagement and identify ways to make it as easy as possible for their employees to get colorectal cancer screenings. Common structural barriers to screening engagement include inconvenient hours or screening locations that make it difficult for employees to have on-site appointments.
Communication, education, and access are critical components of breaking down barriers and building a foundation of trust, encouragement, and active participation. Employers can help with educating employees on colorectal cancer screenings and help them understand the importance of timely screening options for their level of risk. Additionally, gaining support and participation from key leaders within an organization can also reinforce the importance of this screening program and empower employees to engage in this life-saving test.
How LetsGetChecked can help with employee engagement
LetsGetChecked’s Colon Cancer Screening Test can help employers increase workforce screening participation and improve employee health. While it can be hard for employees to take time away from work to use their health benefits, at-home health screenings allow your workforce to participate in key screenings from the comfort of their homes. Implementing a colorectal cancer screening program with LetsGetChecked requires minimal lift from employers. Partnering with us is easy as we have the ability to provide the program communications, distribution of test kits, reporting, and data analysis to provide strategic recommendations.
From day one, our client success team will work with you to ensure the success and growth of your screening program. We deploy a multi-channel approach to drive employee engagement and participation. Our high-touch communication campaigns incorporate email and SMS to remind employees to activate their test kits, collect their samples and return them, check their lab status, and view their results. Together, we can help employees engage with crucial colon cancer screenings to enable early detection and better health outcomes. Contact our team today to learn more about our at-home screening solutions or sign up for our monthly newsletter to get curated insights from our team of experts, event invitations, and industry news you can use.
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