Preventive care empowers people to be proactive with their health, stopping the progression of chronic diseases and other health conditions through early detection. Unfortunately, millions of people in the United States do not get the recommended preventive health care services, including screenings. In fact, as of 2015, only 8 percent of American adults ages thirty-five and older had received all of the high-priority, appropriate clinical preventive services recommended for them, while almost 5 percent of adults did not receive any such services [1].
With chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes being responsible for 7 out of 10 deaths among Americans each year and accounting for about 75% of the nation’s health spending, driving preventive care is crucial to saving lives and minimizing health care costs [2]. This article will explore the importance of preventive care and how at-home screening tests can help employees start the new year right.
Kick off the new year by increasing employee access to preventive care
As health-related New Year’s resolutions are at the top of people’s to-do lists, now is an ideal time for employers to help their workforce engage with preventive health services. Implementing an improved screening strategy in the new year is an easy and effective way to improve employee health outcomes and subsequently minimize costs.
Employees who delay or forgo recommended preventive health care can cause employers to incur higher costs due to productivity losses and treatment costs. The Integrated Benefits Institute (IBI) estimates that poor worker health costs amount to 60 cents for every dollar employers spend on healthcare benefits [3]. Fortunately, regular health screenings can identify issues before they begin or help people with certain conditions receive the insights needed to manage their disease risk or condition.
Barriers to screening engagement
While preventive screenings are vitally important to maintaining and enhancing health and quality of life, barriers to screening engagement can prevent employees from receiving the care they deserve. On-site screening programs can be time-consuming for employees to participate in, from traveling to filling out the necessary paperwork and going through the screening procedure.
Many employees may choose to forgo their screenings due to busy schedules, while others may delay crucial screenings because they are not accessible from their location. As employers often struggle to achieve high screening program compliance, it is critical to look for ways to transform screening strategies and make accessing quality screenings easier and more convenient.
The benefits of at-home health screenings
Increasing engagement with preventive screening is crucial to improving health outcomes, lowering costs, and saving lives. At-home screening tests can help employees overcome barriers such as the availability of health services and healthcare providers in the region, the great physical distance between the home and health service facilities, and high transportation costs. With an at-home screening solution, employers can increase the reach of their screening strategy, engaging employees who would not traditionally participate in preventive health services.
At-home health screenings benefit both employers and their workforce as employees do not have to travel to on-site screenings and employers do not have to deal with the administrative burden of coordinating screening events and driving engagement. Increased screening access can also significantly reduce costs for employers. For example, the average cost per colorectal cancer claim was over $8,000 and took an employee off the job for an average of 100 days [4]. Providing employees with regular screenings can prevent colorectal cancer or identify it early, leading to less expensive treatment, an improved prognosis, and reduced healthcare costs and absenteeism.
How LetsGetChecked’s at-home screening solutions can elevate your screening strategy
Help your employees receive the preventive care they deserve in the new year by implementing an at-home screening program that helps them stay up-to-date on recommended screenings and manage existing conditions to continue performing at their best. LetsGetChecked’s at-home screening solutions meet employees where they are, offering an easy and convenient way to access quality preventive services.
We have partnered with employers worldwide to elevate their screening strategy with solutions such as our at-home Biometric Screening or Colon Cancer Screening Test. Our cost-effective screening solutions incorporate a high-touch engagement strategy that requires minimal lift from employers while closing gaps in care and producing improved outcomes. With our end-to-end care solution, we can ensure a seamless experience that minimizes productivity losses and healthcare costs while improving outcomes for healthier, happier employees.
References
- https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2017.1248
- https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/events/2019/pathways-prevention-p2p-workshop-achieving-health-equity-preventive-services#:~:text=The one and a half,of the nation's health spending
- https://www.ibiweb.org/in-the-news/
- https://www.benefitspro.com/2021/03/26/how-can-employers-address-colorectal-cancer-and-its-productivity-impact/
