Preventive examinations at the workplace
Employers are increasingly willing to invest in the health of their employees and, alongside medical packages, offer them free preventive examinations in the workplace. The validity of this type of action is reflected in the fact that last year alone, during special preventive actions carried out at work, up to 35% of employees were diagnosed with elevated blood sugar levels and 33% of those examined were referred for further diagnostics for melanoma.
Doctors raise the alarm: Poland is in the disgraceful lead in cancer incidence among highly developed countries. The situation is no better in terms of heart disease and diabetes. Meanwhile, preventive care in our country is still poor. Poles avoid preventive screenings even if they are easily accessible and free of charge.
- Even worse, preventive screenings are not attended even by employees who are offered such an opportunity as part of their medical packages. They usually explain it by lack of time or they do not see such a need. This is where employers come to the rescue, as they seize the opportunity to invite specialists to the office or workplace. It turns out that this form of preventive care is very popular because as soon as the employer provides the list of enrolments for tests, it fills up in just a few minutes - says Dariusz Grądziel, TU Zdrowie’s Sales Director.
Among the preventive packages offered to employers are tests for melanoma, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, testicular cancer or prostate cancer. These can be followed up with tests for diabetes and lung capacity, as well as advice from a nutritionist and psychologist.
- As part of the prevention schemes, employees are provided with questionnaires even before they are screened; they themselves and only for themselves self-assess their level of expertise and awareness in a particular area. They also have access to thematic webinars where they can learn about effective preventive measures. The next stage is an examination at the workplace, which is a great convenience, as it is enough for the employee to take a break from their tasks for a moment and walk a few steps to the mobile practice where they will be attended by a doctor. It is very simple to organise such check-ups. All the employer has to do is make a request, and we provide the appropriate equipment and mobile medical practices at the workplace. After the check-up, each employee receives the necessary information from the doctors and recommendations on how to proceed - says Renata Filipek-Baryłowska, Director of Product Area and Business Partnerships at NEUCA SA.
More than 3,000 employees have already been examined as part of preventive actions, and these actions have resulted in an average of 22% of patients being referred for further diagnostics.
- From our insights and enquiries from employers, it seems that they are starting to see the need to take more comprehensive care of their employees’ health. That is why, in addition to health insurance, we offer them preventive packages for lifestyle diseases, i.e. diabetes, cancer and depression - says Teresa Domańska, Director of TU Zdrowie’s Health Insurance Office.
Occupational preventive screening is provided without a referral. The TU Zdrowie insureds who are referred for further diagnostics as part of their examinations benefit from the advantages of their health insurance policy. In addition to access to specialists, they can benefit from health plans offered by TU Zdrowie, such as My Nutritionist or My Oncologist plans. TU Zdrowie’s plans provide comprehensive specialist care, a package of necessary examinations and the assistance of a medical consultant who supports the patient in the diagnostic and treatment process.
