Explainer: What is a Biometric Screening?

A biometric screening is an important component of a comprehensive health and wellness program wherein corporations measure their employees’ blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglycerides, and blood glucose.

Due to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations, employers in the United States cannot take blood measurements without having an independent firm such as a wellness company or health screening organization perform the testing.

For employers, biometric screenings provide important baseline data to shape the direction of their corporate wellness program.

There are many reasons to do biometric testing such as health promotion, health awareness, and health education, however, the primary factor motivating organizations to have this service performed is economic.

Health screenings have been shown to reduce overall medical expenditure by identifying risk factors and employees that need added health coaching services.

With a goal of early risk detection and intervention, biometric screening services help evaluate health and are geared toward encouraging healthy lifestyles. All clinical components are performed by highly trained health professionals, following stringent protocols that are aligned with national guidelines.

For employees, these screenings provide information on current and potential medical issues. When combined with a health risk sssessment, employees have reliable information about their risk for chronic preventable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, and can identify a path for disease prevention and improved health.

Article Topics

biometrics  |  healthcare