Employers who are unacquainted with well-being programs and health benefits may be unaware of differences in care types. Nevertheless, an important distinction exists between diagnostic and preventive care. While the former treats medical problems and studies their causes, the latter aims to prevent such issues from arising in the first place. In doing so, preventive care aids early disease detection and prevention, supports long-term health goals, and more. Thus, the best company wellness programs incorporate preventive care for the benefit of all employees.
Below, we detail preventive care practices and benefits, then offer suggestions on how you can help your employees access such care:
The Difference Between Diagnostic and Preventive Care
The terms diagnostic and preventive care differentiate the purposes of common medical procedures. What most people consider “standard” care in a hospital—especially an emergency room—is diagnostic, in that a provider is looking for a specific cause of symptoms so they can prescribe a treatment
Recognizable diagnostic procedures include blood tests, X-rays or an MRI following an injury, follow-up appointments with a general or specialized practitioner, or “alternative” forms of therapy (including chiropractic and therapeutic services).
Conversely, preventive care refers to routine procedures that individuals usually receive from general practitioners. Such care can prevent diseases or health problems from occurring or identify them in their early stages. Common preventive procedures are annual check-ups, flu shots, routine health screenings, and standard vaccination programs.
Preventive Care Benefits
By identifying illnesses and health problems early in their development—or preventing them from occurring altogether—medical professionals can treat issues before they endanger the patient. Specifically, doctors can help patients to manage symptoms, avoid triggers, and lead more fulfilling lives than they would have without treatment.
The routine treatments that compose preventive care can also help individuals to achieve their health goals. If employees organize and sign up for a community 5K, for instance, they will probably train and prepare for it. An annual flu shot contributes to preparation, as a bout of flu would derail an individual’s training or participation.
Best of all, preventive care procedures are inexpensive or free to patients. By law, most health care plans—including employer-sponsored and government-provided ones—must cover preventive treatments like flu shots or screenings. Recipients save money by evading long-term illnesses and their associated treatment costs.
Helping Employees Understand and Access Preventive Care
As with all workplace benefits programs, employers should help their staff understand and access preventive care. When considering how to spend wellness dollars, they can invest in informational resources and program infrastructure, as some corporate wellness programs fail due to poor communication between management and employees.
Employee resource groups (ERGs) and corporate wellness seminars can help clarify crucial details to organizational members. Furthermore, resources should be available in multiple mediums. For example, an online database and a HR employee available for questions can help more employees get additional information on company preventive care policies.
Equally important to benefit communications is program design. Your organization should determine what its employees want and need. Health risk assessments can help in this effort, as can company-wide questionnaires and input from ERGs.
The Best Company Wellness Programs Through Effective Preventive Care
To ensure you have the best company wellness programs possible, give your employees ample access to preventive health care and treatments. Moreover, look to Givhero for guidance on how to boost your workplace’s well-being and how to incorporate wellness initiatives. Our dynamic platform allows company leaders to organize such programs and implement them in offices worldwide. For more information, schedule a call with a representative or reach out to (240) 801-5927.
