Pre-Employment Physical New York, NY

A pre-employment physical allows employers to increase trust with their employees, provide the appropriate accommodations for employees, and avoid any unnecessary injuries that result while an employee is on the job. Without employee diagnostic testing, employers run the risk of not knowing the limits of their employees, especially when physical exertion is involved with their duties.

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What Is a Pre-Employment Physical?

A pre-employment physical is an exam and set of diagnostic tests that determine if a company's employees are up for a job. It also helps determine what precautionary measures are necessary for them to do their job safely and efficiently. While it may seem on the surface as if it is only there to benefit the employer, it helps the employees stay safe and prepare for any health concerns that may come up while at work.

Most large, well-managed companies offer pre-employment physicals, especially if their line of work requires employees to endure physical exertion and stress throughout the typical workday. It is helpful for employers to be well-informed of any health concerns that may exist. Also, it helps the employee receive the proper treatment needed for their health problem(s) not to become an issue.

A pre-employment physical helps both employers and employees in multiple ways. Benefits include improved productivity, enhanced morale, and loyalty among employees, and reduced turnover and absence levels. For employees, pre-employment physicals help give them access to useful health information, improve performance/efficiency at work, and reduce health risks while on the job.

There are different types of diagnostic testing procedures that may be part of a pre-employment physical. The most common forms of employee diagnostic testing include pulmonary testing, cardiac testing, and audio and vision tests. With that said, there is a fairly wide range of possible employee diagnostic tests, and the exact tests differ for each business.

Pre-Employment Physical: Cardiac, Audiometry, and Vision testing

Employers need to fully understand their employees' capabilities as they run the risk of overworking employees if not informed of any conditions they may have. Pulmonary, cardiac, audiometry, and vision testing allow employers to gain insight into if an employee is up for a particular task and what they need to complete their job safely.

If you are an employer that relies on employees to perform physical labor or have good vision and a good ability to hear, come into our office to have employees tested. If you are an employer who feels pre-employment diagnostic testing could be beneficial, consider discussing the opportunity with your employer to see if it is possible.

Pulmonary Testing

A pulmonary test, or a pulmonary function test, diagnoses how well the lungs take oxygen from the environment and integrate it into the circulatory system. By doing so, it is able to detect any signs of lung cancer, asthma, or other breathing problems that may exist. While there are several different types of pulmonary tests available, the most popular form of pulmonary testing is what is known as spirometry.

The way spirometry work is simple. The first thing the patient does is breathe in as much air as they possibly can through their mouth. After this, the patient quickly blows as much air back out as possible into a tube connected to a machine, which is known as a spirometer. The test measures two different things: how much air the patient can breathe out after inhaling deeply and the amount of air the patient can exhale in one second. In essence, the two measurable tell the physician whether or not the patient has difficulty breathing and how severe the breathing problem is.

In most cases, a pulmonary test may be ordered for an employee to see whether or not they are up for a specific job, usually requiring some physical labor. In the event the test comes back abnormal, meaning the individual does have a breathing problem, oftentimes, accommodations can then be made to ensure the individual is able to do the job safely.

Cardiac Testing

Cardiac diagnostic tests are among the most utilized forms of testing, especially when the job requires employees to exert physical energy. A cardiac test typically can reveal abnormalities in the heart's ability to function, ranging from a minor issue to a more serious concern, such as signs of heart disease. We utilize three main types of cardiac tests at our urgent care facility, including an electrocardiogram (EKG), stress test, and echocardiogram.

Electrocardiogram

An electrocardiogram, known as an EKG or an ECG, is a test that records the electrical signals in the heart. An EKG is a non-invasive procedure and does not take long to complete. An EKG works by recording the rhythm and strength of the heartbeat. The process of having an EKG performed involves hooking up a series of wires and electrical impulses to your chest and monitoring the heart's activity, gathering information from 12 different sections of the heart.

Stress Test

A stress test can help determine the ability of an employee to endure physical stress. The way the test works is by having the individual walk on a treadmill or pedal on a stationary bike while the physician monitors the activity of the heart during the exercise. In most instances, during a stress test for employee diagnostic testing, the physician will also manage breathing patterns and blood pressure during the exercise.

Echocardiogram

An echocardiogram - commonly known as an echo - is the least invasive cardiac test, and it is an ultrasound of your heart, although in a different manner than an actual ultrasound. An echo utilizes sound waves to project an image of the heart's activity and determine any irregularities with the heart's activity.

Audiometry and Vision Testing

An audiometry test is a non-invasive hearing test that measures an individual's ability to hear different levels of sounds. In most instances, an audiometry test can determine whether or not there have been any changes to someone's ability to hear following surgery or a traumatic event. Audiometry tests can determine whether or not hearing aids or surgery is needed to improve one's hearing. For employee diagnostic testing, however, audiometry tests are used to determine whether or not an individual needs any assistance while on the job.

The test works by having the individual go into a soundproof room with headphones on. The person who is doing the testing will then play sounds into the headphones, and the patient will raise either their left or right hand when they hear a sound come into the headphones, depending on which ear they hear the sound from. The frequency of the sounds varies, and the physician will record the lowest frequencies noticed by the patient.

A vision test - also known as an eye exam - is a fairly basic procedure that most are familiar with. The test involves looking at a sheet filled with letters of different sizes from twenty feet away. The examiner will then ask the patient to read off a line of letters. They will then read off different lines either above or below the original line depending on whether or not they were successful the first time. The test is also done for both eyes individually, as well as a complete vision test with both eyes.

In many instances, we also check your pupils thoroughly as part of vision testing. Both audiometry and vision testing help employers understand the limitations of their employees, which in return gives them the ability to make necessary accommodations.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pre-Employment Physical

Q. What is the purpose of a pre-employment physical?

A. A pre-employment physical benefits both the employer and the employee. It provides information to both employees and employers about any conditions that may affect the way a person can perform their job. It is not usually used to determine whether or not someone gets a job, but rather determines what accommodations are necessary to ensure the company's employees are safe and are not at risk of suffering an injury or getting ill from the activity performed while on the job.

Q. I received my employee diagnostic testing results, but I do not know what it means. How do I tell?

A. Be sure to discuss your results with us here at our Upper East Side Manhattan office, or schedule a meeting with your employer to go over the testing results. In most cases, we will go over the test results with you after they are conclusive, and we will notify you of any conditions or potential onset of a condition that we find. In the event you do not hear back about your test results for any reason, it likely means there is nothing wrong. However, be sure to consult with either a medical professional or your employer to be safe.

Q. It has been several weeks since my employee diagnostic testing, and I still do not have my results. What should I do?

A. The results for most employee diagnostic testing procedures are available on the same day of the testing. It may take several days to come in. However, it should not take several weeks to arrive. In the event, you have not seen your test results in several weeks, be sure to consult with both the medical professional that performed the testing and your employer. If you have not heard back about your results, it likely means they are good results, although it is important to have an understanding of your results and ensure that everything is okay.

Q. If my results are not up to standard, will I be fired from my job?

A. That is not the goal of a pre-employment physical. The purpose is to help employers understand the risks faced so they can make proper accommodations. In most cases, accommodations for conditions noticed during the physical are simple, such as carrying an inhaler while on the job, wearing contact lenses or glasses, or possibly receiving a hearing aid.

Q. Does the pre-employment physical include drug testing?

A. The pre-employment physical can include drug testing. However, drug testing is often separate from employee diagnostic testing to determine whether or not a new hire or fire should be made. The idea behind employee diagnostic testing is to test an employee's capability to perform a specific job duty. If the presence of a drug hinders the ability to do so, the employee may also order a drug test along with various other forms of diagnostic testing.

Q. How does an employee diagnostic test work? What does the process consist of?

A. Every employee's diagnostic test is different, and the actual procedures done depend on what duties are completed by employees. The way each process works is laid out above. In most cases where pulmonary, cardiac, audiometry, and vision tests are required. Fortunately, all of the necessary tests are on the same visit, and it is not an invasive procedure unless a stress test is needed. To prepare for the testing, be sure to hydrate the night before, keep your stress level as low as possible (avoid exercise the night before), and make sure your eyes receive plenty of rest in the event a vision test is needed.