Question: We conduct health screenings held one time during the year at various employers (manufacturing facilities, coal, etc.) in a rural area with a demonstrated need. Target population: rural blue collar workers. The health screenings target rural blue collar workers for CVD, diabetes, stroke risk, obesity, etc. Do employer-based screenings count as a community benefit?
Recommendation: We recommend looking at the purpose of the employer based screening. If it was primarily to generate good will with employers or to get referrals to the hospitals, it would not be considered community benefit, but rather marketing. However, if you conduct the screenings in order to prevent and get early treatment for health problems you have reasons to believe exist in the workplaces (you have identified a community health need), it should be reported under Community Based Clinical Services A2.
(Updated November 2015)