A pre-employment medical test can be a frightening experience, especially if you don’t know what to expect. However, it’s an important part of the hiring process for many jobs. In addition, it can help you spot any health issues that may affect your work or put you and your colleagues at risk.
For employers, it’s a good way to ensure that their new hires are in the best possible physical condition to perform their jobs and keep themselves and others safe. In fact, it’s even required by law for certain occupations. For example, if you’re a truck driver, you must undergo regular DOT Department of Transportation physicals to maintain your license.
Whether you’re starting a new job or just changing careers, a medical check can be the final step before you start work. These tests can be as simple as a few basic questions and basic physicals or include more in-depth tests and detailed health histories. In most cases, the results of a medical exam are available within 24 hours.
The purpose of a pre-employment examination is to identify any illness or disability that might prevent an employee from performing their assigned job function, provide baseline medical information for future comparisons, and identify previously unrecognised or inadequately managed health problems. Employers can obtain virtually unlimited medical information at this stage without fear of discrimination, and they can withdraw a job offer if the information obtained by a medical assessment is not consistent with business necessity.
Most importantly, a medical examination must be job related and conducted by a doctor who is familiar with the specific duties of the role. This means that a contract medical provider must be provided with a full job description for each individual whose pre-employment examination is being conducted and should be invited to the workplace to see the actual tasks performed by candidates.
It’s important to be well prepared for a pre-employment medical exam, which will usually take less than an hour. Make sure to get a good night’s sleep and eat a healthy meal before the appointment, and bring a list of any medications that you are currently taking. You should also bring your immunization records. Finally, don’t be afraid to talk openly with the doctor about any health concerns that you have and be sure to answer all of their questions thoroughly. Having an open dialogue with your employer can save time, money, and frustration down the line while making your job safer for everyone involved.