What Is The Purpose Of A Health Assessment?
A health assessment is a collection of medical tests and examinations that are performed on a person. They can be requested by an employer to evaluate a person's fitness to do a job, or they can be ordered at a specific age group to give an indication of a person's state of health, and highlight any necessary interventions that need to be made.

In terms of workplace assessments, these can be requested before starting a new job, or if changes are made to your current job description.

The Importance Of Regular Health Assessments
It has been reported that 40% of deaths from cancer and 80% of death from type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke could be prevented by regular exercise, following a healthy diet and quitting smoking.

Not only do preventable diseases claim the lives of thousands of people every year, they are responsible for lost time and resources: both in terms of time off and in terms of the medical expenses incurred in treating them.

What Happens At A Health Assessment?
Specific screening tests will apply to you, depending on your age group. In addition to age-specific testing, you can expect:

 Medical history update 

 Measurements 
You will be weighed and measured, and your file will be updated with this information. Your blood pressure and heart rate will also be documented for your file and compared to previous measurements.

 Health education 
Your assessment will also include some health education, whereby your practitioner will give you feedback about your diet, weight and activity levels, highlighting areas for improvement.

Who Should Have A Health Assessment?

 Chronic disease assessments 
Adults aged 40 to 49 should also have a chronic disease assessment to evaluate your risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and hypertension.

People who are over the age of 75 receive an annual health assessment by nurse when GP requests.

What is the purpose of the health assessment?
This assessment is conducted to establish whether there are any underlying health conditions that could be prevented or managed, to improve your quality of life and overall health.

Different Types Of Health Assessments
Your practitioner will conduct an assessment, based on your particular needs. He or she may perform:

Standard health assessment
The standard assessment is a 45-minute session, and it is employed when you need more than a brief assessment, but you do not have any complex health issues that warrant a longer assessment.

Prolonged health assessment
This is a complex assessment that is completed when you need a preventative healthcare plan. It usually exceeds 60 minutes in duration. Your healthcare provider will advise you how long to set aside for this consultation, based on the tests you need.