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P     What is a Health Assessment?  

P     How do I benefit?

P     What about confidentiality? Who has access to the results of my Assessment?

P     What does the Assessment include?

P     How long does the Assessment take?

P     How do I schedule an appointment?

P     What do I need to do to prepare for the Assessment?

P     What if something abnormal is found during the Assessment?

P     Will I be laid off if something life threatening is found?  

P     What happens if I choose not to participate in this Health Assessment?

P     Why not just go to my regular doctor? 

P     Can I transfer Assessment results to my own doctor?

P     Should LEOFF 1 firefighters participate in this Health Assessment?

P     Additional Information

      What is a Health Assessment?   

§  It is a Fire Service specific health assessment administered by Swedish Medical Center using evaluations recommended in the IAFF/IAFC Wellness/Fitness Initiative medical exam at no cost to the member.

§   Funding is being provided via a federal Wellness Grant, awarded in February 2007.

      How do I benefit?

§  Information obtained from the Assessment could result in the early detection of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, or cardiac problems before they become career or life threatening.

      What about confidentiality? Who has access to the results of my Health Assessment?

§  This Assessment was specifically created to be conducted off duty around your personal schedule.

Ÿ  This way the Department will not know if, or when, you have scheduled an appointment.

Ÿ  If follow-up evaluations are recommended only you will know additional procedures were performed.

• All parties have agreed that the City and the Workers Compensation Unit will not seek any documents, records or other information created and maintained by Swedish as part of these Health Assessments.

      What does the Assessment include?

§  This comprehensive Assessment is more extensive than what is normally offered by your personal doctor. The Assessment includes the following:

Ÿ  Health history

Ÿ  General physical with motor, sensory, reflexes evaluations, and voluntary digital rectal & testicular exam

Ÿ  Cancer screenings (via physical eval, blood and urinalysis screenings),

Ÿ  Urinalysis (routine and microscopic),

°         dipstick for pH, glucose, ketones, protein, blood, and bilirubin; microscopic for WBC, RBC, WBC Casts, RBC casts, and crystals.

§  Blood chemistry profile,

Ÿ  c-reactive protein, white blood cell count, red blood cell count, differential, platelet count, liver function tests, triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose, HbA1c, blood urea nitrogen, creatine, sodium, potassium, carbon dioxide, total protein, albumin, calcium and as needed THS (thyroid)

§  12-lead electrocardiogram stress test- VO2 max and lactate max.

§  Chest X-ray,

§  Spirometry/pulmonary function test,

§  Visual acuity

§  Occupational musculosketal assessment

    How long does the Assessment take?

§  The Assessment will take approximately five to six hours. You will leave with the results of all your findings

§   The five to six hours will proceed as follows:

Ÿ  The lab and physical exam will be first. 

Ÿ  Once your labs have been taken, and the exam is complete, you will be given a snack. 

Ÿ  Treadmill exam with VO2 max and lactate max, chest X-ray, screening spirometry and visual acuity.

Ÿ  Musculoskeletal exam done by sports physical therapists.

Ÿ  The final evaluative "check out" with the physician will complete the approximately five-6-hour process.

      How do I schedule an appointment?

§  Appointments must be made in advance, during the months of January and February 2008, and will be first-come-first-served.

§  Once you receive a Patient Information Packet, from a PFT, you may schedule an appointment by calling the Swedish Medical Center at 206-781-6375.

o   An additional back-up hotline number has been set up if you need assistance ASAP and cannot access the appointment line during normal business hours. That number is : 206-391-7634

§  You must complete everything within the Patient Information Packet before your scheduled appointment date. Included in the packet is a FOB process that will take three - seven days to prepare for. Please read all the information and prepare accordingly.

      What if something abnormal is found during the Assessment?

§  If a heart problem is detected, it will be followed up within 48 hours at the expense of the grant to eliminate false positives.

§  With any other abnormal findings, you will be advised to seek follow-up care with your private physician.

§  Specific referrals will be provided upon request.

      Is this a Fit for Duty exam?

§  No.  No report of fit or not fit for duty will be made to the Department. 

§  The doctor will make a recommendation only to you if a potentially life-threatening condition is found. 

§  Any follow up is your personal decision, and your personal responsibility.

      What happens if I choose not to participate in this Health Assessment?

§  Nothing will happen if you choose not to participate.

§  No records will be kept of who has or has not taken advantage of the Assessment.

      Why not just go to my regular doctor? 

§  This exam is specifically tailored for firefighters.  It is also more comprehensive than the exams usually offered by your doctor. 

      Can I transfer my Assessment results to my own doctor?

§  Yes, but your results will then be treated the same as any other medical record that your personal physician may have.

      Should LEOFF I firefighters participate in this Health Assessment?

§  Yes. The Pension Board pays for a full medical exam for LEOFF 1 firefighters. The results of that exam become part of the LEOFF 1 firefighter's medical file. Taking part in the Health Assessment provides the LEOFF 1 firefighter with information about their health independent of the Pension Board. Any results of the Health Assessment can be presented to a pension doctor for follow up if needed.

       Additional information about this process, along maps and directions to the different clinics, has been made available at O:\DEPT\OccHealth