Hello, my name is Cindy. I live in the suburbs of Sydney with my family. Although I would occasionally visit the doctor when I was feeling too good or if one of the children had a cold. However, my whole view on doctors changed when I found a lump on breast last year. I went to my GP in a panic, but he was a real sweetie. He calmed me down and explained he would refer me for a further investigation. Thankfully, they caught my cancer early and after some treatment, I made a full recovery. Since this close call, I have taken a keen interest in everything health related.
When the job of your dreams is within your grasp, it's not unusual for the pre-employment medical screening process to induce nerves. Even with a clean bill of health, you may experience stress when chasing around after important documents and arranging appointments that fit in with your current job. Fortunately, it only takes a little planning to remove stress from the situation.
Obtain relevant medical records for your prospective employer
Depending on the nature of your new role, you may need to provide your prospective employer with samples of your medical records. For example, if you want to work for an airline, you may need to provide evidence to support the stability of any ongoing health complaints. Under the Health Records Act 2001, you can write to any organisation that holds medical information about you and request that they release it. This may take a few weeks, so if you're aware of an upcoming pre-employment screening process, you should begin this application swiftly to avoid unnecessary delays.
Start addressing vaccinations ASAP
Certain employers, such as those in the medical and travel sectors, may require you to undergo certain vaccinations. While the vaccinations you need will vary between settings, it's important to request information on them as soon as possible to begin planning. Certain vaccinations, such as those for Yellow Fever and Hepatitis B, don't work immediately. As such, leaving it until you're close to your employment starting date may cause setbacks. Once you have a vaccination schedule, make the appointments and obtain proof of all your inoculations for your new employer's occupational health team.
Schedule time for pre-employment medical appointments sensibly
Whether it's a psychometric test or spirometry, your medical appointments can take less than an hour or they may last most of the day. If you're aware of the need for several tests and don't want to battle with your present employer over taking time off, try to schedule all of the appointments for the same day. In doing so, you can complete the process swiftly. When attending such appointments, make a note of any ongoing health conditions so you can discuss them with the team performing your tests. Should any anomalies arise, this gives them more time to arrange further investigations and could speed up your clearing process.
If you need further information about your pre-employment medical, discuss the matter with your prospective employer's HR team. The more you know about what lies ahead, the easier it is to start work.
Share16 May 2017
