Annual Employee Physical Exams: Prevention That Pays Off

Preventive care is key to a healthier and more productive workforce. Employers should take an active role in encouraging annual employee physical exams.

One in five Americans put off healthcare during the pandemic, while chronic conditions like heart disease have been on the rise and are estimated to exceed $1 trillion in total healthcare spending by 2035.

During a physical examination, healthcare providers are looking for signs of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and even cancer. By catching these conditions early, employees may be able to improve their health outcomes through lifestyle changes. Let’s explore what the annual physical process looks like and how it can benefit both employees and employers.

What’s Included in an Employee Physical Exam?

While it can vary, physical examinations typically consist of an assessment of the employee’s health history and current health status, a physical examination and follow-up steps as needed. Even when someone looks healthy, there could be something going on under the surface that could cause issues down the road.

Silvia Madrigal, Family Nurse Practitioner and Marathon Health Regional Clinic Leader, says that physical examinations allow providers to obtain a comprehensive picture of the patient’s overall health. “Annual physical exams, help me identify health risks for my patients before they become complex health problems,” she says.

Health history and lifestyle questionnaire

A physical or wellness visit usually kicks off with a medical provider or nurse asking an employee lifestyle questions about their health such as if they’re a smoker or how many times a week they exercise. They’ll also ask them questions about their family’s health history to identify any potential genetic issues to keep an eye on.

Other common questions include:

• A list of current medications and any recent medication changes (including over-the-counter).
• Any supplements they’re taking and the cadence at which they take them.
• Their current vaccination status (examples include tetanus, shingles, flu and COVID-19).
• The date of their last preventive screening (examples include mammograms, colonoscopies or pelvic exams).
• Any current health concerns like chronic pain, digestive issues or behavioral health struggles.

“Knowing the employee’s health history beforehand allows me to better address the areas of concern during the exam,” Madrigal says.

A comprehensive physical examination 

Once it’s time for the physical examination, employees can expect to have their blood pressure, heart rate, height, weight and respiration rate measured. Practitioners will then typically examine the lungs, neck and abdomen, and in some cases, they may also do a skin examination to check for any abnormalities.

“During the examination, I do a comprehensive exam from head to toe,” Madrigal says. “A physical exam is one of the few opportunities we get to look at the patient from a comprehensive approach. Things such as thyroid nodules can be palpated, irregular heartbeat detected, or find skin lesions that need further evaluation. At Marathon Health, we have the time to perform a comprehensive exam and a thorough action plan.”

The Benefits of an annual physical exam

1. Early Detection of Health Issues

An annual physical exam plays a critical role in identifying health problems before symptoms appear. Many conditions, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes, can develop silently over time. During a yearly checkup, your healthcare provider evaluates key indicators through physical assessment and lab work, helping detect abnormalities early. When issues are caught in their early stages, treatment is often simpler, less invasive, and more effective, significantly reducing the risk of long-term complications.

2. Prevention and Risk Reduction

Beyond diagnosing existing conditions, annual exams focus heavily on prevention. Your provider reviews your medical history, family history, and lifestyle habits to assess potential risk factors. This is an opportunity to discuss nutrition, exercise, sleep quality, stress levels, and other behaviors that influence long-term health. Preventive screenings and vaccinations are updated according to age and risk profile, helping reduce the likelihood of developing serious illness in the future.

3. Chronic Disease Management

For individuals living with chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma, or heart disease, annual physicals help ensure ongoing stability. Regular monitoring allows healthcare providers to track lab values, evaluate medication effectiveness, and make adjustments when necessary. Consistent follow-up reduces the risk of complications and supports better long-term outcomes, improving both quality of life and overall health management.

4. Establishing a Health Baseline

Routine exams provide measurable data that create a personal health baseline. Tracking blood pressure, cholesterol levels, weight, blood sugar, and other metrics over time reveals patterns and subtle changes that may otherwise go unnoticed. These trends help providers intervene earlier if something begins to shift outside normal ranges, allowing for proactive rather than reactive care.

5. Strengthening the Patient–Provider Relationship

Seeing the same provider each year builds trust and strengthens communication. A consistent relationship makes it easier to discuss sensitive or evolving health concerns and encourages more honest conversations about lifestyle and symptoms. Continuity of care often leads to more personalized recommendations and more effective overall treatment plans.

6. Mental and Emotional Well-Being

An annual physical also creates space to address mental health. Stress, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances can significantly affect physical health, even when they are not immediately visible. Discussing these concerns during a routine visit reinforces that overall wellness includes both physical and emotional health, supporting a more comprehensive approach to care.

7. Long-Term Cost Savings

Preventive care through annual exams can reduce the likelihood of emergency visits, hospitalizations, and advanced medical treatments. By identifying and managing risks early, individuals often experience fewer severe health events over time. This proactive approach not only supports better health outcomes but can also help lower long-term healthcare costs.

Next steps and goal setting

Once the employee physical exam has been completed, the healthcare provider and employee will sit down and discuss anything that they feel should be followed up on, like ordering additional lab work or making a referral to see a specialist. This is also a good opportunity to discuss any goals or lifestyle changes the employee would like to make to improve their health.

That was the case for patient Charlotte Blue who discovered after completing her annual physical exam at her employer-sponsored Marathon Health center that she had high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. She met with a health coach who helped her set goals including enrolling in a diabetes care management program where she learned how to make changes to her diet to improve her blood sugar levels. She was eventually able to reduce her cholesterol, improve her blood sugar level and lose 100 pounds. “I look and feel fabulous,” Blue says. “I made a lifestyle change and I love the improved me.”

“The combination of subjective and objective information, collected during the physical exam, directs my plan to address the areas of concern” Madrigal says. “For example, if the labs shows that my patient is pre-diabetic, I will recommend certain steps to prevent diabetes. The key to the action plan of the physical exam is to ensure the patient agrees and understands the steps to take. This is why I put so much emphasis on a collaborative approach. The patient needs to feel comfortable with the recommendation and feel empowered to execute the plan.”

Impact of employee physical exams on employer healthcare costs

When employees regularly engage with preventive healthcare, employers also see a reduction in healthcare costs and the amount of time employees miss work. That’s why Madrigal says employers should encourage their workforce to engage with preventive care services.

“The value of using an employee physical exam in an incentive program is that practitioners have the opportunity to catch health issues before they become bigger and are harder to control,” Madrigal says. “When conditions go untreated, employees will often take make more trips to the ER and take more time off work which is going to be costly for their employer. Employees are less likely to leave a job if they feel that they’re being taken care of. Marathon Heath’s advanced primary care model allows me to spend more time with my patients which creates better outcomes for both them and their employer.”