Board awards contract for annual fire/EMS physicals to LifeScan

Prince George County supervisors on Feb. 25 approved a cooperative contract with LifeScan to provide annual physical exams for career and volunteer fire and EMS personnel.

Chief (Acting) Jose Casares and Human Resources/finance staff presented the initiative, which was included in the FY25 budget and was described as a wellness and safety program rather than a fitness-for-duty screen. Chief Casares said the standard is supported by the National Fire Protection Association and other national bodies and that early detection of medical conditions through annual physicals can save lives: he described a recent case in which a physical identified a life-threatening condition.

Under the proposed contract, the county would use a cooperative procurement (City of Williamsburg contract) with LifeScan at $882 per physical, not to exceed 108 physicals and a contract cap of $96,000. The physicals would include screening tests and, in the first year, a chest X-ray. Chief Casares said the physical results would be confidential between the employee and the provider and not provided to the department as personal health information, though the department would be able to set fitness or job-assignment policy consistent with law.

Supervisors supported the measure, noting volunteer and career workers will benefit from preventive screening and that some illnesses can be caught early. The motion to award the contract passed on a roll-call vote.

Ending: Contract awarded; staff will implement an annual wellness program for fire/EMS personnel with LifeScan under the cooperative contract and report back as the program is implemented.