1. What prompted the City of Rochester to bring back United Diagnostic Services (UDS), and why are these preventive screenings considered so important for employee health?

This winter the city of Rochester brought back United Diagnostic Services (UDS) for a third time to aid in the preventive health of all city employees.  UDS is an organization that travels to worksites to offer comprehensive preventive screenings to employees in occupations that are typically shown to be at high risk for developing cancer.  Early detection can drastically improve survival rate as well as quality of life.  For example, if colon cancer is detected early, the 5-year survival rate is 91%, as compared to 15%, if detected late. 

2. Why does the City of Rochester offer these screenings to all employees, and how does this initiative fit into their long-term wellness and healthcare strategy?

The City of Rochester recognizes that many of its employees work in high risk professions, such as firefighters and police officers, and actively supports efforts focused on early detection. While employees outside of fire and police may not face the same daily exposure to environmental carcinogens, the City remains committed to improving the health and well being of all staff and is proud to extend this unique opportunity to every employee. Additionally, they have incorporated this wellness initiative into their long-term strategy to mitigate high-cost claimants by offering the screening every 2-3 years. 

3. What does the UDS screening include, and how is the City of Rochester working with unions and departments to make this program accessible to employees?

The screening takes about 30 minutes and includes an echocardiogram, and screening of the carotid artery, abdominal Aorta, thyroid, liver, spleen, bladder, kidney, and testicular region via ultrasound.  Since the City of Rochester has multiple buildings and departments throughout their footprint, UDS traveled to 6 locations for a total of 10 days. This is a collaborative undertaking sponsored by the IAFF Local 1071, police union and AFSCME, Operating Engineers and the administration of the City of Rochester through their Labor Management Healthcare Committee.  Therefore, the screening is of no cost to the employee and voluntary. 

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To highlight the impact of this initiative, the chair of the City of Rochester Wellness Committee, the President of the Firefighters Union, and the owner of UDS shared their perspectives on the importance of the screening program:

“The City of Rochester strives to bring a well-rounded wellness program to its employees. In addition to the many fun and engaging initiatives such as walking challenges, an annual wellness fair, educational workshops, cooking demonstrations, mobile farmers market and participation in community events such 5k races , come the more serious endeavors, such as early diagnostic screenings for cancer.   Our approach is comprehensive and we realize that some occupations are more high risk and deserve extra attention.  In an effort to keep our staff healthy and in a position to be aware of their health status, we value screenings like the one that UDS offers. “ 
-Lindsay Johnson, Benefits Specialist and Wellness Coordinator 

“In the fire service we spend our careers running toward things most people run away from. Smoke, chemicals, stress, long hours, and the wear and tear of the job all take a toll on our bodies over time. That’s why preventive screenings are so important. Programs like UDS and other health checks help catch problems early before they turn into something serious. Taking care of ourselves isn’t just about us, it’s about making sure we can keep showing up for our crew and our community. Staying proactive with our health is just another way we support the fire service and the people we serve.” 

-Matt Murphy, President
Rochester Fire Fighters Association
Local 1071, IAFF, AFL-CIO, Inc.

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“Organizations like COR are setting a strong standard by prioritizing preventive health screening for their members and making those services accessible across their entire footprint. Their commitment to offering the program at multiple locations and communicating its value to their membership reflects a genuine focus on protecting the long-term health and well-being of the people they serve.
Working with COR has been a tremendous experience for our team. Their leadership, organization, and dedication to proactive health initiatives make them an outstanding partner and a model for how organizations can support their members through meaningful health programs.
United Diagnostic Services is a fully accredited diagnostic company focused on the early detection of cancer and cardiovascular disease. By bringing advanced screening technologies, professional interpretation, and telemedicine consultations directly to members, programs like this help provide important diagnostic insight that can lead to earlier detection and better long-term health outcomes.”
-Ray Lankin
Founder & CEO
United Diagnostic Services