By BROOKLYN DANCE | bdance@prairiemountainmedia.com |
PUBLISHED: June 29, 2020 at 7:51 p.m. | UPDATED: June 30, 2020 at 9:13 a.m.
Boulder Community Health has created a coronavirus screening and testing service for local businesses.
Named “Back-to-Business Health,” the service offers screening and testing to support employers’ efforts in protecting customers and to provide peace of mind for employees, according to a news release from BCH.
“At times like this, every action an employer takes tells a story about its commitment to reducing risk and ensuring the health and safety of both customers and employees,” BCH Associate Vice President Darryl Brown stated in the release. “With Back-to-Business Health’s COVID-19 screening and testing, companies can take actions that build customer trust and offer employees some reassurance that they and their coworkers are at decreased risk for a workplace infection.”
The services Back-to-Business can provide are tailored to each business’ needs, but can include:
Workplace visits to screen employees for COVID-19 symptoms,
Workplace employee temperature checks,
On- or off-site nasal swab tests to diagnose currently active cases,
Virtual visits with BCH physicians for employees with positive or suspected positive tests, or
On- or off-site COVID-19 antibody testing.
Hazel’s Beverage World in Boulder was the first business that took advantage of the service, offering optional and private antibody tests for employees earlier in June.
“We were trying to think of a way to show appreciation to our employees — for showing up, doing their jobs and serving our customers throughout this pandemic,” co-owner Bruce Dierking said. “We are so proud and appreciative of our team and were trying to come up with a way to offer an additional employee benefit. We want to do the right thing for our employees, and in addition to doing everything possible to make coming to work as safe as possible, we know our staff deserves this kind of appreciation.”
Dierking said roughly 80% of employees took advantage of the service.
Similarly, Boulder Ventures, a venture capital firm that specializes in investing in information technology and biotechnology companies, used Back-to-Business Health and organized an on-site testing event.
“We think that testing employees for COVID-19 is the minimum standard for workplace safety to return to work. It shows we are taking the greatest possible precautions to keep employees safe,” Kyle Lefkoff, founder and general partner of Boulder Ventures, stated in the news release. “Testing employees before they come back also helps prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our community and demonstrates our commitment to offering a safe environment for everyone.”
Three additional businesses are evaluating proposals to use the program as of Friday, according to BCH’s Brown.
Employers interested in partnering with Back-to-Business Health can contact Brown at 303-415-7005.