First Responder Early Screening for Health
Over several weeks in May, Sindecuse Health Center, in partnership with WMU faculty members, provides early detection health screenings for area first responders. Participants receive comprehensive exams and diagnostic tests to assess physical capability in relation to service for their communities. Five Kalamazoo area fire departments will participate in 2025.
The health center is partnering with faculty from the Colleges of Health and Human Services and Education and Human Development for diagnostic fitness tests.
How to prepare for the visit
The department fire chief or their designee will distribute a welcome letter to participants. It will contain instructions for logging into the health center’s patient portal to create an account. All participants will complete a health history questionnaire, surveys, and consent forms before arriving. Participants should plan to complete these prior to the first appointment.
Anyone new to the program is invited to watch a video (8:48) to see how to login and set a new password:
Two screening days
Each participant will self-schedule screenings over two days.
The first day (Part 1) is expected to last two to three hours and includes a fitness test, medical exam, EKG, audiology, spirometry and vision tests. Some participants will receive a chest X-ray. Participants should wear clothing appropriate for strenuous physical activity.
On the second visit (Part 2), participants will have fasted for 12 hours to prepare for the tests and will return with a stool sample using a kit provided on the first day. All will have a blood sample drawn and some participants will have an ultrasound exam to complete the series. Visits that include an ultrasound may last up an hour from start to finish. It is very important to be hydrated before an ultrasound appointment. Instructions will be provided ahead of time. The ultrasound technician may ask participants to re-hydrate if insufficient fluids are present which could extend the visit time.
Lab tests are resulted by Bronson Labs. Participants will receive a notification through Bronson's MyChart when results are available. Health center providers will contact participants if there are any concerns about results.
The providers
Health care professionals from Sindecuse Health Center and the Colleges of Health and Human Services and Education and Human Development will conduct the exams and diagnostic tests. A team from Ultrasound Diagnostics will conduct ultrasound exams.
Reporting results
When the results are finalized at Sindecuse, participants will be provided with a complete report of the findings of the exams issued through the patient portal. Department chiefs will be given a summary physical exam clearance letter for each participant, but not the complete report.
Those with a Bronson MyChart account will receive notice of new results being ready when diagnostics are completed. Your provider at Sindecuse will incorporate these results into your report, but will not respond immediately.
What to bring
Participants must bring a photo ID to be checked in to the appointment. A valid driver's license is acceptable.
Parking
The health center’s gated parking lot is available for use. If the gated parking lot is full we can give you a temporary permit to place in car windows, allowing parking in the employee overflow lot. WMU is a tobacco-free campus and smoking or vaping is only permitted inside personal vehicles.
Directions
Checking in
Participants are asked to check in at your appointment time. After entering the lobby, look for a helpful registration person or cashier to get started. Completing documents ahead of time is required before check-in. The last health history questionnaire will be available after May 1, and be required to be completed prior to your fist visit.
Key points before arrival
- Your appointment time is the time we expect you to arrive at check-in
- Remember your login email and password
- Dress comfortably for your initial exam and fit test
- Complete consent forms, surveys and questionnaires online before you arrive
- Follow instructions for fasting and hydration before labs or an ultrasound
- Part 2 visit: Remember to bring a stool sample using the kits provided
Questions
Participants should contact their site administrator—usually the department chief or administrtor if they have questions about the requirement for a physical exams. If you have questions about completing the required documents or attending the exams, contact Sindecuse Health Center at (269) 387-3287 and follow the prompts for 'appointments'.