Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center is going to help residents check on their health during the Community Health Check on Saturday, February 23 from 8 a.m. to noon in the hospital’s front lobby. The event is hosted by the TLRMC Cardiopulmonary Department.
Free screenings and information at the Heart Check will include Carotid Artery Ultrasound screening, Healthy Heart Nutrition information, Blood Pressure screening, Glucose screening (blood sugar), Fitness testing, Healthy Living information and more. Dr. Bryce Meredith (Family Medicine and Sports Medicine) and surgeon Dr. Clinton Kaufman are scheduled to be there as well as Medicine Safety information provided by Angela Gibson, PharmD, director of the TLRMC pharmacy.
People can follow Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center on Facebook and Twitter for up to date lists of participants and the screenings that will be offered. Stacey Wilt, BBA CRT, COHC, Director of Cardiopulmonary at TLRMC will be on Shop Local at 8 a.m. on February 19 to talk more about the Health Check. Shop Local can be heard on WMTL 103.9 FM.
A lipid profile (cholesterol screening) will be available for a minimal fee of $10. Fasting is preferred but not necessary for this screening. A diabetes screening will also be offered for a $10 fee. The A1c screening measures the average blood sugar level for the past two to three months. The American Diabetes Association recommends that the A1c test be the primary screening tool used to diagnose pre-diabetes, type 1 diabetes, and type 2 diabetes. Results from the Lipid Profile and the A1c screening will be mailed to participants who choose this optional tests. Results from all other tests at the Heart Check will be available immediately.
Flu shots will also be available for $20 at the Health Check. Flu activity is picking up across the Commonwealth according to the CDC. For people who did not get a flu shot earlier in the flu season getting a flu shot now is a major step they can take to protect themselves.
The most popular screening at previous health fairs has been the carotid artery screening. Director of Diagnostic Imaging at TLRMC Miranda Kassinger, RDMS, RT(VS), RN, will be performing the test. “Arterial Plaque can lead to narrowing of the arteries which may ultimately cause a stroke,” states Kassinger. “Carotid artery screening is designed to assess the amount of arterial plaque someone may have within the large vessels that carry blood to the brain, face, neck, and scalp.” The screening is quick and Kassinger will be able to show participants their results live during the exam.
The goal of this screening is to find vessels in the neck that are blocked or accumulating plaque before symptoms begin. That is important since 70 to 80 percent of strokes are caused by blocked blood vessels. People with high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, a family history of stroke or heart disease, and/or a history of smoking are at an increased risk of developing arterial plaque.
According to Stacey Wilt, people have many reasons to come to the Health Check. “Every part of a person’s life has an impact on their health, so there will be booths from all aspects of healthcare at the Health Check.” As in previous years, the hospital hopes by holding the event on a Saturday means that many people who work throughout the week will take advantage of the event and the information available.
In addition to TLRMC employees from several hospital departments, there will be several community health partners at the event. The list includes ECTC Nursing students, an ambulance from Grayson County EMS, Grayson Health Department, Grayson Manor Nursing and Rehab, Intrepid Home Health, Kym Gowin, APRN and the Healthy Mommy Run, Lee, Buck, & Lee women’s health services, Leitchfield Pediatrics, Norton Healthcare, the Kentucky Cancer Program, Spring View Health & Rehabilitation Center, and more. The Community Health Check replaces the Community Health Fair held the last two years at the Centre on Main.
“The employees at Twin Lakes love having the opportunity to help people get healthier and stay healthier instead of treating them as a patient. I hope a big part of our community comes out for the Health Check,” concludes Wilt.
By Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center
