News Articles
FGH adds stroke and vascular screenings to wellness screen options
Hampton, March 19, 2007… Franklin General Hospital is expanding its offering of screenings to include several ultrasounds which can detect risk for stroke and several other vascular diseases.
" Wellness screens can actually be lifesaving," states FGH radiology manager Meggan Cearley. "Problems can be detected before they become severe, and a person can get the appropriate treatment."
What is wellness screening? Patients can have tests without
doctor's orders. They pay directly for the test at a reduced
price, without it being submitted to insurance, and they
take responsibility for the follow-up if a test shows they
are at
risk. For several years, FGH has offered wellness lab screens,
which use blood tests to check for a wide range of conditions.
These new screens are offered in response to the public's
growing interest in tracking their own health. More and more
individuals are learning the value of periodic wellness screens
to learn their risks for various diseases.
What are the new screenings and what can be learned from them?
- For stroke: This ultrasound shows the buildup of fatty plaque in the carotid arteries that can lead to stroke.
- For abdominal aortic aneurysm: This screen detects the existence of an aneurysm in the abdominal area that can rupture and be fatal.
- For peripheral vascular disease: This ultrasound checks for blockage in the legs. Abnormal results indicate a high risk of coronary artery disease.
The results of these screens are interpreted by a North Iowa radiologist, and a report is sent directly to the patient, who is then responsible for seeing a physician for follow-up care.
Beginning in March, these screens are available each
Monday and Thursday at FGH. The tests will be $36 each, or
the three ultrasounds can be done at once for $102. To schedule
one or more of these screens, call the FGH Radiology Department
at 456.5026.