Image For Life – Scanning for a Healthy Future

In an age where health issues are often at the top of the news, people are concerned and aware about their own individual health. Whether they are more in-tune with their own body or concerned about family health history that may affect their future, people often want to be assured there is nothing they need to be following up on with their family physician.
 
Evangelical Community Hospital recognized the community’s desire for preventative health screens and decided this was an area they could contribute to with tests conducted by individuals who are invested in the overall health of patients, by a reputable hospital with accountability for the results. Evan began to offer a program called Image for Life - Scanning for a Healthy Future, to ease people’s fears of health issues such as stroke, diseases of the veins and arteries, and heart and lung conditions, while at the same time giving those concerned an opportunity to talk about the findings.
 
The program is provided at a minimal cost of $125 for each individual. The next scheduled date is Saturday, April 21, 2012 from 7-11 am at Evangelical Community Hospital, Lewisburg. The scans include a general abdominal ultrasound to look at the gallbladder, kidneys, and pancreas, a vascular screen examining arteries and veins, a pulmonary screen to observe basic lung function and an EKG and blood pressure check. After the scans an on-site vascular consultation is held with Dr. Todd M. Stefan, MD, FACS, Medical Director of the Peripheral Vascular Lab at Evangelical Community Hospital.
 
Dr. Stefan stressed, “Age doesn’t matter for this program, if you are looking for a way to take ownership of your own personal health, and you have concerns that you want to have addressed, the hour-long, non-invasive procedures don’t pose a risk to patients, and is a great way to take away fear associated with the unknown.”
 
During the consultation, vascular results are reviewed with each individual. In many cases, the results are that the individual is healthy and they can put their fears to rest, but in some cases follow-up is required. Other issues may be identified and the patient can follow up with their primary care physician or specialist. In addition, the results are immediately placed on the Hospital’s picture archiving and communication system so an individual’s physician can have direct access to what was found during the screens.
 
People should consider taking part in Image for Life if they have a family history of stroke or vascular disease. Stroke is the major cause of disability and death but has a largely preventable component. Knowing your risk for stroke can help you make changes to your lifestyle now for better quality of life in the future. Individuals who have varicose veins or leg pain and swelling should consider signing up for the screening. These ailments are now addressed with new treatments that help improve or relieve pain and create a more comfortable day-to-day living with very little recovery.
 
Dr. Stefan said, “These scans are in no way a replacement for the need for a healthy lifestyle in conjunction with regular visits with a person’s primary care physician, but they do provide a good general and comprehensive overview for people who have concerns about their overall health.”
Taking part in the screens is easy. Individuals should register by calling (570)768-3200 and the night before the test they should not have food or drink after midnight. The tests are convenient and painless and provide immediate feedback.
 
Evangelical Community Hospital is a non-profit organization that employs approximately 1,300 people and has more than 170 employed and non-employed physicians on staff. The Hospital is licensed to accommodate 127 overnight patients, 12 acute rehab patients and 18 bassinets. The Hospital serves residents throughout the Central Susquehanna Valley, including those living in Snyder, Union, Northumberland and Lycoming Counties, and has earned the HealthGrades Patient Safety Excellence Award for four consecutive years.