Life Line Screening’s health screening services are being recognized by SonoSite Inc., the world leader in bedside and point-of-care ultrasound and an industry leader in ultra-high frequency micro-ultrasound technology. In a recent press release from SonoSite, the organization emphasized Life Line Screening’s efforts to provide millions of people with access to preventive screening services, as well as encouraging all people to be proactive with their health and establish healthy lifestyles.

Life Line Screening uses SonoSite equipment to screen for carotid artery stenosis and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), also known as the “silent killer”. Both companies share a vision to make identifying a disease possible for all people while working to promote widespread awareness on the importance of early screenings and prevention.

“Life Line Screening provides valuable, even life-altering services to patients around the globe and we are excited to partner with the leader in community-based preventive screenings,” said Kevin M. Goodwin, SonoSite’s President and CEO, in the press release. “We are proud that our technology will continue to aid in facilitating screenings for potentially life-saving conditions.”

Life Line Screening’s cost-effective screenings are easily available to the public and range from AAA screenings to diabetes screenings, osteoporosis screenings, high cholesterol screenings and more. These tests reach beyond a typical medical exam and aim to identify a condition before it reaches catastrophic, potentially fatal levels.

Learn more about SonoSite and the preventive health screenings offered by Life Line Screening by watching the video below.

As they grow older, more and more people are looking for ways to stay healthy without spending a fortune. The affordable health screenings from Life Line Screening can help make that happen.

As mentioned in a recent Daily Local News story, the demand for diagnostic testing has been increasing by 2 percent every year for the past five years. Growth for these medical and diagnostic laboratory tests are expected to increase even further by 2017, at 4.5 percent.

Combined with the 700,000 strokes that occur in the United States each year, the value and significance of preventive health screenings like those from Life Line Screening are becoming more evident. For those with risk factors that could lead to certain health conditions, like a stroke, taking the affordable route of a vascular screening could end up being life-saving if the condition is discovered early.

“A person can walk around with problems and show no symptoms,” said Dr. Andrew Manganaro, chief medical officer at Life Line Screening, in the Daily Local News article.  “These problems can be identified immediately with a non-invasive ultrasound, but in general, these screenings are not covered by insurance companies because most won’t cover testing unless a person has symptoms.”

Seeking a diagnostic ultrasound from a physician without the ability to have it covered by insurance, therefore, can be quite expensive. It can cost thousands of dollars. The alternative? Seeking a health screening from Life Line Screening, who offers a variety of tests starting at $139, significantly more affordable than the cost of testing through a hospital.

“These are screenings, not diagnostic exams,” Manganaro said, “so the savings can be passed on to the patient.”

It’s important to note, however, that not everyone is a suitable candidate for preventive health screenings. For those with specific risk factors, screenings make more sense and can be beneficial.

“If you’re a man who’s a smoker, age 65 or older, and have hypertension, screening for an abdominal aortic aneurysm makes sense,” Manganaro said. “In women, the risk is very low…so…[f]or a woman who has normal blood pressure and doesn’t smoke, that screening makes no sense. Patients should always talk to their doctor first to see if a screening is worth doing.”

Read the full news story or learn more about risk factors and preventive health screenings now.

The staff at Life Line Screening proudly supported National Wear Red Day on Friday, February 1 by “going red” and wearing red clothes, accessories and shoes throughout the office. As an initial kick-off to American Heart Month, Wear Red Day is a national event that simply asks people to wear red.

Heart disease remains the number one killer of Americans and a major threat to the health and well-being of people everywhere. The Centers for Disease Control  state that only 27 percent of survey respondents in 2005 knew all major symptoms of heart attack and when to call 9-1-1.

By understanding risk factors and identifying them early, individuals can lower their chances of ever suffering a heart attack. The most common risk factors for heart disease include:

• Family history
• Increased age
• Smoking
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Physical inactivity
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Elevated C-reactive protein

You can contribute to the overall goal of Wear Red Day and American Heart Month by spreading awareness of the major risk factors for heart disease. If you or someone you love has some of the risk factors listed above, consider scheduling a preventive screening  for cardiovascular issues. These screenings are designed to identify a heart problem before it turns into something catastrophic, like a heart attack.

To see the full photo album of our staff sporting red on Wear Red Day, visit our Facebook page.

Unlike the traditional screening operations that only take place in medical facilities, Life Line Screening is proud to employ teams that bring the screenings to you. Our preventive screenings are held in convenient, comfortable neighborhood locations within the United States.

Life Line Screening will be making a stop at the Liberty Bank for Savings located on Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago on February 20. Liberty Bank released a statement on this recent arrangement with details on the different screenings that will be offered. The screenings include:

• Stroke/Carotid Artery Screening
• Heart Rhythm Screening (for atrial fibrillation)
• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening
• Peripheral Arterial Disease Screening
• Osteoporosis Risk Assessment

Individuals with risk factors for any of the above conditions are strongly encouraged to attend. Through these screenings, you can identify your risk for diseases that, with early detection, can be prevented from causing life-altering, potentially catastrophic health problems.

Liberty Bank for Savings is holding our preventive screenings at their location because of their commitment to community service. You can learn more about Liberty Bank and it’s different community service events on its website or read the full article about the upcoming health assessments here.

To pre-register for a health screening at the Liberty Bank location on Wednesday, February 20, search for it here.

Learn more about the benefits of preventive health screenings from Life Line Screening today.

Whether Life Line Screening is identifying serious risk of disease or providing peace of mind, the ultimate goal is your well-being. These screenings are available at an affordable cost, use the highest-quality equipment and are designed to help people take a proactive approach to their health.

Life Line Screening screens for a variety of serious health conditions including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, atrial fibrillation, peripheral arterial disease, carotid artery disease and more. Because many of these conditions are asymptomatic in the early stages, they often go unnoticed until it’s too late.

Discover all of the capabilities of Life Line Screening by viewing the video below. In it, you’ll meet the Chief Medical Officer and learn about the facts of the screening services of the company. See for yourself what sets Life Line Screening apart from any other screening company.

Visit Life Line Screening’s YouTube channel to learn more about it’s preventive health screenings or advice on healthy lifestyles. For those without video capability, the text is provided below.

Life Line Screening: Who We Are

Here is the audio text to the video:

“I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure; those words have never been more true than today. Our noninvasive, state-of-the-art screenings make it easy to take charge of your own health and the health of your loved ones.

And that’s why you’re here. Everyone knows someone who’s had a heart attack or a stroke, maybe someone very close to you, and we also know that preventive medicine is the best medicine, that early identification of a disease is the key to avoiding life-altering, even life-threatening problems later on.

Hi, I’m Joelle Reizes, Communications Director at Life Line Screening.

Life Line Screening is the nation’s leading provider of preventive health screenings. Since 1993, no one, including clinics and hospitals, has screened more people than we have.

Life Line Screening works in conjunction with many world-renowned healthcare institutions, and employs highly-trained technicians and board-certified doctors. Our equipment is exceptionally high-quality as well. We’re also rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau. Here to tell you more is our Chief Medical Officer.

I’ve been a vascular surgeon for more than 30 years, and nothing frustrates me more than seeing a patient who’s suffered a stroke or ruptured aneurysm which, if we had found it early, could have been prevented. That’s the reason for screening; it’s as simple as that.

We’d like to share a few important things about our company, and the technologists that you have entrusted with your screenings today. We’ve been doing screenings longer than anyone else, and are the only international provider, with screenings here in America and also in the United Kingdom and Australia. We screen about a million people a year, all with one thing in common: they’re advocates for their own health and wellness.

We have some of the most sophisticated screening equipment in the industry. Our ultrasound machines were designed to be used by the military on the battlefield. They’re state-of-the-art and continually calibrated to ensure accuracy and confidence. Most importantly, the technologists who are conducting your screenings are exceptionally trained and very experienced. In fact, the average Life Line Screening technologist has screened over 40,000 people, so you can trust them to be experts in what they do, and to provide your screenings in a comfortable and caring manner.

The goal here, and the goal of most any physician, is going to be to find out what’s wrong with you before something happens that could really have a bad effect and sometimes debilitating effect.

For more information about Life Line Screening or to schedule an appointment, visit www.lifelinescreening.com today.”

As we get older, being healthy takes effort. Preventing disease typically doesn’t just happen on its own. Life Line Screening proudly takes a proactive stance on health and well-being every day. As a firm believer in the power of prevention, we know that the state of our health is in our own hands. In a recent blog post from our Life Line Screening UK team, study results reveal just how crucial a proactive approach to health is in today’s society.

Published in the Lancet, the study included data from the years 1990 to 2010 that analyzed the health landscape of 19 countries, including the U.S., the UK, Australia, Canada, Norway and more. The study found that the UK’s premature death rate for men and women is relatively high compared to other countries. The reason was linked to growing cases of preventable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and lung disease.

Risk factors like smoking, high blood pressure, high body mass index (BMI), poor diets and lack of physical activity are associated with an increased risk of developing these preventable conditions. Similarly, the U.S. deals with these risk factors and preventable diseases, as heart disease remains the number one killer of Americans.

An Emphasis on Healthy Lifestyles

The findings of the study call for an increased emphasis on the importance of a proactive approach to healthcare. By implementing healthier lifestyles, the risk factors mentioned above can be lowered and risk of unnecessary, premature death from conditions like heart attack or stroke can be decreased.

Lifelong health is increasingly important across the world. To take control of your own health, you must be willing to change your lifestyle in healthy ways. Considering a preventive health screening is another method that can empower you with knowledge about the state of your health. Whether it’s alerting you to serious risk of disease, or simply providing you with peace of mind, health screening tests have the power to help you take the first step towards proactive healthcare.

To take charge of your life today, learn more about healthy living and lifelong health, or explore more information on the preventive health screenings of Life Line Screening.

What are your thoughts on a proactive approach to healthcare? What are you doing to ensure you’re in control of your health? Share with us in the comments.

Just like in the United States, cardiovascular disease is the most costly disease in Australia. The ailment costs more Australian lives and healthcare spending than any other disease. In fact, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare declares that heart disease causes the second-highest amount of disability and premature death behind only cancer.

These startling statistics hit close to home among Americans because heart disease is also the number one killer in the United States. While Americans can turn to Life Line Screening for a proactive approach to identifying heart disease risk, Australians can turn to Screen For Life.

Screen For Life is the Australian branch of the Life Line Screening family. Similar to Life Line Screening, the Australian screening company provides health testing for potentially dangerous health conditions, including:

• Stroke/carotid artery disease
• Stroke/atrial fibrillation
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm
• Peripheral arterial disease
• Osteoporosis
• High cholesterol
• Type 2 diabetes

High cholesterol is one major risk factor of heart disease, and approximately 1.3 million Australians are currently living with high cholesterol levels. While much of the blame for high cholesterol can be placed on the foods we eat, it is important to identify high cholesterol levels and work proactively to lower them through healthy lifestyles or medication recommendations from a physician. This can help decrease risk of developing heart disease or experiencing a life-threatening heart attack.

Together with the preventive health screenings in the United States and the United Kingdom, Screen For Life strives to promote lifelong health and well-being by identifying either risk of disease or valuable peace of mind. Taking charge of your own health is possible wherever you live, whether it’s here in the U.S. or halfway across the world in Australia.

Learn more about the health screening services in Australia provided by Screen For Life to decide if scheduling a health screening is right for you today.

One similarity that people in every nation across the world share is health concerns. The same health conditions that threaten our health also threaten the health of people thousands of miles away, from Europe, to Asia, even to Australia.

Diabetes is an ongoing threat to the well-being of people all around the globe. Not only is type 2 diabetes a serious disease that can forever alter someone’s life, it’s also a major risk factor for other conditions like stroke, kidney failure and heart disease.

Type 2 diabetes is a disease in which the body can’t properly produce enough insulin, the hormone that converts food into energy. People with diabetes can live with it for years without even realizing they have it. In fact, many people don’t learn they have the condition until it leads to something detrimental, like stroke.

Every day, about 280 Australians develop diabetes. Unbeknownst to many, diabetes is Australia’s fastest growing chronic disease, and just like our U.S. branch of Life Line Screening, the Australian Screen For Life is committed to lowering this statistic. How? By offering glucose/type 2 diabetes screenings that can identify the condition before it worsens.

It is recommended that people over the age of 45 should undergo a blood glucose test for type 2 diabetes. Adults with high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels should also be screened for the disease. Other risk factors that may prompt the need for screening include family history, being overweight, physical inactivity, and having high triglycerides.

Together with the preventive health screenings in the United States and the United Kingdom, Screen For Life strives to promote lifelong health and well-being by identifying either risk of type 2 diabetes or valuable peace of mind. It doesn’t matter where you live – your health deserves to be taken care of. Do it for yourself, your family, and your friends.

Learn more about the health screening services in Australia provided by Screen For Life to decide if scheduling a health screening is right for you today.

A recent story written by Kaiser Health News which appeared in the Washington Post (Hospitals promote screenings that experts say many people do not need, May 14) focused on the community screening industry, including Life Line Screening. While our perspective was somewhat represented in the story and it included quotes from both Life Line Screening and one of our hospital partners, it also included the viewpoints of a number of our critics, and in the process misrepresented key facts about our preventive health screenings.

We hope you will read the following statement to gain a better understanding of the value of Life Line Screening’s services – and recognize that many who are quick to criticize commercial screenings may not be considering all the facts. You can also read what our many satisfied customers have to say on our Testimonials page – real stories from real patients and the value screenings had for them.

Preventing Screenings Misconceptions

As a clinical vascular surgeon for 30 years, I have seen many terrible health outcomes, including strokes and ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAA), which could have been easily prevented had the patient only known of their presence. So much death and terrible disability could be avoided by identification of previously unknown disease and successful preventive measures.

In order to prevent readers from developing misconceptions about Life Line Screening and the services we provide, I would like to address several of the key points raised by our critics in the recent Kaiser Health News/Washington Post story:

Why screenings are necessary

Critics in the story assert that Life Line Screening conducts unnecessary testing, with a particular negative focus on vascular screening. The reality is that many people are at risk for diseases such as stroke and heart disease but experience no symptoms until it is too late.

Vascular disease currently represents the top cause of preventable death in the United States. U.S. patients suffer over 800,000 strokes per year – 80% without warning, and the risk of stroke doubles every decade after age 55 (1). Carotid artery disease, a leading immediate cause of strokes (2), can be easily discovered by an ultrasound quick scan while asymptomatic, and with effective management, strokes can be prevented.

Some critics in the article contend that the incidence of disease found from screenings is too low to make them worthwhile. According to our database of over 8 million screenings, approximately 8% of our patients are revealed to have a serious to moderate incidence of disease. We think the chance to alert these patients they are at risk and give them the ability to work with their physician to better manage their health and take action when medical intervention or lifestyle changes can still make a difference, is certainly “worthwhile.”

Who we screen

The story implies all screening companies are the same and will screen the general market indiscriminate of whether it makes sense for the consumer. This is not accurate, as there are many companies who screen based upon recognized appropriate risk factors. This is exactly the case for Life Line Screening. 93% of our patients have one or more risk factors (the same criteria used by many respected hospitals) and the average age of our patients is 62. That’s far from the characterization of broadly screening the general market, and in contrast, supports that our screenings offer a valued healthcare service for today’s seniors – many of whom face significant access to care challenges and need options outside the traditional system.

What USPSTF is, and what it isn’t

The author and others in the story rely heavily on the guidelines of the U.S. Preventive Task Force. However, this organization’s chief role is to provide recommendations to federal programs like Medicare on what services should be paid for with tax-payer dollars – not evaluate new healthcare services for consumers. They do not examine community-based screening for the purposes of early identification and treatment with lifestyle coaching and medical management, which is what Life Line Screening does.

The guidelines referenced are also seven years old and are currently undergoing review, which will necessarily include new evidence in the literature not available at the time of their initial recommendation. For example, under the current limited guidelines for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screenings, 50% of AAAs will be missed (3).

These facts help to explain why their recommendations, particularly around carotid artery screenings have generated widespread controversy and criticism from well respected experts calling for it to be reexamined – at the very least making it clear that relying solely on this recommendation as a rationale for dismissing these screenings is a mistake.

Hopefully this information and data help clarify some of the information presented in this recent story. If you have any further questions about Life Line Screening and the services we provide, feel free to reach out to Joelle Reizes, our Global Communications Director, at JReizes@llsa.com.

Sincerely,
Andrew J. Manganaro, MD

Diplomate, American Board of Surgery
Diplomate, American Board of Thoracic Surgery
Member, International Society for Endovascular Surgery
Fellow, American College of Cardiology
Member, Society for Vascular Medicine
Member, Society for Vascular Surgery
Fellow, American College of Surgeons
Member, Society for Vascular Ultrasonography
Fellow, International College of Surgeons
Fellow, International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery

References:

(1) NIDDS: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/stroke_needtoknow.htm
(2) The NIH Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy vs Stenting Trial (CREST) Fact Sheet, found at: http://stroke.nih.gov/programs/crest-fact-sheet.htm
(3) Kent CK, Zwolak RM, Egorova NN, et al. Analysis of risk factors for abdominal aortic aneurysms in a cohort of more than 3 million individuals. J Vasc Surg 2010; 52: 539-48.

Today is the last Monday in May – meaning it’s Memorial Day. Previously known as Decoration Day, this federal holiday commemorates all men and women who have died during military service for the United States.

Whatever your plans may be today, it’s important to remember the real reason we celebrate Memorial Day. What will you do to remember the fallen men and women of the United States military this year? Whether it’s keeping them in your thoughts throughout the day, flying an American flag in your yard, or visiting a national cemetery, you can show respect for the military members who gave their lives for our country.

Keeping yourself healthy is another great way to show your appreciation for the sacrifice of fallen military members. You can take advantage of a preventive health screening to identify risk of serious health conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, or osteoporosis. Gain the peace of mind you deserve, and have a great Memorial Day!

New research developed from collaboration between Life Line Screening and Oxford University shows that certain chronic cardiovascular diseases occur an estimated 10 years earlier among men compared to women. The findings will be presented by Oxford University at the Society for Vascular Medicine 2013 Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions.

Data was collected from more than 290,000 vascular screenings performed by Life Line Screening between the years 2008 to 2012 in the U.K. and Ireland. Results from the data point to evidence that incidence rates of chronic cardiovascular conditions such as abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), the narrowing of a main artery in the neck, irregular heartbeat, and circulatory problems affecting the legs all rise with increased age. The data also shows that women tend to develop these types of conditions approximately 10 years later than men.

“We are pleased to be able to work with such a prestigious organization as University of Oxford in order to enhance the available database of research around preventable cardiovascular conditions – which represent one of the most significant and costly global health issues today,” said Dr. Andrew Manganaro, M.D., FACC, FACS, Chief Medical Officer of Life Line Screening in a press release.

Life Line Screening and the Clinical Trial Service Unit and Epidemiological Studies Unit (CTSU) at Oxford University are also working together on another study that investigates the rates of and risk factors for dangerous vascular conditions. Information used for this study is also drawn from Life Line Screening’s large database of patient preventive health screening results. Findings should help determine the influence of major risk factors like smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and obesity on “silent killers” known as vascular conditions.

“At Life Line Screening, our mission is to help patients improve their health outcomes by providing the right screening at the right time,” Dr. Manganaro said. “Leveraging our screening data to further the research of leading institutions like Oxford is yet another way we can advance this goal and ultimately drive better population health.”

To read more about the collaboration between Life Line Screening and Oxford University along with the research findings, view the press release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/rxtimes/20130613005215/en/Life-Line-Screening-Oxford-University-Present-Preliminary.

Learn more about the preventive health screenings provided by Life Line Screening to see how a proactive approach to health can benefit you in more ways than one. Identify risk of disease before it becomes catastrophic or find the peace of mind you deserve today.

Life Line Screening C.M.O., Dr. Andrew Manganaro MD, FACS, FACC

The FAQ section of the Life Line Screening site addresses many questions and concerns our screening participants have. We constantly strive to answer any and all questions about our preventive health screenings. That’s why we regularly update our FAQs to feature new, commonly asked questions with the answers you’re looking for.

While all screenings are reviewed by board-certified physicians who are licensed in your state, we urge all participants to share their screening results with their doctors. We include a detailed report of the health screening results within 21 days of each participant’s screening. From there, it is highly recommended that participants discuss the results with their own personal physician who can suggest the best next course of treatment.

Below, Life Line Screening Chief Medical Officer Dr. Andrew Manganaro answers a question that many physicians may be faced with after patients share their health screening results.

Q. My patient went to Life Line Screening and had 60 percent carotid stenosis. What would you do?

A. Naturally, there’s no way I can speak to the specifics of any one patient but, in general, an asymptomatic patient with a 60% carotid artery stenosis can be treated with life style modification (no smoking, diet and weight control, etc) to lower the future atherosclerotic burden as well as the appropriate use of statins and anti-platelet agents such as daily aspirin and yearly ultrasound surveillance of the carotids. Also, one should be sure that the patient has a clear understanding of the symptoms of carotid plaque embolization (TIA) such as amaurosis fugax, transient lateralized weakness or transient expressive or receptive aphasia. 

Read more frequently asked questions in our FAQ section now.

To provide more accountable care and improve patient outcomes, physicians and healthcare professionals aren’t solely focusing on treating patients who are sick. That expectation has shifted to include a focus on preventing patients from getting sick.

This focus on prevention in the healthcare industry benefits not only individuals and communities, it also benefits hospitals and health systems. A recent article by Becker’s Hospital Review touches on this concept of prevention among hospitals and health systems, and discusses the positive impacts that wellness screenings can have on not only the screening participant, but the hospitals and health systems that partner with Life Line Screening.

Positive Impact on Individuals and Communities

Two primary benefits of preventive health screenings like the ones provided by Life Line Screening include early disease detection and reduced healthcare costs. Because the purpose of a preventive screening is to detect dangerous health conditions in high-risk individuals, these screenings are a great way to take a proactive approach to an otherwise asymptomatic condition.

“The key to a successful screening program is providing the right screening to the right person at the right time,” said Chris Smith, executive vice president of sales and business development for Life Line Screening, in a Becker’s Hospital Review article.

Secondly, when a disease is detected early through a preventive health screening, there is potential for patients to experience significant healthcare savings. Treating a chronic condition that is caught early is much more affordable than treating the condition after a catastrophic event, like a heart attack or stroke, has happened.

Positive Impact on Hospitals and Health Systems

Preventive screenings are also beneficial for hospitals and health systems that partner with Life Line Screening. When medical facilities sponsor a preventive health screening, they can not only display their name prominently, they can also provide a directory of physicians and call-in phone lines for screening participants to use to find a care center or physician for follow-up care. These screenings have the potential to give hospitals and health systems a connection to patients.

Plus, once a patient is exposed to the hospital or health system and is therefore connected to it, he or she is more likely to return to that medical facility for healthcare in the future. This connection has the ability to create long-term patient loyalty that it otherwise might not have established.

Hospitals and health systems choose to partner with Life Line Screening for these benefits. Because these medical organizations might not have the resources and mobility to enter directly into the community to provide preventive health screenings, partnering with an organization that does have these resources can make this effort possible.

There is no doubt that prevention is now a major part of healthcare in the United States, and both patients and healthcare organizations can benefit from preventive health screenings. Patients can seek early identification of a dangerous condition and save on healthcare costs, while hospitals and health systems can have access to new patients and build patient trust and loyalty that might not have been established without a connection to the preventive health screening.

To read the full Becker’s Hospital Review article discussing the benefits of preventive health screenings with Life Line Screening, click here.

Study after study points to the importance of preventative medicine for healthy lives. In the United States, the preventive healthcare gap is growing, especially when compared to European nations. If the benefits of preventive medicine are so abundant and well-known, why is it so rarely emphasized?

This topic was addressed in a recent Huffington Post article titled “Disease Prevention Celebrated But Rarely Practiced.” It discusses how preventative healthcare has the ability to limit the development and severity of many health conditions, yet the problem for many medical providers is convincing the patient that taking the precautions now will result in a positive effect in the future.

This situation also touches on many psychological issues that healthcare providers must address, such as:

1. How can you convince someone of a potential hazard when it is not currently seen or felt?
2. How do you make a significant enough impression to a healthy individual that the health they are enjoying may not last?
3. How do you approach chronic health conditions and mortality in a way that will encourage the appropriate behavior without causing fear, avoidance, and denial?

With a distinct lack of drama involved in preventative medicine, it’s easy for people to neglect the opportunity to fully utilize practices to ensure their chances for better health at later dates. For example, it’s much more dramatic to treat cancer than it is to prevent it from developing in the first place with a HPV vaccine.

Too often people will wait until the moment in which their symptoms become overwhelming. No longer able to handle the pain or dysfunction, and with their lifestyle or physical ability now impacted, the person is spurred to seek medical care.

So, what can be done to promote preventive medicine? Harvey Fineberg, president of the U.S. Institute of Medicine, suggests a few ways:

• Involving employers to promote health in the workplace and provide incentives to employees to maintain healthy practices.
• Using a policy to reinforce choices that favor disease prevention.
• Embedding prevention in popular culture.

“Some countries have done an excellent job with preventive strategies,” said Fineberg in the Huffington Post article. “Finland dramatically reduced its burden of cardiac disease…through a concerted program focused on the major cardiac risk factors.”

Placing a higher emphasis on disease prevention can have a positive impact on health – we’ve witnessed the benefits. Life Line Screening stands behind the notion that now is the time to push preventive medicine and keep people healthier before they get sick.

Learn more about Life Line Screening now.

A recent story written by Kaiser Health News which appeared as a segment on National Public Radio and on their website focused on the community screening industry, and Life Line Screening in particular. While our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Andrew Manganaro and the perspective of one customer are represented in the story, it also included a number of misleading assertions and misrepresented facts.

It is important to first note that Life Line Screening has collected the largest database of screening results of its kind, which we are making available to academic researchers for free to help add to the evidence-base around the utility of screening and better understanding of vascular disease. This research collaboration has resulted in numerous academic publications. In fact, our focus is on using academic means, excellent clinical quality and clear patient education to help move individuals, and the nation’s conversation, towards better outcomes through preventive health. Our work is based on rigorous protocols and customer follow-up, and our team is comprised of noted clinical experts, reviewing physicians and a celebrated Chief Medical Officer. To imply otherwise or to suggest that we are irresponsibly promoting unnecessary screening is simply wrong.

The most concerning element of the article is a statement from a representative of the AAFP that following a carotid artery screening, “the patient is more likely actually to have a stroke because of the screening and subsequent testing and possible surgery than if they’d never been screened at all.”

There is no data or studies to support this claim. Ultrasound is a non-invasive, no-radiation, medically-accepted technology used widely to perform examinations, including in emergency rooms by the bedside, and in hospitals across the country that offer screenings themselves. The argument that screenings would lead to a greater likelihood of a stroke because a patient who discovered they were at risk would then initiate a conversation with their physician about the best treatment approach, and may actually be treated, sells short the physician, the patient and the fundamental value of prevention. Indeed, sometimes the “watchful waiting” described in the article may be the best course of action once the patient has consulted their physician – but that doesn’t mean that the screening wasn’t valuable or accurate, since the patient would likely not have known they even had a condition or risk factor worthy of “watching” otherwise.

In the words of noted physician, Matthew Mintz, Associate Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, with whom we consulted, “As a point of clarification, screening does not make it more likely that a person will have a stroke. There is some concern that the follow-up testing or possible surgery could cause a stroke, but newer, modern methods of follow-up and the expertise of an experienced surgeon make this possibility far less likely than older research assumed. Learning that you have an early stage problem means you can make decisions that may help you live longer, live healthier and be in control of your health. This is part of the conversation you should have with your doctor, and you may find that screening is an excellent choice if you have risk factors and are interested in learning what is going on inside of your body.”

The story also alleges that “many of the findings are false positives.” This is simply not the case. At Life Line Screening, we are highly committed to accuracy and quality, and we have extensive experience delivering on this commitment – as we have provided more than 8 million screenings (as the article notes).

In fact, we have conducted a side-by-side audit study in the U.K. that found excellent accuracy when correlating our findings to the standard criteria used by United Kingdom hospital vascular and radiology departments. We are also in the process of completing additional research in the U.S, and we are confident that these findings will further support the accuracy of our screenings.

The piece suggests that Life Line Screening tests “healthy people.” In fact, we screen based upon recognized appropriate risk factors. The vast majority of our clients have one or more notable risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, or diabetes, and the average age of our patients is 62, well within a clear risk category. That’s far from the characterization of broadly screening healthy people, and in contrast, supports that our screenings offer a valued healthcare service for today’s seniors – many of whom face significant access to care challenges and need or prefer options outside the traditional system. When a patient comes to our screenings, they learn about healthy behaviors and risk factors, become more educated, more knowledgeable, and hopefully more empowered to take care of their health.

Finally, the article includes the opinion that, “when information comes in the form of an advertisement or promotion, regardless of the source, be skeptical.” The reality is that doctors, hospitals, pharmacies and even dentists all advertise their services. Many of these organizations or businesses are also “for profit.” Does that mean that we should assume that any healthcare service that invests in raising awareness of its offerings should be discounted or considered warily? If so, many of us would likely have to go out and find new providers for all our health needs. Indeed, as a for-profit, Life Line Screening is carefully transparent about its prices and services, contrary to most peoples’ experiences with healthcare billing.

Hopefully this information and data help clarify some of the information presented in this recent story. If you have any further questions about Life Line Screening and the services the company provides, feel free to reach out to Joelle Reizes, the company’s Global Communications Director, at JReizes@llsa.com.

Grace Carswell (pictured) formerly underwent the carotid artery screening provided by Life Line Screening. The screening uses noninvasive ultrasound technology to create images of the carotid arteries and measure blood flow through them. The purpose is to detect potential plaque buildup.

“I have been a fan of Life Line Screening since I heard about [it] awhile back,” said Carswell in a statement. “I think it is the bargain of the century and can be a lifesaver for so many.”

Because of this personal experience, Grace was dismayed by a recent Kaiser Health News story that aired on NPR.

The story focused on community-based screening and cast a negative light on the services of Life Line Screening. The story included a number of misrepresented facts and misleading assertions, and Life Line Screening Reviewing Physician Lisa Sheppard, MD, set the record straight in a recent blog post titled “Community-Based Screenings: An Accurate and Affordable Option for Preventive Health.”

“The argument that screenings would lead to a greater likelihood of a stroke because a patient who discovered they were at risk would then initiate a conversation with their physician about the best treatment approach, and may actually be treated, sells short the physician, the patient and the fundamental value of prevention,” Sheppard said in the post.

Carswell immediately posted on Facebook and the LLS blog, supporting Dr. Sheppard, and further explaining her opinion.

“This article says you can do more harm than good by checking for plaque in the arteries. I cannot believe they tell you not to check for this,” she said. “I did and [they] found a mild buildup, so now I changed my diet to prevent further buildup and hopefully reverse it.”

One of the points in the Kaiser Health News article mentioned that many of the tests performed by Life Line Screening are included on a list of procedures healthy people should avoid, as advised by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

“Don’t screen on healthy people? Why would you wait until you are near death?” Carswell commented. “Life Line Screenings are a very inexpensive (less than a tenth of the cost in a hospital for the same thing) way to get this information which could be life-saving if you use the results to change your lifestyle,” she added.

Are you a former Life Line Screening customer? What was your screening experience like? Please share with us in the comments below.

Today is the first day of May, so at Life Line Screening we are kicking off National Stroke Awareness Month in a BIG way.

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in the United States, making it a serious condition. Studies show that almost 80% of all strokes are preventable and nearly 85% of all strokes that occur show NO warning signs.

So to promote National Stroke Awareness Month and to raise awareness, we are giving away five stroke screenings for FREE. Want to increase your chances of winning? Share the infographic below,  follow us on social media and refer a friend – you’ll earn extra chances to win a free stroke screening package. Winners will be announced in June.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Each year, the top “100 Great Community Hospitals” list is released by Becker’s Hospital review. The list is based off of accolades, quality and service to the local communities.

We have an amazing list of hospital partners that help us achieve our health screening awareness and prevention goals. We are proud of all of our hospital partners and the work that they do, and we want to congratulate our hospital partners that have been recognized as great community hospitals:

Cheyenne Regional Medical Center: Cheyenne Regional Medical Center dates back to 1867, when it was established as a tent hospital constructed by the Union Pacific Railroad to treat workers injured while building the transcontinental railroad. Today, the 222-bed hospital includes a medical staff of more than 170 clinicians and upwards of 2,000 employees. The hospital is home to the state’s first Level II trauma center and comprehensive weight loss surgery program.

Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast: Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast is a younger institution, opened in 2003, but its role in the Florida Panhandle is sturdy. The hospital — part of Pensacola, Fla.-based Sacred Heart Health System, a subsidiary of St. Louis-based Ascension Health — includes a spine center, heart and vascular center, and family birth place. Truven Health Analytics named Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast as one of its 100 Top Hospitals in 2014.

St. Francis Downtown (part of Bon Secours St. Francis Health System): St. Francis Downtown is a 245-bed facility with all private rooms. The community hospital, part of Marriottsville, Md.-based Bon Secours Health System, offers a full range of services, including open-heart surgeries and bone marrow transplantation. CareChex ranked the hospital in the top 50 in the nation for overall medical care, and it is one of Truven Health Analytics’ 100 Top Hospitals for 2014.

St. Mary Medical Center: The 374-bed St. Mary Medical Center was founded by the Sisters of St. Francis in 1973. The hospital includes a staff of more than 700 physicians who provide care at the hospital’s cancer, heart and vascular, trauma and orthopedic centers, among other services and specialties. Truven Health Analytics named St. Mary Medical Center as one of its 100 Top Hospitals in 2014.

We are the nation’s leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings [http://www.lifelinescreening.com/What-We-Do/What-We-Screen-For], for more information on our current lists of hospital partners, click here .

Life Line Screening’s blog is moving back to our main website, http://www.lifelinescreening.com and becoming Life Line Screening Community. Our Community will feature articles and recipes to help you stay active and healthy for years to come. We invite you to read health and wellness topics, get recipes and fitness tips, learn your risk factors or share in discussions with adults who have been impacted by cardiovascular disease or another major disease.
Visit our community today.