Mahaska Health Partnership to Offer Reduced-rate Cholesterol Screenings Feb. 14
MAHASKA COUNTY – Mahaska Health Partnership will be offering reduced-rate cholesterol screenings on Valentine’s Day, which is Wednesday, Feb. 14. The screening will be held in Oskaloosa and in New Sharon.
“We’re hoping to continue to raise awareness of heart disease, heart attack and stroke by hosting this event,” said MHP Cardiac Rehab Nurse Renee Edgar, RN. “Regardless of a person’s age, tests like these should be done regularly and, in many cases, can be lifesaving.”
The event will run from 6:00 to 9:00 am on MHP’s Oskaloosa campus in the Cedar Bluff Learning Center, located at 1229 C Avenue East (entrance #3). No appointment is needed. In New Sharon, it will be held from 7:00 to 9 am at the New Sharon Medical Center, 112 South Main Street. Appointments can be made by calling 641.637.2651.
The cholesterol screening, which costs $20, is a Lipid Panel, which includes total cholesterol, HDL (good cholesterol), LDL (bad cholesterol) and Triglycerides. The screening requires a 12-hour fasting. Along with the cholesterol screenings, cardiopulmonary experts will be on hand in Oskaloosa to give blood pressure checks. Registered Dietitian Lea Rice will be checking body mass indexes as well, all for free.
According to the American Heart Association, cholesterol is a soft, fat-like, waxy substance found in the bloodstream and in our cells. There are two types of cholesterol produced by our bodies; one is good and the other is bad. Too much bad cholesterol or not enough good cholesterol can increase your risk of a cardiac event.
According to Edgar, patients diagnosed with high cholesterol can benefit from regular cholesterol screenings, but not all insurances will pay for the screening in a provider’s office once a diagnosis has been made. This can lead to high, out-of-pocket expenses for our patients.
“Many departments throughout MHP are working together to make the reduced-rate cholesterol screening possible,” Edgar said. “Our goal is to help patients save money while receiving valuable health information.”
Mahaska Health Partnership, located in Oskaloosa, is a non-profit health system accredited by the Joint Commission. It is guided by its mission to provide exceptional customer service and health improvement, linking the science of medicine with the humanity of compassionate care. For more information about how Mahaska Health Partnership is making healthcare personal, visit www.mahaskahealth.org.