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Free Program Helps Lower Heart Risks
Heart disease is the No. 1 problem locally, affecting more than 33,000 people. Two out of every five local fatalities are attributed to the disease each year. Determined to make a difference, Southcoast has launched a Cardiac Prevention Program to identify people at risk for heart disease. Since March 2003, the program has screened residents in the Fall River, New Bedford and Wareham communities for the disorder. Program representatives have visited churches, businesses, community centers and schools. The program is free.
“Southcoast is committed to doing community outreach,” said Donna Querim, RN, Nurse Clinician for the Cardiac Prevention Program. “We’re targeting people who may not regularly see a doctor and those who may not realize that they have a higher risk of developing heart disease because of family history, diet or other factors.”
The Cardiac Prevention Program consists of a three-member team — Querim, the nurse, a Southcoast dietitian and a pharmacist — that does onsite blood cholesterol screenings and shares the results with participants at that time. The team provides information about managing heart disease and lowering risk factors, such as by eating healthier and exercising more. Participants also provide a family and medical history and information on their lifestyle habits, which the team uses to generate a risk profile for each person. Those profiles are mailed to participants, along with additional suggestions on how to make healthy changes. The program also provides referrals to physicians and other health resources.
Querim says the team meets with participants a year after their initial screening to track progress. “Hopefully,” she said, “we’ll see some very positive results.”
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