Southcoast Stroke Outreach
Southcoast has engaged in numerous efforts at preventing both heart disease and stroke through extensive outreach education on identifying and modifying risk factors.
All services are free of charge and fully supported by Southcoast Hospitals Group. Our stroke education efforts annually reach thousands of Southcoast residents in communities from Cape Cod to Rhode Island.
These efforts began in 1993 with outreach through the Southcoast Health Van and expanded with the addition of a formal research and prevention program that will ultimately provide data on the health habits and related conditions of thousands of residents in the South Coast region.
Other programs included an annual vascular screening, and blood pressure screenings and stroke education provided on a frequent basis at health fairs throughout our region.
The Southcoast Health Van annual serves close to 4,000 residents in Southeastern Massachusetts and nearby Rhode Island.
In existence since 1993, the purpose of the van is to provide free health screenings, education and some clinical services to a broad-based population, with the goal of improving the health status of residents-particularly those without access to regular ongoing health care.
The van is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and provides free health screenings and education in a number of highly visible and accessible sites though the region offering services including blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol, all significant risk factors for developing artery disease.
The van serves an ethnically diverse population including Portuguese, Brazilian, Hispanic and Cambodian immigrants. Van staff also works closely with cultural organizations, churches and other community groups such as soup kitchens, to conduct outreach to diverse populations in order to develop culturally sensitive programs.
Other initiatives include the ESL Program (English as a second language) in New Bedford and Taunton, which serves a diverse group of immigrants, a population with significant risk factors for stroke, heart disease and other conditions, as well as educational, cultural and other barriers that limit access to routine primary health care.
In Fall River, the Southcoast Health Van works in conjunction with the Cambodian Center, PYCO (Portuguese Youth Center Organization), Bristol Elder Services and the local colleges.
The van also works with the Fall River, New Bedford and Wareham business associations to target business communities in the South Coast. The van also works closely with Catholic Social Services on outreach efforts.
The Southcoast Health Van offers a Teen Program at several high schools in the South Coast region, providing adolescents with a range of health screenings and health information. Healthy habits begin in the childhood and teen years and education about diet and exercise is important. We provide regular cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure screenings for teens in all of the schools we reach. Van staff work with teachers to reach students with health educational materials. The van currently visits six area high schools: Diman Vocational High School in Fall River, Somerset High School, Westport High School, Old Colony High School in Rochester, Wareham High School, and Apponoquet High School in Lakeville.
The Southcoast-sponsored Community Health Needs Assessment, as well as the recently released Massachusetts Department of Public Health Behavioral Risk Factors Survey data show area rates at or better than the state average for cholesterol testing and blood pressure screening. The Southcoast Health Van's outreach services have contributed to these positive-screening rates.
Van services are ongoing and the van visits a variety of sites throughout the South Coast region each month.
Click here for Southcoast Health Van's latest schedule
- A full-time registered nurse trained in risk factor assessments including lipids, tobacco abuse, hypertension, diabetes, stress, obesity and obtaining family history, all risk factors for both heart disease and stroke.
- A full-time registered dietician who performs cholesterol and lipid screening as well as dietary instruction.
- Blood pressure: 35 percent.
- Cholesterol: 35 percent.
- Tobacco use: 12 percent.
- Stress: 31 percent.
- Depression: 17 percent.
- Diet: 71 percent.
- Lack of regular exercise: 70 percent.
- Overweight: 65 percent.
The Cardiovascular Health Task Force's current focus is on the Cardiac Prevention Program, established in July 2002 with an emphasis on primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke.
Special focus is on the population identified in our community health needs assessment as being at higher risk for developing these diseases. These populations include: the Portuguese population, elderly, low income, and those with no post-secondary education.
The prevention efforts focus on promoting education, lifestyle changes and risk factor modification. Children are also targeted through the school system with the goals of promoting healthy lifestyle choices early and communicating with parents and families. Screenings are offered at various access points such as elderly and low-income apartments, local churches, immigrant assistance programs, schools and other community locations.
Our program is staffed with a comprehensive health team that includes:
There is also an educational component, as participants receive the results of their questionnaire and tests, along with suggestions and individual education on how to develop healthier lifestyle habits. This component is conducted by a team that includes a designated nurse and dietitian.
Test and questionnaire results for each participant are entered into a database, and participants are tracked six months after their initial testing. To date, a total of 3,700 individuals have been screened and entered into our database. Participants were reached through churches (including the Khmer Buddhist Temple and Santo Christo Church); the Immigrant's Assistance Center; elderly and low income housing; industries such as Riverside Manufacturing, Alberox Manufacturing, and Duro Finishing; health fairs and other venues with an emphasis on reaching those who may be underserved due to economic or cultural barriers. This database will serve as the foundation of a long-term study which will be completed with the assistance of the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth.
Staff also enrolled students at an area high school, Durfee High School in Fall River, where over 548 students participated. Many of these students were not at all familiar with the risk factors for cardiovascular disease and the prevention program served as an important effort in early prevention. Both the school's students and faculty expressed enthusiasm for what they learned and looked forward to the program's return to check progress in developing healthy lifestyles. A number of students tested already had elevated blood cholesterol levels. The Cardiac Prevention Program is being integrated into other aspects of the school curriculum, and the sophomore class will be screened and followed longitudinally for three years.
Summary database statistics show 49 percent male and 51 percent female respondents.
Respondents not at goal are as follows:
This program continues with additional residents being enrolled every month.
Click here to learn more about heart services at Southcoast Hospitals
- Blood pressure screenings on each arm.
- Completion of a form on risk factors for vascular disease.
- Doppler checks on peripheral pulses for indications of circulatory problems.
- Doppler check on arteries in the foot.
Southcoast Hospitals conducts free vascular screenings for area residents on a quarterly basis. Testing includes:
