Community Heart Screenings

The Screening Process
The number of participants you screen at one program will depend upon the number of cholesterol testing and electrocardiograph machines you have.

For easy scheduling, make five appointments on the quarter hour-five at 9:00 am, five at 9:15 am, etc. People can do their medical history as soon as they enter. Schedule your screenings in the morning because they should fast for better results.

When the participant reports, give her a consent form and the Patient Data Form questionnaire to complete (this is a duplicate form). The blood pressure and cholesterol results can be recorded on the questionnaire sent to Cardiomark after the screening, so that these results can be listed directly on the patient’s Pocket EKG medical id card and you will have a copy to attach to the consent form for your files. You may also use an additional screening form to provide directly to the patient for her records. She then proceeds to the cholesterol and electrocardiogram stations and afterwards is directed to wait until her name is called for the nurse consult. During this time, she can peruse your brochures and any displays you may want to have available. As soon as the cholesterol results are ready, they should be given to the consulting nurse who will record them on the form(s), along with the participant’s blood pressure and heart rate readings. The nurse then reviews the information on the questionnaire, provides and explains the screening results and makes appropriate referrals and recommendations. The nurse also informs the participant she will receive her EKG result and recommendation and Pocket EKG medical id card in the mail shortly and may give her a Pocket EKG patient information pamphlet which explains the clinical value of the Pocket EKG screening service. If necessary and possible, the nurse can schedule physician appointments at the point of screening additional to appointments made by participants following-up on their EKG results letter.

After The Screening
When a participant calls the hospital phone number listed on the follow-up EKG interpretation letter to request follow-up assistance, you can make an appointment for the participant with a participating physician. This is another good way to track health screening outcomes, plus it is great customer service.

After making the appointment, send a letter to the physician advising the doctor that you referred a patient to him/her, providing the patient’s name and appointment date. Thank her for participating in your heart screening program and tactfully remind the doctor that your hospital is anxious to participate in the continuing care of the patient.

Cross Marketing
During the consultation, the nurse should encourage and remind participants of other important screenings such as peripheral vascular screenings. You may want to create reminder cards for these and be prepared to make referrals to other product lines at the hospital. Many of the participants who attend your screening will not have a primary care doctor or cardiologist or are not satisfied with their current providers. Be ready to help them find a doctor and to make these referrals.

Be sure that display boards and brochures about your cardiac services and other product lines are visible. You may even want to prepare a packet of materials for each screening participant. This is an easy and efficient way to use your heart screenings as a part of your organization’s broader cardiology marketing efforts.