NEW ULM - They've been talking about it for a year. Now the organizers of the Heart of New Ulm project are delighted that the program has entered its active phase, with health screenings for New Ulm residents finally underay
Martin Luther College hosted the first health screening for its employees on Friday. The screening continues today.
About 85 to 90 MLC employees, retirees and their spouses were screened on Friday, about 60 to 70 percent of the college's employees, said Jeff VanWormer, director of the Heart of New Ulm for Allina Hospitals and Clinics.
"That's a good turnout," said VanWormer, who was on hand for the introductory screening session.
"The tip of the iceberg is now out of the water," said James Toscano, president of the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, which is partnering with Allina in this project.
The participants seemed very pleased to be involved in the screening, said Vanwormer. There were even a pair of nonogenarians (aged 90 or older) who showed up for the screening.
"I asked the man what his secret was, and he said, 'A lot of faith and an occasional beer,'" said Vanwormer.
The screening involved answering a list of questions about medical history and lifestyle, as well as a blood pressure check, a blood test for cholesterol, tryglicerides and other factors, and a check of height, weight and waist size.
The information goes into the participants medical records, and they will get a sheet, after the blood tests are done, indicating whether they have a low, medium, or high risk of heart disease.
Those with a high risk can start addressing their situation with their physician, but the real target are those in the middle said Toscano and VanWormer.
"The make-or-break group is the middle risk group," said Toscano. These are people who might be facing heart disease down the road, but who have a chance to change their chances with some simple changes in lifestyle.
The screening process also provides participants with some lifestyle coaching, and a community challenge called "Move to Improve." It challenges participants to increase their physical activity, start walking and find other kinds of activities that will benefit their heart and health.
Organizers hope the challenge will encourage people to join together and encourage each other in different ways to turn the challenge into long term changes. The goal, after all, is lifestyle changes for better health, said VanWormer.
