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Online assessment quickly determines heart risk

HEARTaware takes 10 minutes to determine risk factors

09 / 18 / 2007

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MENASHA, Wis. – The next time you’re online checking your stocks, catching up on the day’s news or looking for the latest deals on e-bay, take an extra 10 minutes to complete a health risk assessment—it could bring you 10 extra healthy years.

HEARTaware, a new online assessment offered by Affinity Health System Heart & Lung Centers, is a quick and confidential way to assess your personal risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S. today.

“At the Affinity Heart & Lung Centers, prevention is key,” says Jody Andropolis, RN and clinical manager for the Affinity Heart & Lung Center in Appleton. “The HEARTaware program is a preventive program very similar to the free Women’s Heart Risk Assessment program that has been in place for several years.”

“Northeast Wisconsin has a large population group of people with heart disease, and the patients are getting younger and younger,” says Anna Christian, a nurse practitioner for the Affinity Heart & Lung Center in Appleton. “People are less likely to take time out their busy schedules to go to a formal screening program, but an online survey that is easily understood and quickly completed should encourage people to find out about their risk.”

By answering a series of questions at www.affinityhealth.org/HEARTaware, participants can assess and identify the potential risk of heart disease and any other health concerns they may have. The assessment takes between seven and 10 minutes to complete. Once completed, participants will receive personalized, strictly confidential information that will:

• Assess your current heart health status, and identify those medical or lifestyle conditions that lead to the development of heart disease.
•  Take action to reduce your level of risk, including making you aware of the many services available through the Affinity Heart & Lung Centers.
• Receive free continuing education via e-mail about your specific heart health risk factors.

Once a person’s major risk factors are identified, a detailed plan is itemized for each patient to follow along with their primary care giver’s recommendations. “If a patient scores high enough during the office assessment, plans are made for second-level testing, such as advanced lipids assessment, CT calcium scoring or scheduling a stress test,” Christian says.

“The online assessment is easy, knowledgeable and fun to take,” Christian says. “This is something you can call your own and use it to guide health decisions.”

“Knowing your risk profile will enable you to take control of your health, and provide you with the best defense against heart disease,” said Gretchen Glassen, clinical manager for the Affinity Heart & Lung Center in Oshkosh.

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For the Editor:
Affinity Health System, a Catholic mission-oriented regional health care network, is a partnership of Ministry Health Care and Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare. Affinity Health System is the Fox Valley’s third largest employer, according to the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and is ranked 24 among the top 100 integrated health care networks nationwide (Verispan 2008). Both St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton and Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh rank among the top 1 percent among hospitals nationwide in terms of quality and efficiency, as determined by the 2007 Premier | CareScience Select practice National Quality Award. Network Health Plan has achieved Excellent accreditation status from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), the highest possible level. It is ranked 37th among the 250 rated health plans in the nation in terms of customer satisfaction and clinical performance, according to the U.S. News and World Report/NCQA Best Health Plans in America listing. Members of Affinity include Mercy Medical Center and Mercy Health Foundation, Oshkosh; St. Elizabeth Hospital and the St. Elizabeth Hospital Community Foundation, Appleton; Affinity Medical Group, a regional network of 23 family practice and specialty clinics in 13 communities; Calumet Medical Center, Chilton; Network Health Plan, Menasha; and Affinity Occupational Health.