Q. I have a doctor. Why do I need to be screened?
A. This program is not trying to replace your doctor. We are simply trying to provide you and your doctor with more information that can help you to reduce your risk of death from heart attacks and strokes. We want you to work with your personal doctor.
Q. Can my personal physician do this type of general health screening as part of my routine physical?
A. No. Most physicians can only order diagnostic tests if you are experiencing symptoms. They are not able to order them as a preventive measure. Most insurance providers do not cover the cost of "preventive" screenings. Our goal is to identify individuals with significant disease through the screening process, before a symptom or problem occurs.
Q. Does Insurance or Medicare cover your professional health screenings?
A. Medicare does not currently allow for coverage of our screenings. Insurance coverage varies from policy to policy. We will provide you with a detailed receipt and a copy of your results that can be submitted to your insurance company to determine coverage. All insurance policies are different based on your individual coverage.
Q. Where does Pound of Cure set up?
A. We use facilities such as churches, senior centers, YMCAs, corporations, etc. All screenings are performed on the property, inside the building. Depending on the size of the community, three tables and approximately 15 chairs.
Q. How is my privacy protected?
A. You control access to your information at all times. We comply fully with the government-mandated policy (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA) that protects the privacy of your medical information.
Q. How often should I have these screenings done?
A. This is a personal decision based on your family history, age and other risk factors and the results of your screenings. Many of our customers come back on a yearly basis. Since plaque buildup is a progressive disease, many people feel comfortable being screened annually as part of their annual physical.
Q. How long does it take to have the screenings done?
A. The ultrasound section of the professional health screening takes about twenty minutes depending on the level of disease, your vascular anatomy and your body type. If you are having all six of our screenings, we recommend that you allocate one hour of your time.
Q. I work; can I get a later appointment or weekend appointment?
A. We try to accommodate working people with early times and times available during lunch hour. We often have later appointments as late as 8pm at our home office and some screenings are offered on Sundays.
Q. When will I receive my screening results?
A. Life-threatening findings are discussed immediately with the participant only. Other than that, your results will be mailed within 8 to 11days after studies has been reviewed and interpreted by our board certified specialists.
Q. Who reads and interprets the results?
A. The general health screening results are read and interpreted by a board certified specialist or physician. Our doctors include cardiologists, and radiologists.
Q. At what age should I be screened?
A. The National Heart attack & Stroke Association states that your risk doubles when you reach your 50's. We also see people in their 40's. If someone has a family history we will screen him or her at a younger age. However, we offer cholesterol screening to all ages.
Q. Do I get the results of my health screenings or do they go directly to my doctor?
A. The results will be sent to you. If your results are within the normal range, you will receive a written report to share with your doctor if we recommend further evaluation.
Q. What type of equipment is used?
A. We use the same ultrasound technology found in most hospitals. Pound of Cure offers an affordable, high quality screening through the use of state-of-the-art Doppler color flow ultrasound technology.
Q. What are the qualifications of your ultrasound technologists?
A. All our sonographers are highly skilled and experienced and must have completed formal training programs in ultrasound and clinical rotations in a hospital environment as well as specialized training from Ultrasound Services of America, Inc.
Q. Can I have the health screenings if I have a pacemaker?
A. A pacemaker will not interfere with the screenings.
Q. Why are your tests shorter than those performed in hospitals?
A. Our aim is to identify those individuals with significant disease that require a more costly comprehensive diagnostic exam. With our qualified technologists and state-of-the-art machines, we are able to actually visualize the inside of the heart and arteries, measure the velocity of the blood going through them, acquire ekg and cholesterol profile information and categorize the degree of the disease using accurate protocols.
Q. How can Pound of Cure afford to do these professional health screenings for such a low cost?
A. Our screenings are done on a volume basis so the cost of equipment and staff is spread across a large number of people as opposed to two or three tests per day as performed elsewhere.
Q. Can I eat or drink anything before these screenings?
A. Yes you can eat. However, it is recommended that you do not eat three -five hours prior to the blood glucose and cholesterol screening for more accuracy.