MARIETTA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL USES GRANT FUNDING TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY HEART HEALTH

Marietta Memorial Hospital, a 199 bed non-profit organization representing over 37 medical specialties, has a distinguished record of reaching out to the community through events and classes that promote public health. Grant funding, in part, allows the hospital to fulfill this mission. In 2007, Marietta and five other Ohio hospitals received a total of $100,000 in Hospital Wellness Partnership Grants from the Foundation for Healthy Communities to work with local schools, social service agencies and others to promote better health for targeted local populations. Marietta received $20,520 for the hospital’s “Know Your Heart Risk: Assessment & Follow-Up” program.

SCREENING LOGISTICS & RESULTS

Through the program, and in partnership with Marietta Family YMCA, the hospital provided to medically underserved populations in its service area free: EKG screenings, including the wallet size Pocket EKG Card mailed to participants post-screening with EKG interpretation letter; health assessments; blood pressure; weight; body mass indices; body composition; family history; strength assessment and cardiovascular and flexibility assessments.

The hospital provided the EKG, weight and blood pressure testing while Marietta Family YMCA provided testing which followed the YMCA of USA guidelines for Fitness Evaluation Testing/Physical Fitness test Battery and offered each participant a free three month membership to the YMCA facility and the option to re-test fitness levels at the conclusion of their three month membership.

The program was a two part effort, with the first set of screenings offered in September and October of 2007 and the second set offered in January and February of 2008. The hospital advertised its screenings to the public through several Marietta Memorial Hospital promotional materials, including their Community Health Line Magazine as well as Update Magazine. Additionally, fliers were posted throughout the hospital and advertisements were placed in local newspapers. The community responded to these efforts:

• A total of 248 community members participated

• Participants included 165 females and 83 males

• Participants ages ranged from 18 to over 65

• 100 participants were tested in the first set of screenings, 50 of these participants were identified as having abnormal or minor abnormal EKG readings

• 148 participants were tested in the second set of screenings, 69 of these participants were identified as having abnormal or minor abnormal EKG readings

SCREENING OUTCOMES

The hospital implemented follow-up procedures to track post-screening outcomes. For example, they are working on follow-up calls to determine if those with abnormal EKG readings followed-up with a physician, as was recommended, and to verify the outcomes of any such consultations. Further, the hospital conducted phone calls to determine if participants utilized their complimentary YMCA membership and a portion of screening participants were re-tested to assess changes in body-fat, strength and flexibility, and recovery heart rate measurements.

Goal-wise and results-wise, the screenings were a success. The hospital’s goal was to screen 200 local community members. They exceeded their goal by 48 participants. The hospital also wanted to provide identification, education and intervention to those unaware of their risk for heart disease and to educate participants on the great services and health resources provided by local health and fitness organizations. They achieved this result by using fitness testing and EKG and other health assessments to provide heart disease risk factor profiles to the public as well as providing recommendations and resources to proactively address these risk factors-be it follow-up with a physician or taking advantage of local health facilities.

Marietta’s "Know Your Heart Risk: Assessment and Follow-Up” program substantiates the clinical value of public screenings. Cindy Hart, outreach services specialist at Marietta, says that overall: “We believe by identifying almost 50% of the participants as having a potential abnormal reading and referring them to follow up with their physician may have saved a future potential heart health issue or may be even saving lives.”

USE GRANT FUNDING FOR YOUR SCREENINGS

Marietta Memorial Hospital’s commitment to public health is working to identify, prevent, and protect Ohio citizens against heart disease. Their example highlights the options available to hospital systems everywhere:

• EKG assessments are an integral part of a heart disease risk profile

• EKG interpretations are easy to assess and track so they readily complement public health screening campaigns while generating the reporting data that grant funders are looking for

• Your community screenings are often eligible for local grants

• Partnering with regional organizations increases your chances of receiving funding while also leveraging resources and improving the success of your public health screening campaigns.

For more information on future EKG screenings at Marietta Memorial Hospital, please contact Stephanie Johnson, Outreach Specialist with Marietta Memorial Hospital at (740) 376-1998.

For additional information on the hospital, please visit their website: http://www.mmhospital.org/ For more information on how grant funding resources may be available to your hospital for Pocket EKG screenings, Click here for more information or e-mail or call us at: 1-800-589-4949