Dates Set for Million Hearts® Heart Attack & Stroke Screenings

  • September 18, 2018

Brookings Health System has set dates for free Million Hearts® screenings at various community locations this fall to help assess people’s risk for cardiovascular disease.

Million Hearts® 2022 campaign is a national initiative co-led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes within five years.

“Through free community screenings that assess people’s risk for heart attack or stroke, we hope to educate the public on healthy lifestyle choices to prevent, or treat, these conditions,” said Chief Nursing Officer Tammy Hillestad. “Our team, along with SDSU nursing students, delivers a seven-point screening assessment to individuals in Brookings and surrounding communities.”

Upcoming screening dates and times include:

  • Oct. 8, 7 – 8:30 a.m.: South Dakota Nurses Association 2018 Annual Convention; Days Inn; Brookings
  • Oct. 8, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.: South Dakota Nurses Association 2018 Annual Convention; Days Inn; Brookings
  • Oct. 9, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Brookings Area Coalition on Aging Health & Wellness Fair; First United Methodist Church Community Life Center; Brookings
  • Oct. 29, 4 – 6 p.m.: Harvest Table; First United Methodist Church Community Life Center; Brookings

Screenings are offered to adults ages 18 and older at no charge thanks to funds provided by Brookings Health System Foundation. Participants will be asked to provide their medical history and fast eight to nine hours before the screening. Assessments include blood pressure, body mass index (BMI) calculation using height and weight, cholesterol panel, glucose, and a stress questionnaire.

Once the care team has assessed a participant’s health, the participant will receive counseling and education as well as appropriate referrals as needed for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diet modifications, diabetes management, stress management and smoking cessation.

To learn more about Million Hearts® 2022, please visit https://millionhearts.hhs.gov.

About Brookings Health System

Brookings Health System, located in Brookings, South Dakota, includes a 49-bed hospital, the 79-bed The Neighborhoods at Brookview nursing home, Brookhaven Estates senior living apartments, Yorkshire Eye Clinic, and medical clinics in Arlington, White and Volga, South Dakota. It is a non-profit, city-owned facility that offers the community a full range of inpatient, outpatient, surgical and extended care services. The emergency room is staffed 24 hours a day and provides around the clock patient needs ranging from minor injuries to life threatening crises. For more information about the services offered at Brookings Health System, please call (605) 696-9000 or visit us on the Web at brookingshealth.org.