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for hypertension and blood sugar testing
for diabetes. Prostate blood work and lipid
profle cholesterol tests cost a nominal
$10 each. Appointments are not required,
but those having their cholesterol checked
should fast for six hours before the test.
“We recently added the hemoglobin
A1C test to our list of services,” says
mobile wellness specialist Jason Meyer, a
trained medical assistant. “Te blood test
is used to determine how well a patient’s
blood sugar is being controlled by provid-
ing a three-month average.” Te cost for
this test is also $10.
Typically, a cholesterol test runs
around $200, a prostate-specifc antigen
(PSA) test $180 and an A1C (blood sugar)
test $110, Meyer says.
Blood work taken in the mobile unit
is processed by the hospital’s lab. Results
are mailed to the patient within a week. A
letter sent out with the test results advises
those with abnormal readings to see their
doctor. For patients who do not have a
primary doctor, referral numbers for BMH
physicians are provided.
A nurse practitioner, who travels with
the unit as needed, also performs physical
breast exams, skin cancer screenings and
digital rectal exams. Groups who book
CHIP may request the additional testing,
but arrangements need to be made in
advance.
“It’s important that people understand
we’re not a primary care provider,” Baisch
says. “We do simple, routine screen-
ings and provide prevention and health
education.”
During breast exams, the nurse prac-
titioner will discuss signs women should
look for when doing a self examination,
including inverted nipples, rashes, dim-
pling and discharge from the breast. If a
patient’s blood pressure is high, the nurse
practitioner will explain what the systolic
and diastolic numbers represent and why
it’s important to bring them down to the
normal range.
Te BMH Foundation underwrote the
purchase of CHIP 12 years ago to address
broad community health and wellness
needs. A survey conducted in the mid-90s
found that Lowcountry residents were
looking for better access to healthcare in
their own neighborhoods.
“Tere is an extremely high incidence
of diabetes and cardiovascular disease in
the Lowcountry,” says Alice Moss, execu-
tive director of the BMH Foundation.
“Unfortunately, not everyone is getting in
to see a doctor.”
Supported through donations and
stafed by BMH medical profession-
als, the wellness unit has become an
important community resource. In the
one-year period from October 2009 to
September 2010, CHIP conducted a total
of 3,524 screenings. Of those, 1,239 came
back with abnormal results.
“It’s been a very successful program,”
Moss says. “People will get health screen-
ings if you make it convenient.”
To book CHIP for an event, call Meyer
at
843-522-5568
. For more information
on scheduled visits, go to
www.bmhsc.org
.
Suzanne Baisch, LifeFit’s nurse practi-
tioner, took a full-time position working in
the hospital . A new nurse practitioner will
be working with Meyer on the mobile well-
ness unit.
Book it!
Schedule a visit from the
CHIP van.
Call Jason Meyer
at
843-522-5568
. A
schedule is posted at
www.bmhsc.org
.
Typically, a
cholesterol
test runs
around $200,
a prostate-
specifc
antigen (PSA)
test is $180
and an A1C
(blood sugar)
test is $110.
Doctor Referral Service: 888-522-5585 • Health Scene
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