Congressman Carnahan Instrumental in $396,000 Grant to Provide Missouri Women With Preventive Health Screenings

June 3, 2010 -- Missouri Baptist Medical Center received a $396,000 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services to provide preventive health screenings to uninsured women in South St. Louis City and County, and in Jefferson and Ste. Genevieve Counties in Missouri thanks to the support of U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan D-St. Louis. In addition, the federal grant will provide funding to enhance lifesaving cardiac equipment at the Hospital.

Missouri Baptist is launching its five-year women’s health screening program with a free health screening event 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, June 5 at South Country Center, at I-55 and I-270 on Lindbergh Boulevard. Get a map. Appointments are recommended for all screenings. Call 314-996-LIFE (996-5433) or toll-free at 800-392-0936 to register. Congressman Carnahan will be on-site to take part in the kick-off.

Missouri Baptist Medical Center is providing:

• Cholesterol, glucose and blood pressure screenings (inside the mall, in front of JC Penney)
• Digital mammography screenings for women 40 to 64 who are not covered by insurance; women are asked to bring their physician’s name and phone number and form of photo identification (mammography van on north parking lot near JC Penney and US Bank)
• Bike helmet checks for kids 2 to 12; a trained expert from St. Louis Children’s Hospital at Missouri Baptist Medical Center will check helmets for proper fit; new helmets will be available for $10; children must be present to be fitted (inside the mall, in front of JC Penney)

Missouri Baptist is planning similar screening events in Jefferson County 9 a.m.-noon August 18 at the Jefferson County Public Library and in Ste. Genevieve 9 a.m.-noon September 17 at the Ste. Genevieve Community Center.

"Preventive care is critical to avoiding long-term health problems that can devastate families," says 3rd District Congressman Carnahan. "With screening and education, women can lower their risk for life-threatening diseases. This program is giving women who are not covered by insurance the opportunity to receive proactive health and wellness screenings."

In 2009, Missouri Baptist Medical Center conducted pilot screening programs in Jefferson and St. Genevieve counties to assess the health need.  Results indicated that 60 percent of women screened were at risk for heart disease and approximately 22 percent were at risk for osteoporosis. Many of these women did not have a primary care physician, so this program was able to refer them to physicians who were close to home and worked with a sliding scale fee.