Mission Offers Free Community Stroke Screening

By Merrell Gregory

Mission Hospital will offer a free screening to help people determine their risk of stroke and learn how to prevent it from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 16. 

The screening is being held in conjunction with the national “Power to End Stroke” campaign among churches with diverse memberships designed to empower their members to prevent stroke. In Asheville, the initiative is being led by the Baptist Ministers Union and the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance.

The screening will be held at the Mission Heart Path facility in the
Asheville Cardiology Associates practice office at 4 Vanderbilt Park,
off Hendersonville Road just south of I-40.

The screening is free, but reservations are required because
there are a limited number of spaces. For reservations call 213-7000.

The screening takes just under an hour per person. It will
provide an assessment of risk for stroke, recommendations for lifestyle
changes, and guidance about whether to see a health care provider.

The screening will include:
• Medical questionnaire
• Blood pressure and pulse rate
• EKG screening for those with an irregular pulse
• Height / Weight / Body Mass Index
• Lipid Profile (cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides)
• Glucose (blood sugar)
• Waist measurement
• Carotid Artery Screening
• Nicotine Dependence Counseling
• Sleep disorder assessment

Each participant will receive counseling about his or her
individual results, risk of cardiovascular disease, and education as to
the signs/symptoms of a stroke.

The physician leading the screening is stroke neurologist Rodney
Leacock, MD, who just joined Mission Neurology to be part of Mission’s
inpatient stroke program. He completed fellowships in both
neurocritical care and in stroke care, and he is one of three
physicians who are always available to stroke patients at Mission.

The screening is being conducted by Heart Path and the Mission
Stroke Program, which was recently awarded top “Gold” ranking in a
national initiative to make sure that hospitals consistently deliver
the diagnostic procedures and treatment proven to provide the best
results for stroke patients. It is also certified as a stroke center by
The Joint Commission, which provides accreditation to hospitals.

An in depth interview about stroke with Elder John Hayes and Dr.
Leacock will be broadcast a number of times during May on WRES 100.7 FM
radio.

For information about Mission’s Stroke program, visit www.missionhospitals.org/stroke .