Health Care Screenings & Wellness Programs
From the first blood pressure screenings, which began in 1976, Medicine Shoppe Pharmacists have always worked closely with other health care professionals to contribute to total patient care. Over the years, The Medicine Shoppe System has provided a variety of ongoing wellness programs, which can be held in-store or in other community settings.
Blood Pressure - Blood pressure is measured, looking for signs of abnormality. Results can be recorded for reference during future blood pressure checks. (Many Medicine Shoppe Pharmacies offer checks monthly.)
Diabetes - Health professionals use a finger-stick blood testing procedure to check for signs of abnormal blood glucose levels.
Foot Clinic - A podiatrist checks feet for signs of problems such as corns, calluses and athlete's foot. They can also advise those with conditions such as diabetes about special foot-care needs and help parents to evaluate whether their children's feet are developing properly.
hearing - An audiologist or hearing aid specialist conducts a check with a machine that uses various sound levels to measure hearing acuity.
Flu Shots - Registered nurses administer low-cost flu shots. According to the American Lung Association, flu shots help prevent or lessen influenza symptoms in an estimated 75 percent of cases.
Cholesterol - Health professionals conduct a finger-stick test to check for high cholesterol levels. Screenings may include the measurement of total cholesterol, as well as other high and low density lipo-proteins.
Personalized Body Fat Assessment & Healthy Eating and Exercise Plan - A special instrument measures the percentage of body fat vs. lean muscle tissue and hydration level. Target weight levels - based upon height, weight, age and sex - are also estimated. Personalized diet and exercise suggestions along with weight loss recommendations, when necessary, are given in an easy-to-read take-home print out.
Colon-Rectal Cancer - A take-home test kit is distributed. This kit helps detect blood in the stool, often an early sign of colonrectal cancer or other conditions that require medical attention such as ulcers or pre-cancerous polyps.
Risk Assessments - Periodically Medicine Shoppe pharmacists offer risk assessments for conditions such as diabetes, heart attack or osteoporosis. These assessments provide an education opportunity to help patients better understand their risk for developing conditions, and when lifestyle changes can help minimize risks. In addition, pharmacist counseling in reviewing these assessments can help identify patients who may need to see a health care provider for follow up for a potential health problem.
Medicine Shoppe International, Inc., 1100 N. Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63132. Tel: 314-993-6000; Fax: 314-872-5370.