How it Works

When will the screenings take place?
Screenings will be offered at a variety of locations over a period of about six months in 2009. The goal of the screenings will be to collect baseline data on all of the approximately 10,000 adult residents.

What will be involved in the screening?
Screenings will vary slightly depending on the age and other health risks of the individual, but will generally involve the following assessment:

  • Health history
  • Health behaviors (tobacco, stress, nutrition, physical activity, alcohol)
  • Productivity
  • Blood pressure
  • Weight
  • Cholesterol and other blood markers

How much time will the screening take?
The screening will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete.

Do the screenings cost anything?
Screenings are offered free of charge.  You can register online for a screening or by calling 507-233-1945.

What happens after the screening?
After completing the screening, each individual will be provided a personal health profile outlining their risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes, as well as some recommended action steps they can take to improve their risk. Individuals at high risk may be referred to their physician for follow-up. Individuals at moderate risk may be referred for more specialized testing. In 2010, we are planning to have several telephone- and Internet-based behavior change programs available for those who completed screenings.

Will people need to fast for the blood test at the screenings?
We will ask people to fast prior to the screening in order to gain the most benefit from the blood work measures. Fasting will not be required; however, in order to avoid discouraging anyone from participating in the screenings.

If the participant has NOT been fasting, will the blood test be accurate?
Some blood measures, such as total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol do not require fasting to be accurate. On the other hand, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides do require fasting for the most accurate results. The good news is that we can assess an individual’s risk using fasting or non-fasting blood measures. It is just somewhat more precise when a person is fasting.

Cancelling an appointment
If you need to cancel an appointment, please let us know via email.  Before cancelling an appointment, you can register for another appointment at a date and time that is more convenient for you.