Banner Good Samaritan hosts free program to help combat vascular disease and stroke in the community

PHOENIX (Feb. 4, 2006) – On Feb. 18, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center will work in conjunction with Life Line Screening to provide a free screening program for local residents who may be at risk for vascular disease and stroke.

Millions of men and women 60 and older are at risk for vascular disease and stroke. Vascular disease encompasses serious conditions such as: peripheral artery disease (PAD), carotid artery disease, and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

• Peripheral artery disease (PAD), sometimes known as hardening of the arteries, is a blockage of the arteries that supply blood to the arms and legs. PAD may lead to loss of limbs.
• Carotid artery disease occurs when there is a blockage in the arteries within the neck that supply blood to the brain. Carotid artery disease is the No. 1 cause of stroke, a leading cause of disability and death in the U.S.
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is an enlargement in the lining of the artery that leads from the heart to the lower abdomen. Rupture of an AAA often results in sudden death.

Who should be screened?
Early detection of vascular disease can prevent serious and even fatal outcomes. People who are 60 years of age or older and have at least one risk factor for vascular disease – smoking, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, or a family history of AAA – should call 1 (866) 220-7283 to register for a free screening at Banner Good Samaritan. An expert can help confirm positive risk factors and set up your appointment.

Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center and Life Line Screening urge patients and family members who think they may be at risk to call the toll-free number right away. Screening will be by appointment only.

Located in downtown Phoenix, Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center has been providing medical care to Arizona and the Southwest since 1911. Banner Good Samaritan is owned and operated by Phoenix-based Banner Health, a not-for-profit organization, and is a flagship hospital within the system. The hospital was recently named a Solucient “100 Top Hospitals” for Cardiovascular Care, and recognized as a Magnet facility by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the highest honor a hospital can earn for its nursing care and practices.

Licensed for 659 inpatient beds, Banner Good Samaritan’s staff is nationally recognized for its expertise in several major services, including cardiology, critical care, neurosciences, obstetrics, oncology, rehabilitation, research, surgery and both solid organ and bone marrow transplant services. Today, more than 3,600 nurses and staff members work with over 1,700 physicians representing nearly 50 specialties staff to provide care to more than 36,000 inpatients each year.