– Go Red For Women –
Wellness Center offers first step
toward improving heart health

Gayle Swanson, R.N. demonstrates heart healthy exercise on the workout equipment at Roseau Area Hospital’s Cardiac Rehab department. She and co-workers Muriel Fevold, R.N. and Deb Dvergsten R.N. are local spokeswomen for the American Heart Association’s national “Go Red” campaign to fight heart disease.

Three soon-to-be, if not already, familiar faces from Roseau Area Hospital will help bring the “Go Red” message to area women in hopes of reducing the risk of heart disease in and around Roseau County.

As members of the hospital’s Cardiac Rehabilitation department, Muriel Fevold, R.N., Deb Dvergsten, R.N., and Gayle Swanson, R.N., are experts on the subject matter.

Together they total over 70 years of cardiac knowledge and service.

Serving as spokeswomen for the campaign, the three are available to speak to local women’s groups about heart health. They will also appear in a local print campaign promoting the “Go Red” message.

Risk factors
These cardiac nurses will encourage women to be proactive by identifying their personal cardiac risk factors.

A simple way to do this is to visit the Roseau Area Hospital and Homes website www.rahhinc.com  and then click the “Go Red for Women” link.

There a person can take the Go Red Heart Checkup, which is a personal heart-health assessment.

The cardiac nurses are available to talk to local groups about other ways to determine cardiac risk factors and can educate women about managing these factors in order to live healthier lives.

Blood pressure, cholesterol, healthy weight, physical activity, smoking, and diabetes are some of the topics these nurses will educate women about during this campaign.

To schedule a free presentation contact Roxanne Fabian or Deb Haugen at (218) 463-2500.

Sage Program provides free screening to area women

Michelle Franek, FNP and Cari Burkel, LPN (above) are responsible for the cervical and pelvic exam portion of the Sage screening, which is done at Altru Clinic-Roseau, while mammography technicians like Brooke Boris, R.T.(R)M, (right) conduct mammograms at Roseau Area Hospital for patients who qualify for the program.

Some women in Roseau County and the surrounding area may qualify for free women's health screenings through a state and federally funded program.

The Sage Screening Program (formerly the Minnesota Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program, or MBCCCP) is a statewide comprehensive breast and cervical cancer screening program whose primary objective is to increase the proportion of age-appropriate women who are screened for breast and cervical cancer.

Since 1991, the Sage Program has provided screening and diagnostic tests to over 91,000 women, providing more than 280,000 mammograms and Pap tests, and has arranged or provided coverage for more than 28,000 diagnostic procedures for women with abnormal screening results.

In order to qualify for the Sage program, a woman must be at high risk for breast cancer or over 40 years of age. She must have no insurance or be listed as underinsured, and must fall within set income guidelines.

The guidelines start with a maximum allowable gross income of $1,994 per month for a single person, and increases based on household size.

Roseau Area Hospital and Altru Clinic–Roseau are pleased to be involved in the Sage Program.

To see if you meet the criteria for these free services, contact your healthcare provider, or call Roseau Area Hospital at (218) 463-2500 ext. 164.