Health Alert 71
Would you like to know what your “labs” show? You can do them on your own now if you like. Yes, you can receive quality, affordable, and accurate laboratory screenings. You don’t have to wait at your doctor’s office. This service is just phone call or mouse click away.
I have been urging you to take a more active role in your own health care. Today, I’ll show you another way you can. I work with a service called HealthCheck USA. HealthCheck’s mission is to aid in the prevention of disease by providing quality health screening.
This service has provided over 500,000 health screenings for people all over the United States. I was so impressed; I became the medical director of the Florida chapter of HealthCheck USA.
* You Can Choose Which Tests You Want *
I have found that HealthCheck is one of the easiest methods of screening. HealthCheck provides a very wide variety of tests to monitor your health or check for disease. These are the same tests your doctor would order. Except with HealthCheck, you get to choose.
You can order the tests you want over the Internet or by phone. Here are some benefits of the service:
1. Screening Sites: HealthCheck USA provides service centers all over the United States. Choose one that is convenient, or choose to have the service come to you. HealthCheck USA can send a laboratory associate to your home or work.
2. Laboratory Quality: Once the technician draws your blood, it goes to HealthCheck’s lab. HealthCheck uses the fully accredited Medical Reference Laboratory for all of the tests. So there is no difference in precision or accuracy from the tests your doctor orders.
3. Quick Results: You can attain your results by fax or mail in a little over a week. You can also view your results online within a few days.
Each test comes with results reference ranges. So you will be able to interpret if your tests are “normal” or not. You can elect to have one of HealthCheck’s physicians interpret your test or discuss your results with your personal physician.
* Manage Your Health *
You can get started by visiting HealthCheck USA’s website at www.healthcheckusa.com. Check out the variety of tests offered. Tests range from allergies, to PSA, to testosterone, to homocysteine.
Now of course this service is not going to allow you to suddenly become your own physician. What it can do is make you a better partner with you doctor. There is nothing wrong with you wanting to know your cholesterol or your testosterone. Some doctors are reluctant to order labs because of insurance pressures.
Some insurance companies cover theses screenings. You can call your company to find out. However these tests are inexpensive. The complete screenings average from $50 to $150 per patient depending on which tests you chose. So you may not have to rely on your insurance company.
Al Sears MD