CLEARWATER, Fla. (June 10, 2003)---Morton Plant Hospital's Countryside Health Education Center has refocused its services to include a complete menu of health assessment packages, along with classes and lectures. Now called Morton Plant Hospital's Self-Health Center, the facility is located on the second level of Westfield ShoppingTown at Countryside.

"Our focus is on prevention and wellness. By making an individual choice to get a screening, patients have more opportunity to detect disease early and to possibly avoid it by making healthy lifestyle choices," said Laurie Schambach, manager of Morton Plant Hospital's Self Health Center. "Screenings can be an effective tool when used in conjunction with the ongoing care provided by a physician."

A number of screenings are offered including tests that address women's lifestyle, men's lifestyle, stroke risk, vascular health, fracture risk and total body composition. Costs range from $49 to $279 per screening.

The women's lifestyle package includes blood pressure, total cholesterol/triglycerides and folate, thyroid, diabetes and anemia health screens. The men's lifestyle package includes blood pressure, total cholesterol/triglycerides, PSA test and thyroid and diabetes screens. The stroke risk package includes an ultrasound screening of the carotid arteries and blood pressure, total cholesterol/triglycerides and diabetes screen. The vascular health screening includes ultrasound screening of the carotid arteries and abdominal aorta and ankle brachial index with pulse volume recording, blood pressure, total cholesterol/triglycerides and diabetes screen. The fracture risk package includes a DEXA bone density scan and blood pressure and total cholesterol/triglycerides. The total body composition analysis measures body fat, lean muscle mass and bone mineral content.

"We used advanced technology for our screenings and offer access to medical professionals if follow-up testing is indicated," said Schambach. "A licensed practical nurse reviews the reports with the patient rather than sending results by mail."

Established in 1916, Morton Plant Hospital is a 687-bed facility dedicated to improving the health of all it serves through community-owned health services that set the standard for high quality, compassionate care.

In 2002, Morton Plant was named one of America's Top 50 Hospitals, according to AARP Modern Maturity magazine and a 100 Top Hospital in the "Solucient 100 Top Hospitals: Cardiovascular Benchmarks for Success" study for the fourth consecutive year. Morton Plant was also named to the 100 Top Hospital Overall list in 2002. In 2000, HCIA-Sachs (now Solucient) named Morton Plant as the only hospital in the country to achieve 100 Top Hospital status in four categories - cardiovascular, stroke, orthopaedic and overall.

In 2001, Morton Plant Hospital joined forces with H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute at the University of South Florida, Tampa to provide research and services for cancer patients. Morton Plant also offers a family practice residency program in conjunction with the University of South Florida. Morton Plant Hospital is located at 300 Pinellas Street, Clearwater, Fla., 727-462-7000.

Contact: Phoebe Ochman/Beth Hardy

Morton Plant News Bureau

727-461-8117 Phone

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