Southcoast Hospitals scheduled a Cardiac Prevention Program at each of Fall River's four Senior Centers in order to help identify those who might be at risk. Donna Querim, RN, BS, MS, JD, Nurse Clinician for the Southcoast Hospital Group Cardiovascular Prevention Program, and Amanda Szot, Charlton Hospital dietitian, conducted a free screening for cholesterol, (HDL, LDL and triglicerides) and blood sugar, blood sugar and blood pressure. Fall River has a much higher heart disease and diabetes rate than the rest of the state, and much of this difference is due to the diet of local residents. Prevention programs can help people learn what they can do to lower their risks, such as changing diets, increasing exercise and taking prescribed medications. Other screenings are held at the Niagara/Maplewood, South Main Street and Flint Senior Centers. Southcoast Hospitals operates similar programs targeted at youth in the Fall River schools.  For further information about the program, contact Donna Querim at 508-679-7115 or by e-mail at querimd@southcoast.org.

(Top row) Colleen Amaral, Director of the North End Senior Center at 101 President Avenue, welcomes Amanda and Donna to the Center for the screenings every year. (Top row, center) Antone and Mary Venancio, married over sixty years, wait their turn for the screening. (Top row, right) Eighty-five-year-old Antone first meets with Amanda to have his blood drawn and get his blood pressure taken. (Middle row) Donna Querim talks with ninety-year-old Antone Correa to go over his scores on the screening. (Bottom row) Donna talks with Mary Venancio before taking her blood pressure and sharing the results with her.