Our heartbeat, strongly linked to our mission at Matrix Medical Network (Matrix), is to create solutions to improve the quality and affordability of health care for the members that are entrusted to us by our health care customers.

Our “heart” longed to reach more members, so Matrix decided to take our “heart health” mission where they live …in the form of Mobile Health Clinics.

One of the unique features of the Mobile Health Clinic to improve quality and affordability of health care is cardiovascular testing. Our Mobile Health Clinics offer a comprehensive health assessment conducted by a board certified provider, who is able to order an Electrocardiogram (ECG) and/or an Echocardiogram (ECHO) for members who have cardiac risk factors. The tests are performed on board the mobile health clinic by a cardiovascular technician in a comfortable setting.

The ECG looks at the electrical activity of the heart and helps the provider determine the rate and regularity of the heartbeat.

The ECHO looks at the pumping activity of the heart, the valves and chambers, using an ultrasound machine. An Interpreting Physician will evaluate the results and a report is sent to the member’s primary care physician (PCP) to support the goals of quality patient care. The PCP assumes responsibility for treating and referring the member to a specialist if indicated.

These two tests are so important to the heart health of the member as they provide a good measurement of how healthy the heart is, or can be, with the proper intervention and treatment that starts with the Matrix team and continues with the member’s PCP or Specialist.

Remember, early detection saves lives!

Matrix mobile health clinics deliver community-based care with enhanced cardiovascular diagnostic capabilities that cannot be done in the home. Learn more about the mobile health clinics.

During the month of February, matters of the heart are often top of mind. From chart-topping songs telling stories of heartbreak to holidays dedicated to the celebration of love, we all seem to be focused on the heart, in a metaphorical sense anyway.

But, behind those multi-colored candy hearts and arrow-wielding cherubs there lies a more serious topic. February marks the beginning of American Heart Month, a federally-designated event that has sought to raise awareness for heart disease and stroke since it was first proclaimed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

It’s the goal of organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and the American Heart Association to increase awareness of heart health and lower the risks for heart disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States. Both organizations emphasize the importance of regular exams and testing from a healthcare provider.

Within our Matrix Medical Network (Matrix) Clinical Education team, and the Matrix providers in the field, the heart is an organ or pump that sits behind the sternum and sends oxygen rich blood throughout the body with every beat that is electrically initiated. The heart beats at an average rate of 80 times per minute, which is about 42 million times a year.

Thankfully, most of us do not have to think about how or why the heart beats, but ALL of US should be concerned about keeping that heartbeat going strong and healthy for the whole of our lives. Awareness of traditional risk factors, education about heart health and lifestyle modifications can help to mitigate the risk for heart conditions, such as coronary artery disease.

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) applies to the arteries that supply blood flow to the heart muscle. The diagnosis of CAD indicates that the individual has atherosclerosis or plaque in the coronary arteries. Atherosclerosis builds up and damages the coronary arteries causing platelet aggregation, resulting in a blockage. Atherosclerosis minimizes the blood flow and can lead to ischemia or a myocardial infarction.^[1]

Assessing heart health is part of the Matrix Comprehensive Health Assessment (CHA). During the member visit, the Matrix provider spends a portion of the visit asking about issues of the heart…the organ and the vessels in a physical sense that is.

Matrix providers ask questions to assess the member’s risk for heart related disorders, perform a physical exam, and conduct testing. Members are asked if they have a family history of Coronary Artery Disease and when their last Cholesterol screen was done. Providers assess for signs or symptoms that may indicate a heart problem, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeats, previous surgeries, and history of hospital admissions. Providers on the Matrix Mobile Health Clinic are able to further evaluate the heart using EKG and Echocardiogram testing. The thorough assessment of the whole body system enables the provider to learn more about the overall health of the member’s heart, and to make recommendations regarding following up with their primary care physician or specialist based on these findings.

Follow our posts this month as we address additional topics focused on heart health during American Heart Month.

¹ Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors. (2009, December 2). Retrieved from https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/184989

By Daniel Castillo, MD, MBA

Jen, a Matrix Nurse Practitioner, recently shared the following story with me:

John (name changed for privacy), a member who had received a Matrix in-home assessment the previous year, hugged me. I was a bit surprised but before I could say “Hi”, he told me the story of what led to that hug. The previous year, as part of his health assessment, I had discussed the importance of colon cancer screening and left a fecal occult stool test kit with him.  After his screening test had come back positive, his primary care doctor gave him a referral for a follow up colonoscopy, which revealed a precancerous lesion that was successfully removed.  He was told by his doctor that the early screening test that led to the colonoscopy likely saved his life. His hug was his way of saying “thank you”. 

I wanted to share John’s story today since March is designated as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness month. The focus on awareness points to the importance of appropriate education to help individuals overcome barriers on getting screened for colorectal cancer (CRC). There are various risk factors that contribute to the incidence of developing CRC like being age 50 and older, having a first degree relative that’s had colorectal cancer and smoking (for a full list of risk factors, please visit the American Cancer Society website). Screening, which has been shown to have decreased the incidence of colorectal cancer over the last few years is critically important since the disease still affects approximately 1 in 22 men and 1 in 24 women, meaning that most people’s lives will at some point be touched by this disease.¹

As with John’s story above, the goal of screening is for the early detection and effective treatment of CRC before it is too late.

Despite the improvements, screening rates still can increase, with only 50 percent of eligible populations currently participating. Colonoscopy has long been the standard methodology for CRC screening, but the required test preparation, test anxiety and costs for the test itself have been barriers for some populations.²

Several other effective screening methods are now available that require no test preparation or dietary restrictions. These tests include stool-based blood detection and DNA tests which can be done by the individual in their home. If abnormal results are detected during the stool based screenings, a follow-up colonoscopy will be performed. Strong evidence indicates that less-invasive screening options have been effective in boosting screening rates.

Matrix Medical Network (Matrix) offers stool-based blood detection as part of our comprehensive health assessment. Matrix receives data files from health plans that identifies members that might not have the recommended CRC screening. Our nurse practitioners educate the members on the importance of the tests and will deliver the results directly to the member’s primary care provider.

Screening for CRC may uncover a life threatening disease when it can still be effectively treated. Matrix works together with health plans, providers and most importantly members to drive an increase in appropriate CRC screening, which can save lives. Just ask John.

Contact us today to learn more about how Matrix CRC screening can help improve members health and wellness.

References:

¹ American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Colorectal Cancer. Atlanta, Ga: American Cancer Society; 2019.

² The Importance of Colorectal Cancer Screening. Retrieved March 9, 2019, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4365838/