Committed to providing the residents of Southern Illinois' small towns with the care they need, St. Mary's Good Samaritan Inc. took its vascular screenings out of its hospitals to the office of cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. John Codd in Mount Vernon and beyond.

Vascular refers to the body's blood vessels. The screening tests are non-invasive, and can safely and effectively detect major vascular problems such as peripheral arterial disease, carotid artery disease which can lead to strokes and abdominal aortic aneurysms. These screenings provide patient and their physicians with the information for making decisions about the most appropriate treatment.

"We knew we could do more to raise awareness and prevent stroke or death from vascular disease in our area by taking our services closer to home," Dr. Codd said.

Vascular disease can be fatal, because the illness frequently goes undetected until a catastrophic event, such as a stroke or aneurysms.  St. Mary's Good Samaritan serves a nine-county area.  Each month, members of the radiology department visit a community to perform the non-invasive and safe screenings.  The screenings provide patients and their physicians with information for making decisions about treatment.
Typically at the monthly screenings, 10 to 20 patients undergo the 20-minute screenings.  The testing is offered at a reduced cost.  For more information, e-mail Brandi-Watson@ssmhc.com.