News
Annual Heart Health Checks now available at DFMC
Dalyellup Family Medical Centre and the National Heart Foundation have joined together to offer our patients Heart Health Checks. If you are 45 and over and do not already have heart disease, you are eligible for an annual Heart Health Check under Medicare. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are eligible from 30 years old.
Having a Heart Health Check is an important first step to protecting your heart.
The National Heart Foundation state that:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounts for more than one in four deaths in Australia and accounts for over 1,600 hospitalisations each day. Yet atherosclerotic CVD (coronary heart disease including heart attacks, ischaemic strokes and peripheral vascular disease) is largely preventable.
Why is a Heart Health Check important?
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Australia. Many heart attacks and strokes can be prevented through healthy behaviours like eating a heart healthy diet, being active, maintaining a healthy weight and being smoke free. Many people may not know their risk of developing heart disease, especially since they often can’t feel risk factors like high blood pressure and cholesterol.
One Australian has a heart attack or stroke every four minutes, which makes it vital that we prioritise the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
General practice teams play a pivotal role in the fight against CVD
You may be sent a SMS message from the Heart Foundation inviting you to contact the Practice to book in for Heart Health Check. The message will also give you links for further information on their website. You are also given the chance to opt out in the SMS.
What does it mean for me ?
If you would like a Heart Health Check you will be booked in with the Nurse for a 30 min appointment, which will be followed by a 15 min appointment with your usual GP. This might be on a different day.
The fee for the two appointments (payable when you see your Doctor) which also include a recording of your heart activity (called an ECG) is:
- Pension Card Holders will be bulk billed- no out of pocket expense
- Health Care Card Holders will be given a discounted fee with an out of pocket expense of $41.50
- Private fee will have an out of pocket expense of $57.30