Heart Screening
The Heart Screening Program is provided to the Central Oregon community through generous funding from the Children's Heart Fund of the St. Charles Foundation. The purpose of this program is to raise awareness about heart defects, recognize otherwise undetected heart defects, and to remember young people in our community who have died from a congenital heart problem. Through this program, we perform quarterly heart screenings at high schools in Central and Eastern Oregon.
The screening tests include an electrocardiogram (EKG), and a limited echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). Cholesterol screening may be offered at a small additional cost. These tests focus on detection of some of the heart problems that can lead to sudden death in young people. These problems include hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (an abnormal thickening of the heart muscle), an abnormal enlargement of the aorta (the main blood vessel that leaves the heart), certain heart valve abnormalities, and abnormal electrical activity in the heart that could lead to arrhythmias. These problems are rare, and may easily be missed on a routine physical exam. To date, we have screened nearly 4000 student athletes. Most of those found to have significant heart abnormalities were able to successfully return to their normal life, including sports, after correction of their heart problem.
Please note that this screening is not a substitute for your child’s required sports physical, or for a complete cardiac evaluation if you or your doctor have a concern about a heart problem. For questions about the screening program, please contact us at (541)706-2787. If you would like to donate to the Children's Heart Fund, please contact our office.
The screening tests include an electrocardiogram (EKG), and a limited echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). Cholesterol screening may be offered at a small additional cost. These tests focus on detection of some of the heart problems that can lead to sudden death in young people. These problems include hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (an abnormal thickening of the heart muscle), an abnormal enlargement of the aorta (the main blood vessel that leaves the heart), certain heart valve abnormalities, and abnormal electrical activity in the heart that could lead to arrhythmias. These problems are rare, and may easily be missed on a routine physical exam. To date, we have screened nearly 4000 student athletes. Most of those found to have significant heart abnormalities were able to successfully return to their normal life, including sports, after correction of their heart problem.
Please note that this screening is not a substitute for your child’s required sports physical, or for a complete cardiac evaluation if you or your doctor have a concern about a heart problem. For questions about the screening program, please contact us at (541)706-2787. If you would like to donate to the Children's Heart Fund, please contact our office.