LDS Hospital Fitness Institute
www.ihc.com/ldsh/fitness/index.html
801-408-5768

Aug. 16, 2000

As lives get busier, sometimes health problems are ignored. LDS Hospital recognizes that, and has created a program where you can get all the basic health tests done at once.

Suzie Cushing began to worry about her health after she learned there is a history of cancer in her family.

Suzie Cushing/Fitness Institute Patient: "MY MOTHER DIED ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO OF COLON CANCER. AND SHE WAS 60 YEARS OLD. IT WAS KIND OF A WAKE UP CALL."

But she doesn't have a lot of free time to go repeatedly to the doctor for check-ups.

Now, she has found something that she can fit in her schedule. The LDS Hospital Fitness Institute has created a program where women can get all their check-ups done at once.

"WHAT WE'LL DO IT KIND OF LOOK AND YOUR BALANCE. WE'LL REALLY TUNE IN ON YOUR POSTURE."

The institute offers general tests such as a physical exam, blood work, and heart rate testing.

Part of why the hospital set up the program is because they are finding more heart disease in women.

Dr. Scott Hansen/LDS Hospital Fitness Institute: "WE SOMETIMES THINK THAT MEN ARE THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE MOST OF THE PROBLEMS WITH HEART DISEASE, OR WITH SOME OF THE MORE SILENT KILLERS. BUT WE FIND THAT WOMEN ALSO ARE BENEFITING. WE ARE FINDING CARDIAC RISK FACTORS THAT NEED TO BE MODIFIED. WE ARE CERTAINLY FINDING ISSUES IN WEIGHT MANAGEMENT. "

That's something Lori Ririe is worried about. Ririe did the treadmill test and the hydrostatic weighing.

And Cushing - who was nervous before the tests - was glad to get it over with all in one day.

Suzie Cushing/LDS Hospital Fitness Institute: "I LIKE BEING TO COME JUST ONE DAY AND HAVE IT ALL BE DONE. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO GO THE DOCTOR AND HAVE YOUR BLOOD DONE AND THEN YOU COME BACK AGAIN IN A WEEK OR SO AND DO MORE THINGS."

Now, the program is not designd to diagnose major problems, just to give you a baseline health checkup.

The women also say that being at the hospital for a half day gives them time to talk about their health concerns - something they sometimes can't during regular doctor checkups.

LDS Hospital Fitness Institute's website: www.ihc.com/ldsh/fitness/index.html

Phone number: 801-408-5768