CVS/pharmacy kicks off To Your Health tour
WOONSOCKET, R.I. CVS/pharmacy is offering free health screenings and consultations in urban communities through a program dubbed To Your Health.
Starting April 17, the pharmacy retailer will host nearly 300 To Your Health events in Atlanta, Washington (June 12) and Philadelphia (June 19).
The events are an extension of the CVS/pharmacy A Su Salud program, which has brought similar services to Hispanic customers in such markets as Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston and Miami.
Through the To Your Health program, CVS/pharmacy is looking to specifically address the critical health issues among African-Americans, who often have higher rates of diabetes and high blood pressure. For example, the rate of diabetes among African-Americans is 11.8% (vs. 6.6% of non-Hispanic whites), according to the American Diabetes Association.
"Chronic diseases like diabetes disproportionately affect the African-American population and early detection can make a tremendous difference for a disease that must be managed for a lifetime," stated Troyen Brennan, chief medical officer for CVS Caremark. "We urge patients to find out if their blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol are within a healthy range."
In 2009, CVS/pharmacy screened more than 195,000 attendees at A Su Salud events across the country. Of the individuals screened, many health concerns were discovered, including:
- 33% had high cholesterol
- 36% had a high to moderate risk of developing osteoporosis
- 28% had hypertension
- 22% had diabetes, with more than half being diabetes for the first time.
Once screened, CVS/pharmacy helps patients through on-site consultations with physicians who analyze the results and refer patients to no-cost, low-cost medical facilities nearby or to their primary care physician should additional follow-up be required.