[1]DALLAS (BP)–GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention (formerly the Annuity Board) has joined with Life Line Screening (LLS) to make high-quality screenings conveniently available to Southern Baptists at an affordable rate.
The mission of LLS, the nation’s leading provider of preventive health screenings, is to make people aware of undetected health problems and encourage them to seek follow-up care with their physicians.
“GuideStone Financial Resources is pleased to make Life Line Screening’s services available to Southern Baptists,” said Doug Day, executive officer of benefit services for GuideStone. “We believe this program will reinforce our commitment to help Southern Baptists take charge of their own health.”
Screenings scan for potential health problems related to: blocked arteries that can lead to stroke, aortic aneurysms that can lead to a ruptured aorta and hardening of the arteries in the legs, a strong predictor of heart disease. Also offered for men and women is a bone density screening to assess their risk for osteoporosis. The tests are fast and accurate, providing results for participants to review with their own personal physicians.
“Life Line Screening does not replace your personal physician,” Day said. “The screenings simply try to provide you and your doctor with more information that can help to reduce your risk for complications from vascular disease and osteoporosis.”
All Southern Baptists are eligible to participate in Life Line Screenings at the Annuity Board’s reduced rates. Interested individuals can call Life Line Screenings directly at 1-800-403-7417 for information about screenings in their area.
[2]LLS normally performs screenings at community sites such as churches or community centers. In 2004, LLS will hold more than 14,000 screening events across the country and expects to hold more than 17,000 events in 2005. To date, more than 2 million people have been screened.
Since more than half of the individuals who have a stroke show no symptoms prior to the attack, it is important to have a screening to identify problems before symptoms arise and potentially avoid a serious problem.
“Individuals who take advantage of the preventive health screenings made available through LLS may be able to identify warning signs of serious illness before a problem occurs,” Day said. “We want to motivate individuals to become aware of signs and symptoms of health problems and to modify their lifestyles for personal health and wellness.”
The results of the screenings are mailed directly to the individual. If results are within the normal range, he or she receives a letter explaining the results along with a written report to share with the individual’s doctor. If LLS recommends further evaluation, the individual receives a letter explaining the results, a written report of the screening results and the pictures of the arteries scanned so that he or she can follow up with a personal physician. LLS also will provide the individual with a detailed receipt that can be submitted to his or her insurance company to determine coverage.
LLS screenings utilize state-of-the-art Doppler color flow ultrasound technology — the same ultrasound technology found in most hospitals. All LLS sonographers are experienced and have completed formal training programs in ultrasound and clinical rotations in a hospital environment. Results are read and interpreted by a board-certified physician. LLS doctors include vascular surgeons, cardiologists and radiologists.
In June, messengers to the SBC annual meeting in Indianapolis approved GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention as the new name for the Annuity Board and authorized use of the new name pending the second vote at the SBC’s June 2005 annual meeting in Nashville, Tenn.
–30–
Wendy Ashley is a project team leader in the communications department for the Annuity Board.