When screening for chronic conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes, upon completion of the screen, patients always ask, “Is that number good or bad?” While their value may fall within or out of the normal range, I try to emphasize that the value is neither good or bad. There are many external factors that could cause a value to be as it is given. It is only a value and must be viewed in the context it is detected.

Patients are vulnerable to being labelled at a screening. A responsible healthcare practitioner would avoid doing this in such a setting because most, if not all equipment used in screenings is not authorized to accurately diagnose patients at public screenings. They are done to identify a patient’s need to follow-up with their physician if their value falls out of the normal range. However, this is easier said than done.

Patients want an answer – they want to know if they have diabetes or blood pressure problems, etc.. After all, what’s the point of the screening? I try to explain that the value obtained is like a “snapshot” of the body’s function at that point in time. The obtained value provides information on how the individual is taking care of themselves. If the value falls outside of the normal range, high or low, then the healthcare worker should take the time to explain what the number means and what the patient must do next by giving the patient a mini action plan or counseling. I find that this approach works best as it preserves the patient’s sense of well-being and provides a guide for them to take action in “normalizing” their values.

As the new year starts, please make it a priority to get screened as often as necessary for your gender and age. It has been proven that early detection can not only save lives, it results in reduced healthcare costs.

Until next week, stay healthy.

Dion