Kronos Health Screening Descriptions
Blood Tests
The following are done via a ‘finger stick.’
Total cholesterol, glucose
(blood sugar), HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides
Results are available within five minutes. These tests are used to assess risks of heart disease, metabolic syndrome and diabetes. To ensure an accurate measurement, the participant will be required to fast at least 2-4 hours for the Basic screening package and 4-6 hours for the Intermediate and Advanced packages prior to testing. For accurate triglyceride results (the Advanced package) 12 hours of fasting is recommended.
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HbA1C
The hemoglobin A1C is an estimate of blood sugar levels over about three months time. It can indicate blood sugar highs over the previous months even when a fasting blood sugar is normal. In diabetic patients, it is used to monitor control of their disease.
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Liver Function Test- ALT
The liver enzyme ALT or alkaline transaminase increases above normal for many reasons including, but not limited to liver disease including those due to excess alcohol, hepatitis, biliary disease, fatty liver, medication use, congestive heart disease as well as strenuous exercise before testing.
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The following requires a venipuncture (needle) rather than a finger stick.
Prostate Specific Antigen
This PSA is one of the screening tests for men over 40-50 years old for prostate disease. When the prostate enlarges either from BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) or cancer, the PSA tends to rise. No fasting is required.
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Vitals
Blood Pressure
A health professional will use a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope to measure systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Although one elevated blood pressure reading is not a diagnosis of high blood pressure, or hypertension, it can indicate a need for closer monitoring.
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Height & Weight Measurements
An person’s height and weight measurements are used to determine body mass index and are helpful in setting weight loss goals.
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Body Composition
Our body composition service is much more in-depth. BMI can be deceiving in muscular individuals since muscle weighs more than fat. Thus, if a person exercises regularly they may have a higher BMI indicating that they are overweight; when in fact they are not overweight (they just happen to weigh more due to excess muscle). This test takes approximately 5 minutes and requires the participant to be measured.
Our Body Composition service measures:
- Weight
- BMI – A ratio of a person’s height to weight – tells us generally if a person is overweight
- Fat % - Percentage of body fat on a person’s body (calculated with a Tanita® BIA (bioelectrical impedance) Scale to determine percent body composition. This technology measures the impedance or resistance to an electrical signal as it travels through the water that is found in muscle and fat to provide an accurate report of the participant’s percentage of body fat to lean muscle mass.)
- BMR – Basal Metabolic Rate, which represents the amount of energy (measured in calories), a person needs to maintain their basic functions at rest (i.e. breathing, thinking, etc.).
- Impedance – An indicator of your fat vs. lean mass (shows us how much muscle a person has on his/her body)
- Fat Mass – Total weight of fat mass on the body.
- Fat Free Mass – Total weight of fat-free mass (i.e. bones, muscle, water, tissue, etc.)
- Total Body Water – Total amount of water retained in the body
When compared to standard ranges, all of these measurements can tell us (and each participant):
- How much muscle they have on their body (which affects their metabolism, ability to lose weight & overall health)
- How much fat they have on their body (which is a strong risk factor for heart disease if that fat sits mostly around the abdomen)
- How many calories that person needs at rest if they didn’t participate in any physical activity (and in turn, how many calories they should consume if they did exercise)
- How many calories that person needs to lose ½-2 lbs of body weight a week (if they are over weight)
Education and Review
Exit Counseling
A Screening Technician reviews a participant’s results with him or her, comparing them to national standards. If necessary, the counselor completes a High-Risk Referral Form to refer the participant to his or her primary care physician.
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Exit Coaching
A Kronos Health Educator reviews results with each participant, and compares them to national standards. In addition, the Health Educator utilizes motivational interviewing techniques to discuss any identified health risks, provide general recommendations and answers questions. If necessary, the counselor completes a High-Risk Referral Form* to refer the participant to his or her primary care physician.
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Other health screening services:
Bone Density Screening
For patients 50 years and up, pre-screening with heel ultrasound is a quick way to determine if more involved spine and hip bone densitometry is warranted. The Sahara Clinical Bone Sonometer® uses ultrasound for a quick, radiation-free assessment of skeletal status. This screening test provides the participant with a T-Score, which is a measurement used to define normal bone mass, low bone mass (osteopenia) or osteoporosis (significantly low bone mass with an increased risk of a broken bone).
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Skin Cancer Screening
This limited visual exam begins by the participant completing a brief health history and screening limitations form before being seen by a physician or physician assistant. The practitioner will examine the exposed areas of the skin (i.e., face, neck, arms, hands and in some cases legs). The participant then receives a report of the findings (with recommendation for follow-up if need is identified) and educational material.
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Vision Screening
This basic distance vision test is provided by a health care professional utilizing a Snelling visual acuity chart.
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Nicotine Test
Levels in the blood stream of carbon monoxide tend to correlate with the number of cigarettes smoked, as well as how deeply a smoker inhales. Measuring the level of carbon monoxide with a simple device can differentiate between nonsmokers and smokers. We use a simple device with a one-way, disposable mouthpiece to measure the amount of CO in exhaled breath. The test takes less than 2 minutes.
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Hearing Test
The Earscan® 3 is a manual audiometer that measures pure tone air conduction. In other words, it measures hearing at different pitches (frequencies) and different intensities (volumes) with a tone conducted through a special set of headphones. The participant will receive a printout with the volumes they can hear each frequency and recommendations if follow up is needed.
Lung Test
Peak expiratory flow occurs at the beginning of forced expiration. A peak flow meter is used to measure this effort-dependent flow. An abnormally decreased peak flow can indicate moderate to severe airway obstruction as seen in asthma and emphysema.
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Vaccinations
One time pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccines and annual flu shots are also available. The “pneumonia shot” protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria. The flu shot is recommended annually since the virus changes so rapidly. Therefore, one year’s vaccination doesn’t cover against the flu the next year. Because we use an inactivated vaccine, there is no way to get the flu from the shot. Flu shot season starts in October, but we recommend pre-booking as soon as you know you are interested.
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