For Immediate Release

For more information, contact:
Kitty Hietala, 507-233-1209

Heart of New Ulm announces first community-wide heart health screenings starting May 15

NEW ULM, Minn. 04/21/2009--After seven months of intense planning, the Heart of New Ulm project will be offering its first community-wide heart health screenings Friday, May 15 from 6 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 16 from 7 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Vogel Arena. The Heart of New Ulm project is a 10-year initiative to significantly reduce or eventually eliminate heart attack deaths among New Ulm residents.

The heart health screenings take about 20-30 minutes and involve completing a family and personal health history questionnaire, blood pressure check, blood draws, and weight, height, and waist circumference. Participants will receive their Heart of New Ulm Lifestyle Score, which uses a scale of 1 to 10 indicating one's risk for having a heart attack. The score is based on five lifestyle factors that influence a person’s overall health. Participants also receive via mail a more detailed report on their risk of heart attack within one week of the screening that integrates their blood tests information with other screening data.

Health coaches will be on hand to review results and provide recommended action steps to help reduce their risk for heart attack. In addition, participants are encouraged to get involved in the Move to Improve Community Challenge, a free eight-week program to help community residents get 150 minutes of physical activity each week.

Pre-registration is encouraged. You can pre-register by logging on to project’s web site, select Health Screenings, and select Community Screening Open to Public at Vogel Arena. Or, call Betsy Pieser, Heart of New Ulm community coordinator, at 507-233-2048.

The Heart of New Ulm project has also created a Facebook page to create a community conversation where people can ask questions, comment on the project, find updates on upcoming events and screenings. To join, log on to www.facebook.com, search for Heart of New Ulm and join.

The Heart of New Ulm project is a collaborative partnership of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, New Ulm Medical Center and the City of New Ulm.

About New Ulm Medical Center

Part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, New Ulm Medical Center is a not-for-profit regional medical center, including a hospital and clinic, committed to providing exceptional care and improving the health of the communities it serves in and around Brown County. Information about NUMC's services, along with the latest health information, can be found online at www.newulmmedicalcenter.com.

About Allina Hospitals & Clinics

Allina Hospitals & Clinics is a not-for-profit family of hospitals, clinics and other care services dedicated to meeting the lifelong health care needs of communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. New Ulm medical Center is part of Allina.

About the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation

The Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation at Abbott Northwestern Hospital is creating a world without heart disease through groundbreaking clinical research and innovative educational programs. Abbott Northwestern Hospital is part of Allina.