cardiovascular disease screening

(Camden, New Jersey) Cooper University Hospital has been awarded a five-year grant totaling $1,307,706 from the Salem Health and Wellness Foundation (SH&WF) to provide health screening and counseling for cardiovascular disease (CV), peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and osteoporosis for residents of Salem County. The grant is the second largest ever awarded by the Foundation. Since 2005, the Cooper Heart Institute has partnered with the Salem Health and Wellness Foundation for the Salem County Cardiovascular Health Initiative (SCCHI). During the past three years, Sherri Jenkins, R.N., Community Health Educator, and her team screened more than 7,700 Salem County residents for cardiovascular problems. Salem County has the highest rate of heart disease and the highest mortality rate associated with heart disease in New Jersey. To combat these staggering statistics, Cooper instituted a program of screenings at over 250 various events and locations throughout the county. Health educational follow-up was provided and more than 33% of these patients sought medical help from area physicians based on the screening results.