Farm Bureau Membership Helps Save Lives
Published
2/5/2014
By Peggy Jo Goodfellow, Arizona Farm Bureau: I think we would all agree that our health is important. As a wife, mother and grandmother, what really matters to me is that the people I love are happy and healthy. Everything else is just sugar on top. George Bernard Shaw once said, “Give a man good health and a course to steer, and he’ll never stop to trouble about whether he’s happy or not.”
We want our dairy, crop and beef farmers and ranchers to be healthy. We also want our non-agriculture members to live a happy, healthy life.
Just over a year ago, an Arizona Dairyman and Farm Bureau member took part in a pilot program with Life Line Screening to see if this member benefit would help our members. He had five screenings that took about an hour. They were held at a convenient location, it was quick and easy, plus the screening staff was very pleasant and professional. Our member had his results back within 21 days. The best part, the diagnosis reported he was healthy!
Since then, over 230 members of Farm Bureau have had these simple, potentially life saving screenings done. Many people who have suffered from stokes, aneurysm or vascular disease have had no prior symptoms or warning signs. Remember, you can’t just walk into your doctor’s office and order these screenings if you don’t exhibit any symptoms.
Should you take these life saving tests?
- Stroke/Carotid Artery
- Heart Rhythm
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
- Peripheral Arterial Disease
The answer is yes! The annual report from this Farm Bureau member benefit provider reported the results on each of the five screenings. The results show that 12 members were in the critical or significant risk category. They were encouraged to immediately share the results of their screenings with their doctor.
Our Health Care benefit section on azfb.org will give you information on a variety of health care offerings through your Farm Bureau membership.