March 2007 | Vol. 25, No. 3

First Lutheran Church Holds P.A.D. Screening and Education: ABI screening a big success even with sub-zero temperatures

By Judy Fried, RN, RVT, CVN, FSVU
Director Ancillary Services
Mid Dakota Clinic
Bismarck, ND

Judy Fried (left) and Ellen Forderer (right) assist a patient with the paperwork for her ABI screening exam.

Judy Fried performs an ABI study on a patient at First Luthern Church.

Ellen Forderer, RN, and I recently joined together to provide education about peripheral arterial disease to members of the First Lutheran Church in Bismarck, ND. Since we are long time friends and nurses we decided the national Peripheral Arterial Disease (P.A.D.) Coalition “Keep in Circulation” Campaign was a perfect opportunity to offer free ABI screenings and education to our church members.

As the SVU representative to the P.A.D. Coalition, I have been very excited about this campaign and anxious to participate in my home town. Five generations of my family have attended First Lutheran Church. My long time friend, Ellen Forderer RN, our Parish Nurse, and I decided to offer education to our church members along with ABI screening. Ellen published information in the church newsletter and church bulletins utilizing the education materials on the P.A.D Coalition website (http://www.padcoalition.org/wp). To stimulate interest, we downloaded the free education materials from the P.A.D. Coalition website and published interesting facts in our church newsletter several weeks prior to our screening date of February 3, 2007. We also gave each participant information pertinent to their medical history or general information as indicated.

Even though it was 19 degrees below zero outside, all church members who had signed up, came to the screening! Many positive comments were received, including: “this is great”, “thanks for the information”. As a plus, I also taught Ellen how to do ABI’s. We shared laughter as she attempted to keep the arterial signal and coordinate the Doppler and blood pressure cuff. All of our church members expressed appreciation for the free screening. This was a fun and educational experience for members of our church. We are planning on scheduling another screening and education session.

Also, in December 2006, Bill Altringer, MD, Medical Director at Mid Dakota Clinic in Bismarck, ND, presented education to the physicians and nurse practioners at the Clinic’s Center for Women. The information was received well and the timing was great as more women choose to see their Ob/Gyn physicians for primary care also.