Rochester Regional Health partners with troopers union to identify health risks
Law enforcement officers have a life expectancy that is significantly reduced compared with the average American and are often at higher-than-average risk for developing heart disease. In partnership with the New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association and the union’s State Trooper Surgeons Group, Rochester Regional Health created the Lifesaving Heart Screening Initiative to identify early warning signs and provide proactive, potentially lifesaving care.
Screenings take place at RRH’s Sands-Constellation Heart Institute, during which troopers receive:
- routine bloodwork;
- cardiac calcium scans, which use a CT scanner to look for calcium buildup in the coronary arteries;
- fasting glucose tests to look for diabetes or prediabetes;
- fasting lipid profiles, including checking LDL and HDL cholesterol; and
- EKGs.
Participants then have consultations with RRH cardiologists who specialize in identifying risk factors and developing personalized prevention strategies to reduce officers’ cardiovascular risks on and off the job. Troopers also receive a summary of their results, which are shared with their primary care physician to continue any follow-up care. This partnership between the PBA Surgeons Group and RRH ensures troopers can access quality preventative care to address potential health problems before they turn serious.
Since 2020, RRH and the union have partnered to offer eight cardiac screening events, serving 100 union members. RRH plans to expand this partnership to include additional screenings for colon and prostate cancer, as well as testosterone level assessments, offering a more comprehensive approach to preventive care for law enforcement officers. RRH is also exploring opportunities to extend this partnership beyond the New York State Troopers PBA to include additional Rochester-area law enforcement agencies.
For more information about the program, contact Cristina Domingues, public relations advisor, at cristina.dominguesumbrino@rochesterregional.org or 585.414.7895.
