Free Blood Pressure Screening––

 

Privacy Laws Affect Nurse/Patient Interactions

By Dottie Evans

The faces may be familiar, but the names and the ages are not required.

“I’m always happy when a familiar person walks through the door, someone who I’ve seen come in before. But unless they’ve introduced themselves, I might not have a name to go with the face,” said Ashlar of Newtown registered nurse Mary Keller, speaking Wednesday, July 30.

Ms Keller sat behind a table in the main floor genealogy room of the Cyrenius Booth Library, which is where she can be found every fourth Wednesday of every month. She is available from 10 am to noon to take a routine blood pressure reading for anyone who asks for it. And she will fill out their medical record cards, accordingly, with the date and the reading.

During the holidays, the free blood pressure screening might happen on the third Wednesday instead of the fourth, but it is always available. Ms Keller has been at her library post for nearly two years now, and she also takes readings at least one evening a week at Ashlar of Newtown. Ashlar is a private, assisted living facility located on Toddy Hill Road in Sandy Hook.

The recently adopted privacy laws stipulate that a medical provider may not ask for name, age, or gender, and Ms Keller says this has changed the relationship between nurse and patient in a subtle way that is not necessarily good or bad –– just different.

Weather Does Matter

Ms Keller always keeps a record of her Wednesday library visitors –– if not by name, at least by number. She also records the weather conditions for each session, just to see whether that affects the turnout. It definitely does, she commented.

“On the day before Thanksgiving 2002, we had seven inches of snow and no one came in. Then the next month, we had it the third Wednesday in December and we had more than usual. Obviously, they did not want to miss two months in a row,” Ms Keller said.

The free blood pressure screening service at the library has been offered for at least eight years, according to Ashlar administrator Dolores Rusko.

“It’s nice to have the opportunity to go get your blood pressure read once a month without going to the doctor’s office,” Ms Rusko said Monday.

“A lot of people suffer from white-coat syndrome,” which she said is a fear of doctors resulting in a raised blood pressure reading.

“When they walk into the library and see a familiar face that is not threatening, they are more relaxed. People have come to depend upon her [Ms Keller].”

Other Places In Town

 Where Blood Pressure May Be Checked

Newtown Health District Director Donna McCarthy recently reminded Newtown residents that having their blood pressure checked on a regular basis was a quick, painless procedure, and a very good idea for anyone concerned with maintaining good health.

According to Ashlar of Newtown RN Mary Keller, any reading at or below 130/80 is considered normal. A reading where either the first or the second number is higher would indicate that follow-up with a physician is needed.

“I fill out their cards so they can keep track of the trends. Then they can show the card to their doctors during an office visit,” Ms Keller said.

“If the numbers are good, that’s great! If it’s [blood pressure] high, it’s a good thing you found out; now you can follow up with your physician on how to get it down to a better range,” Ms McCarthy said.

Other places beside the Cyrenius Booth Library where residents may obtain free blood pressure readings are:

Stop & Shop, South Main Street, has a blood pressure machine in front of the pharmacy.

Drug Center Pharmacy, Church Hill Road, does screenings by appointment.

The Connecticut Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) runs blood pressure screenings the last Wednesday of each month from 11 am to noon at Nunnawauk Meadows, Nunnawauk Road,

St Rose Parish also offers screenings on the first Saturday and the first Sunday of every month, administered after mass by volunteers.