Free Cardiac Screening Coming to Seneca High School
Launch the media gallery 1 playerMorris Hospital & Healthcare Centers will bring the Rhythm Of Our Youth Cardiac Screening Program to Seneca High School on September 29, 2020. All students whose parents authorize them to be tested will be screened.
This program provides free cardiac screenings which include an ECG (electrocardiogram) to identify high school students at risk for sudden cardiac death and to increase the public's awareness of this issue. Please be aware that repeat ECG testing is recommended every two years.
A simple ECG, when used to screen physically active young persons can detect certain serious heart conditions. Recording the electrical activity of the heart using electrodes attached to the skin with a mild adhesive, can detect approximately 60% of the abnormalities or “markers” from these heart conditions that are associated with sudden cardiac death that a stethoscope cannot. Please note that ECG screenings result in approximately 2% of the tests being falsely positive. This may require additional evaluation and testing by your physician. We believe that the benefit of this potentially lifesaving screening outweighs this concern. There may also be other cardiac conditions that may not be identified by this screening.
Risks associated with the actual screening event are minimal. Failure to follow-up with the student’s physician after the parent was notified of an abnormal finding would potentiate risk. Also, this screening event is a “snapshot” in time, and findings on the ECG are documents of what is occurring at that particular point in time. Changes in the child’s ECG can occur at any time.
We encourage you to discuss this screening with your child. Your child’s participation in the screening is your decision. We want to assure you that students’ confidentiality, privacy and individual modesty will be respected throughout all aspects of the program. Only female technicians will test girls and they will be screened in an area separate from boys.
Each student may participate in the screening, but they must have a signed consent form by a parent or legal guardian prior to the screening. If you registered your student while you completed school registration your son/daughter should be good. If you are unsure whether you completed this process or not please click the link below to register online with the Morris Hospital. Once their website page has opened you will scroll down to "Student Consent Form." This will register your son/daughter with the hospital and then student names will be given to the High School so we know which students are registered to have the EKG. We have hard copy forms available in the office if you would rather do it via paper form and ALL forms need to be submitted to the school (or online) no later than September 20th.
The Rhythm Of Our Youth Cardiac Screening is being provided this year to Seneca High School by Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers. For more information about this program or to register, please visit the link on www.morrishospital.org/rhythmofouryouth website. If you have questions, please contact us at 815-705-7361.