Apache County offers cardiac, organ screenings in four communities this spring

Apache County is bringing cardiac and organ screenings to four communities this spring, a move that puts preventive testing within reach for residents and county employees who may otherwise have to travel long distances for specialty care. The screenings are open to all ages, with people 35 and older especially encouraged to take part. For employees and dependents covered by the Arizona Local Government Employee Benefit Trust medical plan, the screening is covered at 100%; everyone else must pay $345 for the full testing at the time of the appointment.

The county’s schedule places the screenings at the St. Johns Library on May 11, May 12 and May 13, then at the Round Valley Library in Eagar on May 14. Two more stops are set for later in the year: the Ganado Road Yard Conference Room on June 15 and the administration conference room on Highway 191 in Chinle on June 16. Participants are asked to bring their insurance card, and the county says appointments should be scheduled through its booking system.

The screenings fit into a larger wellness program rather than a one-time event. Apache County’s annual wellness calendar lists cardiac and organ screenings as a recurring on-site offering and tells employees to watch for flyers and emails with details. County benefits information confirms Apache County participates in AZLGEBT, which is also the plan that covers the screenings in full for eligible members.

The county’s decision to rotate locations across St. Johns, Eagar, Ganado and Chinle reflects the realities of a sprawling rural county. Apache County covers 11,198.3 square miles and had an estimated 64,800 residents in 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. About 72.6% of residents identify as American Indian and Alaska Native alone, and 51.0% of households speak a language other than English at home, facts that underscore how important local access can be when care requires planning, transportation and clear communication.

Apache County’s existing public-health footprint also helps explain the push for onsite screening. The county already provides confidential HIV counseling, rapid testing and referral services at clinics in Springerville and St. Johns, and public-health contact information lists those communities as service locations. Recent health-access profiles have identified the county as facing primary-care and mental-health shortages, making preventive testing a practical way to catch heart or organ problems earlier, before they turn into emergencies.