Sanford Bemidji Offers Heart and Vascular Screenings March 12, 13 for $35

The Sanford Bemidji Heart and Vascular Center concluded a three-part screening series with events on March 12 and 13, offering Bemidji-area adults a $35 package of noninvasive cardiovascular tests at its facility on the main Sanford campus at 1300 Anne St. NW.

The March sessions were the third and final installment in a series that began with screenings January 7-8 and continued February 12-13. Each day ran from a first appointment at 8:15 a.m. through a last at 3:15 p.m., with registration required and space limited.

The $35 fee covered a battery of tests to assess the condition of the heart, veins, and arteries. According to Sanford Health screening materials, the package can include an EKG, non-fasting cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index, and a Framingham Score, which estimates a patient's risk of developing heart disease over the next ten years. Additional components can include a stroke and carotid artery ultrasound, an abdominal aortic aneurysm ultrasound, and an ankle-brachial index. If screening results prompted a recommendation for a CT Heart Score, that optional calcium scan was offered for an additional $50, though Sanford noted it may or may not be performed depending on individual results.

Local coverage listed the screenings as open to adults ages 40 to 75, while an official Sanford Health press release described the screenings as recommended for people aged 35 and older. Readers with questions about eligibility were encouraged to contact the center directly.

"This is a great opportunity for the Bemidji community to have their hearts, veins, and arteries screened for signs of heart disease and vascular disease," said Dr. Kevin Schoepel, a vascular surgery specialist at the Sanford Bemidji Heart and Vascular Center.

A Sanford release framed the broader value of the program plainly: "Heart and vascular screenings can offer valuable insight into your current health and help detect risk factors early, supporting a longer, healthier life."

Those who missed the March sessions can contact the Sanford Bemidji Heart and Vascular Center at (218) 333-2460 to ask about future screening opportunities. A second scheduling number, 218-333-5384, has also appeared in Sanford press materials; the center can confirm which line is current.