HeartScore scans donated to county law enforcement

Photo: Baptist Memorial Hospital-Administrator/CEO Brian Hogan, Dr. Arie Szatkowski of Stern Cardiovascular, Eric Williams with Brown Missionary Baptist Church are joined by local law enforcement officials in front of the HeartScore apparatus at the hospital. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)

When you get your next speeding ticket from your local law enforcement officer,  you may not think that officer has a heart. But they really do, and their heart health is an important factor in the job they do. 

Now, DeSoto County deputies and police officers are being given access to a test that checks their levels of possible plaque in the cardiovascular system. 

The test scan is called HeartScore, which officials at Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto say is a quick and convenient, as well as inexpensive, way to assess a person’s risk for heart attack. 

Research shows a direct correlation between the amount of calcium in coronary arteries and the likelihood of a future heart attack. Baptist-DeSoto says that so far, 77 law enforcement officers have been scanned or have their appointments scheduled.

Now with a partnership with Brown Missionary Baptist Church in Southaven, Baptist-DeSoto is providing 120 HeartScore scans, divided between DeSoto County Sheriff’s deputies and county police departments. 

An introduction with a photo opportunity featuring personnel from the various departments was held Thursday afternoon at the Southaven hospital. The different representatives were given a tour of the outpatient computerized tomography (CT) scan department and got a demonstration of a HeartScore test.  

Hospital Administrator and CEO Brian Hogan said the plan to donate the scans to the officers came as a result of a Community Advisory Board meeting that featured cardiologist Dr. Arie Szatkowski. 

“Dr. Szatkowski told us about the HeartScore, how easy it is, and how it detects early heart disease, before patients or people show symptoms,” Hogan said. “So we started brainstorming with Brown Baptist and Baptist Hospital, and knowing how stressful that law enforcement jobs are, we wanted to show our support for local law enforcement.”

Szatkowski said heart disease and the onset of a heart attack typically comes with no warning signs, unless a test like a HeartScore is done ahead of time and preventative action is taken.  

“Most people on the day they have a heart attack have no idea that that day is coming,” Szatkowski said. “They have no symptoms preceding that day, and this score allows you to implement a preventive strategy when you know what’s going on inside your body. They don’t know there’s a problem until the day they have a heart attack, as opposed to somebody who gets a HeartScore.”

Each scan costs about $99, so it is an inexpensive test to take, although Szatkowski did note that because it is considered a preventative test, most insurance programs will not cover it.  He said it is geared for those who are between the ages of 40-75.  

“It’s an excellent test to detect the presence of plaque,” said Szatkowski. “Why is it helpful? Because most people on the day they have a heart attack have no idea that that day is coming. This score allows you to implement a preventive strategy when you know what’s going on inside your body.”

“We know they have stressful jobs,” said Hogan  “We know a lot of the time they spend sitting in the car, and we just wanted to show the community and local law enforcement that we support them.”

Hogan said Baptist-DeSoto and Brown Missionary Baptist are funding the 120 HeartScore scans to the departments, a donation Olive Branch Police Chief Bill Cox said was appreciated. 

“Officer safety is not just out on the street, it’s also healthy officers who are able to do the work and to be safe, both physically and health wise,” Cox said. “So it’s a great benefit, and we’re very grateful to have an opportunity for this.”