September is AFib Awareness Month and WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, is launching the “Nationwide AFib Month Opportunistic Screening Initiative.”
Studies show that early detection of AFib can help to reduce the patient’s risk for stroke. With the help of participating physicians and clinics across the country this initiative will help to increase the number of primary care provider patient screenings for AFib, mitigating the risk of stroke and other complications.
In preparation for the initiative, WomenHeart developed a resource infographic for physicians on the importance of screening for early detection. To encourage better outcomes for patients, physicians can also follow screening tips to assist with opportunistic screenings during Afib Awareness Month.
For physicians, opportunistic screenings lead to even greater AFib diagnoses than traditional screenings because:
- It eliminates the patient need to self-select for an arranged screening.
- It is designed to include the entire patient population seen by that physician.
- Follow-ups are easier, more convenient, and more likely due to established physician-patient relationships.
If you or your primary care office might be interested in getting involved and raising awareness of AFib screening methods, please email communications@WomenHeart.org for more information.
Follow WomenHeart on Facebook or Twitter for more AFib resources, news, and updates on our initiative during #AfibAwarenessMonth.