{"id":22091,"date":"2020-03-09T15:25:59","date_gmt":"2020-03-09T15:25:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hancockhealth.org\/?p=2884"},"modified":"2020-03-09T15:25:59","modified_gmt":"2020-03-09T15:25:59","slug":"low-cost-labs-help-you-manage-your-health-and-your-budget-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hancockhealth.org\/de\/2020\/03\/low-cost-labs-help-you-manage-your-health-and-your-budget-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Low-Cost Labs Help You Manage Your Health\u2014And Your Budget"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n Health Possible<\/a> <\/div>\n\n

Low-Cost Labs Help You Manage Your Health\u2014And Your Budget<\/h1>\n\n
\n\n March 9, 2020<\/span>\n\n
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For twenty years, Jenn Cox, Hancock Health director of marketing, has undergone a regular healthcare regimen: Every eight to twelve weeks, she gets her thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels tested, due to a thyroid condition that was diagnosed almost twenty years ago.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Though staying on top of her TSH levels has helped Jenn manage her thyroid condition, the cost\u2014in terms of both healthcare dollars and time and energy\u2014hasn\u2019t always been easy.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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\u201cIf you were on a high-deductible plan, you\u2019d be looking at six, seven, eight hundred dollars every quarter,\u201d she said. \u201cYou\u2019d also have to call the doctor, get an order sent to you, and then keep track of that. But if you lost it, you were back to square one. It was just a big hassle.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

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When Hancock Health started offering low-cost, no-referral labs and screenings<\/a> through the Hancock Regional Hospital Laboratory<\/a>, it changed the way Jenn manages her condition for the better.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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\u201cI used to wait until my doctor would order a test. But now, when I don\u2019t feel good\u2014and having a thyroid condition for 20 years, I just kind of know when something is off\u2014I can just go get my blood work done. Usually it says that my numbers are off, but now it only costs me $100, or maybe as little as $35, depending on whether I get the full workup. And I can get it done whenever it\u2019s convenient for me.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

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The low-cost lab approach is great for those who want to regularly check their cholesterol, or even for those who might wonder whether their urinary tract symptoms point to an infection, or other causes, said Janet Strauch, Director of Laboratory Services. There\u2019s even a low-cost test for proof of immunity\u2014a great resource for parents who may need to provide proof of a child\u2019s immunity for the upcoming school year.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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\u201cPeople want to get their cholesterol or A1C [for diabetes] checked the most,\u201d Janet said. \u201cAlong with a chemistry screen, which gives a picture of overall health, or a CBC, which is a complete blood count.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Janet sees the low-cost labs<\/a> as a great resource for those in Hancock County who might otherwise find such tests cost-prohibitive. <\/p>\n<\/div>

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\u201cIt\u2019s just a great way for patients to take a proactive approach to their health and monitor their own changes and trends through the results. I think especially our younger generation will want this as they get older, and it\u2019s convenient, too. They can get the results right on their patient portal, in addition to the option of receiving them through the mail. With the low-cost, and no physician referral necessary, it\u2019s an easy choice.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

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\u201cI\u2019m so glad to have this option at Hancock Health,\u201d said Jenn Cox. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to have to go to a competitor, but with my tests being so frequent, I was honestly tempted. It\u2019s nice to have them right here, and to know that I\u2019ll be dealing with such a friendly and professional staff.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

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