Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/987626
Meet Dale Eschenburg, a 40-year crop farmer of Melvin. Dale is 67 years old and is married with three children and six grandchildren. He looks fine, felt great, goes to the doctor once a year for a physical and cuts firewood for exercise. Based on his occupation and his noted health habits, one would think he's doing everything right. "I've got three nags in my life – my wife and two daughters," Dale says jokingly, "so when Marlette Regional Hospital was offering $30 heart screenings, my family told me I'd better get checked out." Dale's daughter Michelle works in Marlette Regional Hospital's cardiopulmonary services unit and convinced both of her parents to get screened. Given the limited appointment slots available, Dale knew he couldn't put it off. Dale came in for his scheduled appointment on February 15th, and during his ECHO screening, his technologist, Doug, became alarmed of what appeared to be aortic stenosis – a bad heart valve. In the post-screening review with Dr. Stephen Mattichak, the interpreting physician, Dale was instructed to follow up with a cardiologist as soon as possible for additional testing. Dale chose to see Dr. Mattichak and got in to see him that same afternoon. Over the following two weeks, Dale had additional testing done that concluded one of his heart valves was too constricted for proper blood flow, and surgery was scheduled in Bay City. "My world was turned upside down," Dale shares. "The surgeon told me that my valve was very bad, so he squeezed me in to have surgery sooner." "Everything happened so fast!" Dale says. "And I was upset I missed two Thursdays of coffee with the Rotary Club in Brown City." Dale recounted that everything went smoothly between the screenings and testing in Marlette and surgery in Bay City. Everyone was very professional, everything just clicked, and I had great care," says Dale. "It's the best 30 dollars I ever spent!" Dale has established with Dr. Mattichak for cardiology care and is currently on a prescription regimen to aid in his recovery. Dale comments, "Recovery has been slower than I want, but I've had no complications or issues." In hindsight, Dale is glad he listened to his family to get checked out and is looking forward to starting his 2018 crop season in good health. IT PAYS TO GET CHECKED OUT One Patient 's Sty MRH HEARTBEAT | 5 The $30 heart screenings that were offered in February and March included a blood pressure check, cholesterol screening, EKG, limited ECHO, Ankle Brachial Index (ABI), and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (CIMT). GENERAL SURGERY Forrest Robart, DO Specialties: General Surgery Medical School: Nova-Southeastern University of Osteopathic Medicine Office Hours: 2nd & 4th Friday monthly Locations: Marlette Regional Hospital & McKenzie Health System Practice: Surgical Specialist, PC Phone: 810-664-4100 ORTHOPEDICS James Kosiur, DO Specialties: Orthopedics, Orthopedic Surgery Medical School: Des Moines University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Science Office Hours: Mondays Locations: Marlette Regional Hospital & McKenzie Health System Practice: United Orthopedics Phone: 810-648-6113 For a complete listing of providers, please visit www.marletteregionalhospital.org