Why Is Health Screening the Future of Healthcare?

Posted in , , , by Miss Kornelija Dedelaite

We can now detect diseases much more quickly and identify them earlier in the process thanks to advances in healthcare technology. Health screenings have remained popular in the healthcare industry. Their goal is to detect problems before they become more serious. They also detect diseases earlier, allowing treatment to intervene sooner and increase patient survival rates.

This Echelon Health blog will discuss why health screening is the way forward in healthcare today and will answer some critical questions. Why is health screening necessary? How does it function? What exactly is included?

What Exactly Is Health Screening?

A health screening is a medical test used to evaluate people who appear to be healthy on the surface. They seek to determine whether a patient has any underlying health issues or is predisposed to certain conditions.

In the United Kingdom, a variety of screening tests are available for specific populations. Breast screening, for example, is typically offered to older people between the ages of 50 and 70. (NHS, 2021). During a health screening, you will be asked a series of health-related questions, and your doctor may also perform a physical examination.

People are increasingly opting for private health screenings to help them identify any underlying health issues and get them under control before they become a bigger problem. A health screening is also related to a corporate health screening because their goals are similar. To learn more, please visit our corporate services page.

What Does A Health Screening Entail?

Depending on where you choose to have your health screening, it may include a variety of tests:

  • Blood tests
  • Medical history review
  • ECG
  • CT scans
  • MRI examinations
  • Ultrasounds

At Echelon Health, our health assessments cover a wide range of topics and can aid in the detection of diseases such as cancer, cardiac disease, respiratory system, and digestive system diseases. For more information, visit our what we can detect page. Due to the huge scope of what we are able to detect, we aim to use the correct modality for the corresponding body part, as such all of the scans mentioned above are available at Echelon Health.

What Is the Process of a Health Screening?

Even within the UK the process of a health screening varies from provider to provider. For example, a free NHS health screening is available for those aged 40-74, and is designed to spot early signs of diseases of the kidneys and the heart as well as type 2 diabetes and dementia. Their check lasts 20-30 minutes and covers family history and lifestyle questions, some measurements of weight, height and blood pressure as well as a blood test.

Private health screenings, however, may take much longer – between 1-6 hours depending on the package that you are choosing. A private health screening provider may have select scans and tests based only on your concerns, or they can dedicate a package to the health of specific areas of the body, for example, brain health or heart health.

If you choose to have a health screening at Echelon Health you can look forward to experiencing the best combination of medical imaging technology and unparalleled client services. On arrival, you will be greeted personally before completing any last-minute paperwork. After that, your blood will be drawn, followed by an ECG.

Depending on the health assessment package you select, you may be able to seamlessly transition from CT to MRI to Ultrasound. If you have a CT scan, you will be able to eat and drink afterwards. Again, depending on the package you select, you may be required to visit other facilities for additional testing, where you will be personally accompanied.

At the conclusion of your visit, one of our team members will review the day with you and ensure that all of your needs have been met before scheduling a follow-up consultation. For more information, please see our medical facility page.

Why Is Health Screening Necessary?

Preventive health screening is paving the way for healthcare by relieving the burden on our medical professionals. A health screening also has a plethora of advantages, which are listed below:

  • Identifies health risks that patients may be unaware of.
  • Assists those with a family history of health problems by providing prevention information and advice.
  • Early detection of disease increases the likelihood of survival.
  • It puts your mind at ease knowing that your health is under control.
  • Individual personalised health assessments look at your situation specifically and do not rely on statistical risk but rather concrete data

It’s also worth noting that age is a major risk factor for a variety of diseases. As a result, getting a health screening becomes more important as you get older. Early detection and treatment can help your body fight these diseases more effectively.

What Medical Screening Technology is Available to Detect Diseases?

Advancements in technology has allowed CT, MRI and Ultrasound machines to provide images that are incredibly detailed. When looking into your providers it would be good to enquire what technology they have available so that you are getting the optimum results.

Echelon Health conducts health screening tests using cutting-edge technology and innovation. We make use of the following technologies:

  1. Aquilion ONE Prism 640 slice CT scanner: Specialist software unique to the PRISM provides the best image quality performed at low dose radiation. This allows it to scan a 16cm volume with each rotation, covering entire organs such as the heart, brain or whole joints.
  2. MrOpen upright and open MRI scanner: This unique MRI scanner features Nobel Prize-winning technology. Due to their expense and technological differences, there are currently just a handful of these scanners installed worldwide.
  3. Siemens 3T MRI (Magnetom Skyra): The 3T Siemens powerful 3T magnet delivers high-quality, clear images making it one of the highest quality MRI exams available today.
  4. EOS dual-source upright CT scanner: Images from this scanner allow accurate visualisation of the entire spine and major joints (hips, knees, ankles) which enables precise measurement and assessment.

Our medical imaging equipment enables Echelon Health to provide our patients with comprehensive and superior health assessments. It enables us to provide better disease detection and thus improve our patients’ chances of survival.

Why Choose Echelon Health?

A health screening helps take pressure off our healthcare professionals by identifying diseases early. It allows patients to get their health under control before these issues spiral out of control and therefore reduces the need to use public services such as the NHS.

As you grow older, health screening should become a priority. This is because age is a significant risk factor for most life-threatening diseases. Detecting issues early can help increase your chances of survival. For more information, please read our article on ‘the best time to invest in health assessments’.

So, why choose Echelon Health? At Echelon Health, we are proud to say patients are in safe hands. Our specialists are experts in their field and only use the most advanced imaging technology to offer the best health assessment experience available on the market. The combination of all the scans, technology and experiences allows us to detect 92% and 94% of preventable causes of death among men and women.

Full Health Assessment at Echelon Health

Echelon Health offers various health assessments and packages that can be tailored entirely to your needs. Take a look at our packages below:

  • Platinum: This package offers a full health screening; the following tests and scans are included in the platinum package:
    • Blood Tests
    • ECG
    • CT Aorta
    • CT Heart
    • CT Coronary Angiogram
    • CT Chest
    • CT Pelvis
    • CT Virtual Colonoscopy
    • CT Bone Density
    • EOS
    • CT Upright Skeleton
    • MRI Brain
    • MRI Cerebral Artery Angiogram
    • MRI Carotid Artery Angiogram
    • MRI Prostate
    • Ultrasound Thyroid
    • Ultrasound Testes/Ovaries
    • Digital Mammogram
    • Full Body Mole Screen
  • Gold: Includes an ECG and all CT scans mentioned above. It also offers an ultrasound of testes/ovaries, a digital mammogram for women only and an MRI prostate for men only
  • Core Cancer: Includes a range of tests to identify the most common cancers, which with the right treatment can be prevented from reaching a more developed stage
  • Healthy Heart: Includes a CT Heart and CTCA scan, ECG and blood tests to identify any underlying issues with your heart health
  • Bespoke: Our bespoke package can be tailored to your needs. You can choose which tests you would like to undergo during your assessment as clinically appropriate and approved after looking through your medical history

If you would like to know more about our health assessment programmes, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our team will be delighted to help you with any questions you may have!