Agnes Gervacio, Chief Executive Officer of social enterprise Connected Women, has always lived what many would consider a healthy lifestyle – adhering to a vegetarian diet and eating healthily, exercising regularly, and going for regular health screening. Despite this, a routine screening done at Fullerton Health uncovered what had gone undetected for years – a 90% blockage in one of the blood vessels in her heart that could lead to a heart attack if left untreated.
The test that likely saved her life was a CT calcium score test, which measures calcified plaque in coronary arteries to assess heart disease risk. The test is offered as part of executive health screening (EHS) by Fullerton Health in partnership with RadLink Philippines.
The Silent Threat Uncovered
None of the screenings that Agnes had attended in previous years had detected any cardiac abnormalities. It wasn’t until Carmie De Leon, Country General Manager, RadLink Philippines and EHS Lead, Fullerton Health Philippines, recommended trying Fullerton Health’s EHS service that a CT scan revealed how close she was to a heart attack.
“I didn’t have chest pain, shortness of breath or any other symptom. In fact, I was still hiking up mountains,” Agnes recounted, highlighting the insidious nature of her condition. “If it wasn’t for Carmie’s recommendation, I might not be here now. A scan saved my life.”
Agnes underwent a scan in an advanced 128-slice CT machine, which completes scans in just seconds, far quicker than most other CT machines in Metro Manila. This speed and precision ensure a comfortable and efficient patient experience.
“Agnes’ scan was probably done in fewer than 10 seconds. It takes longer to prepare for the scan, lie down and be positioned, than the actual scan itself,” said Darren Lim, Senior Vice President, RadLink Philippines.
After receiving her screening results, Agnes quickly sought the opinions of multiple cardiologists and underwent further tests before a successful life-saving procedure to restore her heart function.
The Fullerton Health Difference
The experience has prompted Agnes to share the importance of health screening with close friends and to speak about her experience with Fullerton Health’s EHS service, which she describes as a “wellness clinic focused on preventive care”. Other than privacy and comfort, the ease of securing an appointment and the ability tailor tests to one’s profile differentiate the service from other providers in Metro Manila.
“Health is an investment not just of money, but also of time and attention,” Agnes said. Urging the importance of regular health checkups even when feeling fine, she added, “You can do more when you’re healthy and the effort you invest in preventive care would not really cost you an arm and a leg.”
“Our goal at Fullerton Health is to empower individuals to take charge of their health journey, offering the crucial tools and insights for early detection and proactive management,” said De Leon. “We’re here to be a trusted partner every step of the way, supporting our patients as they embark on a new, healthier path.”
Stories like Agnes’ illustrate the importance of regular and timely executive health screening, which is a key pillar in preventive health, for self-paying and company-covered individuals alike. To provide data-driven insights into executive health, Fullerton Health will be launching a post-EHS corporate reporting service to provide companies with data-driven insights into the health of their executives. These insights will enable companies to develop more targeted health and wellness initiatives.
