DEAR DR. GOTT:
You are sadly mistaken and you must reconsider your endorsement of Life Line Screening. It’s a big rip off! Let me explain.
For a modest cost they perform several “screening” tests that look very attractive. This is a misrepresentation because “screening” means to separate good from bad results. These tests are cheap, fast, and vastly inaccurate.
During one of these screenings my wife was diagnosed with low bone density. We brought the results to our family doctor who recommended an expensive and thorough test (I don’t remember the name), which showed the density to be fine. Another female acquaintance also failed the Life Line bone density test. Her doctor put her on Fosamax, an expensive medication. When informed of my wife’s results, she opted for the expensive bone density test and guess what? She was fine, too.
I have written to my senior center about this and they have stopped using Life Line testing. Please don’t recommend this cheap, inaccurate testing and false representation by Life Line.
DEAR READER:
Perhaps I should have done more research before giving a blanket endorsement for bone density screening through Life Line. I have received several letters similar to yours but have not heard of any discrepancies in the cardiovascular screenings. In contrast, the test for osteoporosis seems somewhat unreliable. In defense, I personally know physicians who use heel bone density screening units in their offices and appear satisfied with the machine printouts. Patients who receive an abnormal result should see their own doctor and request a hospital based X-ray bone density screening. In fact, this happened to me and I, too, needed the special testing which showed normal bone density.
Physicians are not on site when this mobile testing is performed by the technicians. All results should be forwarded to the doctor for interpretation. In actuality, the technicians who perform the tests should only give you a risk factor for osteoporosis, not a diagnosis. I had hoped the inexpensive testing would catch a variety of problems early on and would make people more aware of potential medical problems. I would like to hope Life Line testing for stroke, cardiovascular disease and abdominal aortic aneurysms is substantially more accurate with results that are reliable.
While cost may be an issue for some people, it appears, at least in this case, you certainly got what you paid for. Thank you for sharing your experience. I regret any misdirection I might have shared with my readers.
To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Osteoporosis”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped, number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.
About Dr. Gott