Deborah Heart and Lung Center in partnership with the Mt. Laurel YMCA recently installed a self-check blood pressure machine in the Y’s central promenade.

“Our members absolutely love it,” said Sherri Gordon, the YMCA’s Director of Membership.

Within the first month, 868 visitors checked their blood pressure; 217 checked their body mass index; and 279 users scrolled through other services offered by the kiosk, including heart prevention, sleep disorders, leg pain, an eCookbook, women’s heart health, and find a physician.

YMCA Executive Director Linda Davis noted that the sleek, compact machine has exceeded their initial expectations.

“It is really used a lot, especially in the mornings and evenings,” she noted. “It’s a huge hit with our senior citizens who are going for water exercise.”

Davis added that many of the users check their blood pressure both before and after swimming to see the impact their work-out had on their numbers. “With 500-600 visitors a day, our Y is very busy, and this blood pressure machine has instantly become popular.”

Deborah’s Vice President for Marketing/Media/Public Relations, Lewis Clark was excited about the new partnership.

“We are actively working to expand community outreach with preventive approaches to people getting to ‘know their numbers’,” he said. “This is a great way to bring health self-management to the community. This Heart Check Center kiosk provides accurate readings that are private and confidential, and offers an option to have these results shared to keep a running tally of their results.”

Gordon agreed that the partnership was a win-win for all. “Our members now have convenient access to vital medical information, and Deborah partnering with us opens the door to other new health opportunities in the future.”

Clark said that prior to the YMCA, another Heart Check Center was installed last month at Matrxx Fitness in Atlantic City.

“This self-monitoring is a great way to keep people’s blood pressure in a safe range, and offer health resources in case they need to make lifestyle changes to better manage their numbers.”