Alarmed by the high rate of heart attacks among officers, soon to be retired Northfield Police Chief Mark Elliott hopes that one of his final acts will be to enroll Northfield police officers in a comprehensive cardiovascular screening and wellness program.
Following the lead of the Rice County Sheriff’s Office and Faribault Police Department, Northfield could soon add its name to the list of local PDs which contract with Texas-based Sigma Tactical Wellness in an effort to detect and treat heart disease among officers.
Due to the impacts of frequent stress and suboptimal exercise, diet and sleep habits, heart disease has risen to become the No. 1 killer in America, according to the American Heart Association, and rates of cardiac arrests have become particularly high among officers.
While the average age of a first heart attack is 65 years old for men and 72 years old for women, the rate of heart attacks among younger Americans is on the rise. For police officers, the rate of fatal heart attacks has been elevated for decades.
According to a 2020 analysis published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cardiovascular-related diseases comprise the majority of job-related deaths among officers and the average age for a fatal heart attack among Police Officers is 46.5 years.
The CDC’s analysis noted that the majority of these tragic incidents occurred after atypical physical or emotional strain, such as a physical struggle with a suspect, a high speed chase or responding to an emergency situation such as a violent car crash or medical crisis.
Founded by Dr. Jon Sheinberg, a longtime police officer and cardiologist, and Dr. Benjamin Stone, who couples his cardiological expertise with experience as an Air Force Veteran, Sigma promises to provide state of the art screening to catch those at elevated risk of cardiac arrest.
Sigma’s three year program features a full-onsite screening program in year one, with an electrocardiogram, stress test, carotid ultrasound, consultation with a physiologist, dietician and practitioner, and access to numerous resources through SIGMA Health.
Year one would be the priciest for the city, with Elliott estimating an expense of $12,000 to $18,000 based on 70% to 100% participation in the voluntary program. Out of an $849 per officer cost, officers would be expected to pick up $149 out of pocket.
Years two and three would be less than half as expensive, with continued care and treatment for officers overseen through a web-app driven program, though SIGMA trained practitioners and dieticians would continue to be available for consultations.
Amid a tight labor market for Police Officers as well as many other professions, Elliott said that joining the program would help Northfield Police to attract and retain great quality officers by demonstrating a commitment to their health and well-being.
Councilor Brad Ness said that for the range of services provided, an $849 per officer price tag could represent a good deal for the city. Ness said that he was recently referred to a cardiologist who ordered a stress test and consult with a dietician and the price tag came out to roughly three times that amount.
Personal impacts
The presentation hit home for some on the council, including Mayor Rhonda Pownell. Noting that her family has a long history of heart disease, Pownell said that the early detection promised by SIGMA could be worth its weight in gold for families and for the city.
“In the grand scheme of our budget, this seems so minor if it can help us identify if there is an issue earlier on,” said Mayor Rhonda Pownell. “Identification is the best way to get started on seeing whether or not there are ways we can rectify the situation.”
In addition to her family background, Pownell said that her experience serving on the Board of the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust highlighted for her the importance of providing proactive cardiovascular screenings and treatments for officers.
Pownell said that public safety officials consistently saw the highest rates of claims through the Insurance Trust. According to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, the cost of just one in-service heart attack among police officers can run up to $750,000.
As a Family Medicine Physician at Northfield Hospitals + Clinics, Councilor Jami Reister said she is “1000% supportive” of efforts to promote officer well-being and expressed horror at the high and growing rate of heart attacks among officers.
“It’s a startling statistic that our officers have a 20 year lower life expectancy than everyone else,” Reister said. “The people that are keeping us safe are not going to live as long as the rest of us and that’s really not acceptable.”
That said, both Reister and Councilor Jessica Peterson White did express concern with parts of Elliott’s presentation, noting that many of the studies cited were relatively dated and collected by SIGMA, a for-profit healthcare company.
“Nobody ever wants to say no to providing quality healthcare for our employees, but our culture is so full of health claims and solutions that are provided by for-profit companies, so I think someone has to really turn a critical eye to evidence that’s being presented,” Peterson White said.
Reister noted that nearly all of the studies cited in the presentation were at least eight to nine years old, and said that much of SIGMA’s analysis of the situation appeared to be “superficial.” She further suggested that the city should explore partnering with more local providers to provide vitally important care for officers.
Elliott responded that nearby law enforcement agencies have had excellent experiences with SIGMA, and said that the company’s comprehensive approach along with the relative affordability of services provided makes it a strong candidate to partner with the city.
“I can tell you I’ve looked into getting the blood tests, the carotid and the stress test and I would pay more than what they’re charging, just to get those with absolutely no support,” Elliott said.
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