By CHAT News Today

Preventative Health Care: Taking Control of Your Health Has Never Been Easier

May 18, 2022 | 11:39 AM

In a time where health has never been more top of mind for the world, Ichor Health is working to make one’s health and preventative care more accessible.

Ichor Health was founded by Mike Kuzmickas out of Calgary, a former oil and gas worker. Due to the nature of his job, he found it difficult to find the time to have lab work done. Oftentimes when you go to a lab, you end up spending more time in the waiting area than actually getting your test done – appointment or not. Between trying to find time for the lab work and last-minute cancellations due to work, a year had passed. Mike knew there had to be a better way or other options.

That is when he began researching.

In the United States the concept of a paid service where someone comes to your home to take samples for you is common. This service is available in other provinces, but when Mike turned his gaze back to Alberta there was nothing that offered quick and convenient in-home services, except for those who are immobile and cannot make it to a collection facility.

“It’s very restrictive of who actually qualifies for that,” Mike says, “So if there’s a situation for someone like me, who’s just busy, and wants to have somebody come to their home or have different options to make sure they get the blood work done immediately – [the option] just wasn’t there.”

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After consulting Alberta Health Services and the College of Physicians & Surgeons, Mike found that his business idea fit perfectly within the already established framework. From there, Ichor Health (formerly Ichor Blood) was founded.

Ichor Health was built on the base of Covid-19 antibody blood testing – having launched just as the pandemic hit – and was the first company in Canada to offer this type of test. Ichor Health cultivated a relationship with a lab in the United States that specializes in cancer diagnostics. Their lab in Virginia was able to pivot to all for antibody testing. This relationship allowed for Ichor Health to quickly answer the needs of Canadians in Alberta as the pandemic took hold at a private level.

Now, almost 2 years later, Ichor Health is getting back to its roots of helping Canadians with their preventative health maintenance, rather than reactive Covid-19 testing, by giving them insight into their overall health and improving access to healthcare. In the last 6 months, Ichor Health has continued to cultivate lab relationships and now offers Albertans over 100 tests.

“So now if anyone is looking to do some sort of preventative health screening, it’s kind of a one-stop shop with us.”

Preview of Ichor Health’s online booking system. Users can add 1 or multiple tests to their booking and pay ahead of time online.

From Covid-19 testing to Vitamin D and T-cell testing, Ichor Health has it all. Their offerings are easily accessible through their website, IchorHealth.ca or by downloading their app for easy booking over your phone.

In addition to simplified online booking, Ichor Health also offers the occasional pop up clinic, the idea of which was born in Medicine Hat. You can also find their local office off Gershaw Drive, where you can bring your doctor’s requisition to have your lab work done if you are facing a longer than desired wait, or schedule to have your lab work done right from your home.

“While [you’re] there, [you] can do any of the Covid tests we have. [You] could do any of the Mayo Clinic tests that we offer, cardiovascular, hormone or vitamin d…” The list goes on. In fact, their new motto and vision is: Take control of your health.

With a goal to help Albertans be proactive about their health, Ichor Health is looking to expand more into cancer testing. Mike feels that the cancer testing will become an incredibly powerful tool. This test allows you to get a very high accuracy screen done for every major cancer that could potentially affect you, allowing you to detect it earlier.

To find out more about Ichor Health or book an appointment, visit IchorHealth.ca. The Ichor app can be found in app stores on mobile devices so you can bring the lab to you.