March 2026
Above: Jamie Davis and her son, Finn, pose for a photo. Jamie learned about the free heart screenings hosted by Providence Heart Institute’s Play Smart program through an announcement sent by Finn’s school.
For parents, few things matter more than knowing their child is healthy. That’s why Providence Heart Institute continues to offer free heart screenings for teens, helping families access important preventive care in a supportive setting.
In late January, Providence Heart Clinic – Newberg hosted heart screenings for youth ages 12–18 through the Play Smart program. The event gave local families the opportunity to complete a recommended heart screening — at no cost and in just about 15 minutes.
For parents like Jamie Davis, whose son Finn attended the screening, the experience brought reassurance. Jamie learned about the event through Finn’s school and appreciated how easy and approachable the process felt.
Soothing nerves during a screening
Jason Phillips, RN, a cardiovascular nurse from Providence St. Vincent Medical Center who helped with the event, knows that heart screenings can be nerve‑wracking — especially for families with a history of heart disease.
Above: Jason Phillips, RN, cleans and organizes the electrocardiogram (ECG) nodes for the next patient. The entire process from setup to screening takes about 15 minutes.
His calm presence helped ease concerns for several parents that day. “It’s a good cause and something I’m grateful to contribute to,” he says.
Support from sign up to check in
Behind the scenes, caregivers like Erma Dumanon, a certified medical assistant with Providence Basecamp Prevention + Wellness, help ensure the day runs smoothly. With 16 years of caregiving experience, Erma supports families as they check in, complete waivers and receive educational materials to take home.
“People are so appreciative,” Erma says. “It’s great that we can offer this to the community at no cost.”
Above: Erma Dumanon offers patients a Play Smart heart packet, which includes the Providence Heart Guide created by Basecamp Prevention + Wellness, after logging them in.
Families learn about Play Smart screenings through schools, local organizations, and social media — making access as easy as possible. For Providence caregivers, the goal is simple: Remove barriers, reduce stress and give families confidence.
Related:
- See the story of a Providence Hood River program providing free donor milk to new parents.
- Learn more about the Play Smart program at Providence Basecamp Prevention + Wellness.
- Schedule an appointment at Providence Heart Clinic - Newberg.
