Health experts say early detection of diseases can sometimes save your life, and catching chronic health problems like heart disease, hypertension and lung disease is the goal of a Nebraska program started this year.

That program is reaching out to people who may not get these services in their rural communities.

Dorothy Adkinson tries to check her blood pressure at least once a month.

"It's something that isn't very visible, and you don't think it's going to bother you, but it makes a big difference in your health," she said.

So does your weight, pulse and oxygen level. They're all vital signs taken by this health monitoring system provided to rural communities for the first time this year through the Stay Well At Home program.

"Their testing results are then sent over the telephone line to a main computer where they're reviewed by a nurse so they can have some intervention by a nurse and teaching to help with their management control of their diseases," said Sandra Davis, St. Francis Home Care Services Telehealth coordinator.

Instead of going to their doctor or the hospital, participants in Central City can go here to the senior center and that may encourage them to check their health more often.

"A lot of our seniors would not check their vital signs due to having to go to a physician's office or traveling outside the rural area," said Colleen Clayton, Merrick County in Home Services coordinator

But more than 50 seniors are checking their health regularly at this senior center alone.

"We've caught several of them so far that have had either their medication stopped working for them or their medicine needed to be increased. They needed to see a physician," Clayton said.

And they did, thanks to a heads up from this little machine.

In addition to Central City, the Staying Well At Home project has sites in Aurora, St. Paul and Grand Island. Monitors have also been placed in patients' homes.