Pre-Health Fair Screening Tests Available
Hospital to give away Free Cholesterol Screenings
by St. John's Lutheran Hospital
February 27, 2008
St. John’s Lutheran Hospital’s annual Health Fair will be held on April 5, 2008 from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Memorial Center in Libby. The fair - popular for its interactive health/wellness related booths, kid friendly activities, free bone density testing, and more - is once again offering free and discounted health screening tests (cholesterol, PSA, glucose, thyroid, etc.) before the fair. This advance testing is beneficial to participants because the lab results will be available at the fair, where local medical providers will be on-hand to answer questions and provide more information concerning the results.
“Last year, many fairgoers took advantage of the medical providers who donated their time to answer health related questions and explain screening results,” commented Susan Horelick at St. John’s. “Our motivation is to offer folks attending the fair the information and guidance they need, to understand which are normal results, and which results indicate the need to see their medical providers for diagnosis and treatment.”
St. John’s will be giving away 250 no cost Lipid Panels (Cholesterol) and Glucose tests, (a $71 value) the weeks of March 17- 21 and March 24 - 28, 2008, in addition to their normal discounted screening tests. You must call 293-0164, beginning on March 10th, to register for the free screenings, which will be scheduled on a first come, first served basis. There will be no early registration; the hospital asks that you do not call before March 10th.
In addition to the 250 free lipid and Glucose tests, St. John’s will also be offering other significantly discounted screenings including PSA (prostate) $15.00, A1C (diabetes) $15.00, Hemogram (anemia) $5.00, and TSH (thyroid) $15.00 each during the weeks of March 17-21 and March 24-28, 2008. After the 250 free Lipid Panels are filled, that test will also be offered for $15.00. Registration is required for all of the free screenings and highly recommended for the other discounted screenings (call Susan at 293-0164 beginning March 10). On the days of the screening all parties must check in at the front desk of the hospital, before they proceed to the lab. Twelve hours fasting is required for Lipid and Glucose testing. Payment for the discounted screenings will be required at the time of service and insurances will not be billed. There are no fasting requirements for the other discounted screening tests.
“Making the commitment to regular health screening tests is one of the most important things you can do to protect your good health,” said Horelick. “Because they don’t cause recognizable symptoms until they are already a problem, disorders such as hypertension – or high blood pressure - osteoporosis, and diabetes are often called the “silent stalkers” of your good health. A simple blood test, heel scan, or finger stick can often alert us to a potential problem before serious disease is present, and while the condition is most easily treated. An out of range test result can be a lifesaving wake up call and a great motivator to seek advice and treatment.”
“By offering these important screening tests before the fair, instead of at the fair, we can give folks two entire work weeks to get in and get their blood drawn,” added Horelick.” On the day of the fair, they can take advantage of the medical provider booths that will be available for test result consultations and the opportunity to pick up lots of great health information from over 60 booths at the fair. Vouchers for the discounted screenings will be available at the fair, for those folks who can not make it into the hospital before the fair for the blood draws.”
The Health Fair, April 5, 2008, will be open from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm and it is free to the public.
Related Link:
St. John’s Lutheran Hospital, www.sjlh.com
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