Pre Healthfair Health Screening Tests Available
Hospital to give away Free Cholesterol Screenings
by St. John’s Lutheran Hospital
February 25, 2009
St. John’s Lutheran Hospital’s Annual Road to Health: Health Fair will be held on April 4, 2009 from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Memorial Center in Libby. The fair --popular for its interactive health/wellness related exhibits, 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, Health/Wellness Managers 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 once again be giving away 250 free Lipid Panels (Cholesterol) and Glucose screening (an $85 value), as well as offering significantly discounted screenings for PSA (prostate), A1c (diabetes) and TSH (thyroid) for $15 each, and a Hemogram (anemia) for $5 each. After all of the 250 free Lipid Panels are given out (on a first come, fist served basis) that screening will also be offered at the reduced cost of $15.
The lab draws for all the pre-fair screenings will take place during the weeks of March 16th – 20th and March 23rd – 27th . Registration is required for all of these screenings. Staring March 9th from 10 am – 3 pm, you may call 293-0164 to register.
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.
Vouchers for these same reduced cost lab tests can be obtained at the Health Fair (these lab tests must be drawn within the time period of April 6 – 10, 2009).
"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." At the Health Fair, people will have the opportunity to pick up lots of great health information from over 60 exhibits.
The Health Fair, April 4, 2009, will be open from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm and it is free to the public.
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