Hospital Hosts Annual Health Fair

St. Joseph’s Hospital invites the community to visit its annual health fair to receive inexpensive or free health screenings and pick up information with tips on how to stay well.

Health Fair 2008 is 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, at Highland KC Hall on Route 143. The popularity of the event can lead to a rush of participants in the first hour, so those who are able to come after 8:30 a.m. are encouraged to do so.

“This annual health fair is a tangible way for St. Joseph’s Hospital to say, ‘We care about the health of this community,’” said hospital CEO Claudio Fort. “It is a convenient and accessible way to learn about your health, get answers to your questions answers and walk away with information that will make you make it easier for you to get healthy and stay healthy.”

In addition to offering vital statistics such as height, weight, and blood pressure, guests to the health fair can receive:

Comprehensive Blood Screenings ($35)
This screening includes a blood chemistry panel, coronary risk profile including HDL and LDL cholesterol levels and a complete blood count. If you intend to have your blood screened,  please drink only black coffee, clear tea or water for eight hours before the test.

Prostatic Specific Antigen (PSA) Screenings ($15)
This screening is offered to men who receive the comprehensive blood screening.

Bone Density Screenings ($2)
The hospital’s radiology staff will administer this test, which can indicate early signs of osteoporosis. If you have had the test in the last year, you do not need to repeat it.

Free tests and screenings include:
Pulse Oximetry
Senior Fitness
Hearing
Skin Cancer
Dental Health and Oral Cancer
Glaucoma
Vision
Posture

Experts on women’s health, men’s health, nutrition and smoking cessation will be available to answer questions. Participants also may buy a $4 colorectal disease screening kit to be used at home.

This event is sponsored by St. Joseph’s Hospital and made possible through the work of several hospital employees, but the health fair truly is a community affair. Organizations offering screening this event include Lion’s Club, which will offer hearing tests in addition to the hospital’s audiology department, the Core Health Group, VNA-TIP, Madison County Health Department, Rosenthal Optometric, dentists from the Smile Shoppe and Plaza Dental. Physicians participating from the hospital’s medical staff include Laurence Yung, D.O. and Greg Anderson, M.D.