Texas County Memorial Hospital will hold its fifth annual Northwest Texas County Health Fair from 7-11 a.m. Friday, April 3, at the old gymnasium at Plato Schools.
The free screenings provided include a colorectal cancer screening kit; osteoporosis screening; body fat analysis; child car seat checks; and blood pressure checks.
Informational displays will feature healthcare services available at the hospital and through other healthcare and nutrition providers in Texas County, such as Hometown Healthcare and Wellness, University of Missouri Extension and the Texas County Health Department. A few southwest Missouri healthcare providers, such as Cox Health Stroke and Trauma Services and Community Blood Centers of the Ozarks, will also provide informational displays.
The only screening with a charge is the $15 Heart Health and Diabetes Screening. The blood test provides a complete lipid panel to indicate total cholesterol: HDL (good cholesterol); LDL (bad cholesterol); and triglycerides.
The same screening will also provide a hemoglobin A1C test to measure the average blood glucose level for the past three months. This test is commonly used to check for diabetes and is a preferred blood glucose test of many healthcare providers.
To ensure the most accurate results for the cholesterol and hemoglobin A1C, participants are asked to avoid eating or drinking for eight hours before having their blood drawn for the screening, which is offered on a first-come-first-served basis; no appointments will be taken. The $15 fee covers processing costs. Results will be mailed to participants within two weeks of the screening.
Medicare recipients can receive a cholesterol and hemoglobin A1C test, such as the one provided at the Northwest Texas County Health Fair. But they will need to get this test through their healthcare provider. TCMH will not bill Medicare or any insurer for the screening on April 3.
Doctors OnSite Eyecare will also participate in the health fair, providing a complete eye exam for $25 (add $25 for fitting of contact lenses). Contact lenses and eyeglasses will be available, too, with prices for glasses and frames ranging from $99 to $299 and contact lenses from $19 and up. To set up an appointment for an eye exam, contact Plato school nurse Melissa Keziah at 417-458-4980.
“Texas County Memorial Hospital is pleased to again bring this health fair with many free or low-cost screenings to the residents of northwest Texas County,” said Wes Murray, chief executive officer at TCMH.
Libby Waterson, education director at TCMH, coordinates the screenings and exhibitors at the annual health fair.
“We hope the people that come out for the screening will take the time to get some additional healthcare information, pick up a colorectal cancer screening kit and participate in the other health screenings,” she said.
In the afternoon after the health fair, TCMH is sponsoring sport physicals for high school and middle school athletes from 1-3 p.m. at Plato Schools.
TCMH healthcare providers will perform the medical exam portion of the physical. The physicals are $5 per athlete, and no appointment is necessary.
All athletes need to bring the MSHSAA form signed by a parent or guardian to the physicals. The forms are available from the Plato School nurse or in the TCMH Education Department.
For additional information about the health fair or school sport physicals, contact Waterson at 1-866-967-3311, ext. 340, 417/967-1340 or libby@tcmh.org.