Texas County Memorial Hospital will host its seventh annual Northwest Texas County Health Fair from 8-11 a.m. Friday, April 15, at the Roby Citizen’s Center.
Several screenings will be available. Multiple departments will offer information about their services. Drawings for door prizes and other giveaways will also be available at the informational and screening booths.
The hospital’s strategic plan includes providing healthcare services to all of Texas County, so the hospital has committed to providing an annual health fair in the northwest corner of the county.
“It’s important that we reach out to the northwest Texas county area through this annual health fair,” said Wes Murray, chief executive officer at TCMH. “Our hospital puts together an excellent display of information and provides needed screenings at little or no cost during the Northwest Texas County Health Fair. We all look forward to attending the fair and meeting the residents who utilize our services in the far reaches of the county.”
For $15, TCMH healthcare providers will draw blood for a complete lipid panel (for cholesterol) and blood glucose. Tests will be taken on a first-come, first-serve basis; no appointments will be taken. To ensure the most accurate results, participants are asked to avoid eating or drinking for eight hours before having their blood drawn for the screening. In addition to the lipid panel and blood glucose, each screening participant will receive an information packet about cholesterol, heart disease and diabetes. Results will be mailed within two weeks of the test.
The TCMH radiology department will offer a free peripheral artery disease (PAD) screening with its new Revo 1100. Peripheral artery disease is a narrowing of the blood vessels that carry blood to the legs, arms, stomach and kidneys. Fatty deposits build up in the inner lining of the artery walls creating blockages that restrict blood circulation, increasing the risk of death from heart attack or stroke.
According to the American Heart Association, PAD affects eight to 12 million people in the U.S. with adults over age 50 and diabetics having the greatest risk for the disease. The Revo 1100 is utilized to take a reading known as the “ankle brachial index” (ABI) to show the blood flow through the left and right arteries in the legs.
The ABI results from the screening are explained to participants. The screening results may indicate that additional healthcare consultation should be sought from the participant’s healthcare provider.
Other free screenings include pulmonary function test and blood pressure.
The Roby Citizen’s Center is on Highway 32 between Roby and Plato. Ample parking is available.
For additional information about the health fair, contact Krista Elliott, director of the TCMH education department, at 417-967-1340 or toll-free at 866-967-3311, ext. 340.