As part of their commitment to serving the local community, Sycamore Shoals Hospital will be holding a community health screening this weekend.
Participants can get their blood pressure checked for free at the event and get blood work drawn and processed at a very low cost, said Corey Paulson, director of marketing and communications for Sycamore Shoals Hospital.
Included in the tests for the blood work, lab staff will check blood glucose, hematocrit (which is the percentage of red blood cells present in the blood), triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and risk ratio testing. The cost of the blood work is $15 (cash or check), and no insurance is required, Paulson said.
The health screenings will take place on Saturday, July 9, from 7-9 a.m. in the classrooms at the hospital.
“These are fasting blood work tests, so participants should not eat or drink anything for eight to 10 hours prior to the tests,” Paulson said. The tests are done early in the morning, he said, because patients are required to fast for several hours prior to the screening.
The cafeteria at the hospital will be open for those who want to eat after their tests are completed.
The test samples will be processed at the SSH phlebotomy lab, and the results will be mailed to participants within a week, Paulson said.
“They can take their results with them to their family physicians if they want,” he said.
Each year, Sycamore Shoals hosts several community health screening events. After this Saturday’s health screening, the hospital has one more health screening event on tap for this year, which is set for Oct. 10.
Providing health screenings to the public is just one way Mountain States Health Alliance, which operates Sycamore Shoals Hospital, wants to serve the community, Paulson said.
“Sycamore Shoals Hospital’s goal is to be a great community partner,” Paulson said. “We want to do our best to keep the community aware of their health and provide them with a way to stay healthy.”
An average of 30-40 people take advantage of the discounted health screenings when the hospital offers them, Paulson said, adding that averages out to around 150 per year.
“This allows people to come in and get their levels checked — their cholesterol and their blood glucose —at a low cost who might not have been able to afford it otherwise,” he said.
To register, call 800-888-5551. Walk-ins are also welcome. Park on the east side of the hospital (to the right of the main entrance) and enter under the blue awning.