Many people make New Year’s resolutions each year to improve their health and Sycamore Shoals Hospital is providing an opportunity this weekend to help people meet their goal.
This Saturday, from 7-9 a.m., Sycamore Shoals Hospital will host a community health screening. Participants will get a free blood pressure check and discounted bloodwork, including a full lipid panel to check cholesterol, blood glucose levels and a hematocrit test.
The cost for the bloodwork is $15 and insurance is not required.
“This is something we do four times a year,” said Corey Paulson, marketing director for the hospital. “We’ve been doing it for several years.”
One of the reasons the hospital continues to offer the health screenings at such a discounted level is Mountain State Health Alliance’s commitment to improving the health of the communities served by the health system’s hospitals, Paulson said.
“The health of this community is our concern,” he said, adding the tests are a way community members can be better informed about their health and make changes to improve it. “I think it’s important for the hospital to be a good community partner.”
Providing the bloodwork at a discount makes the tests more available to some who might not be able to afford the checkup, Paulson said.
“This is a couple hundred dollars worth of bloodwork if you go through a physician,” Paulson said. “Sometimes people avoid having the tests done or keep putting it off because they can’t afford to pay that much or maybe their insurance doesn’t cover it. This is an opportunity for them to have this done inexpensively.”
No appointments are necessary for the health screenings. Those wanting to have the tests done just need to come to Sycamore Shoals between 7 and 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 9.
“They should be fasting for at least 10 hours so it is a more accurate result,” Paulson said.
Participants will fill out some paperwork and the tests will be administered. Paulson said the process is very quick.
“The results are sent to their homes,” Paulson said. “If they want their doctor to get a copy they can choose that and we will send a copy to them and a copy to their doctor.”
Sycamore Shoals Hospital offers the community health screenings four times per year. After the screening this Saturday, the program will be offered again on April 9, July 9 and Oct. 8, all of which are Saturdays, and the times will once again be 7-9 a.m.