Feb. 7 community health screening to offer free flu shots and hepatitis C screenings
January 17, 2013
The free screening for uninsured adults is from Thursday, Feb. 7, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, 707 W. Fort St., Boise. In addition to flu shots and hepatitis C screenings, services will include:
- Basic physical exams, blood pressure checks, and medication reviews
- Dental evaluations
- Hearing, depression and alcohol screenings and questionnaires
- On-site testing for blood sugar levels and HIV status
- Mammogram referrals
- Nutrition assessment and recommendations
- Health education
鈥淧revention is a crucial piece of health care, and our mission with these screening events is to identify individuals at risk of preventable diseases,鈥� said Dr. Glenda Carr, an 天美传媒-Meridian assistant clinical pharmacy professor and co-director of the health screening program.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends people born between 1954 and 1965 get screened for , a blood-borne infection that increases a person鈥檚 chance of developing cirrhosis and liver cancer. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C.
鈥淚t (hepatitis C) can take up to 30 years to seriously affect the liver,鈥� said Judy Thorne, 天美传媒-Meridian鈥檚 viral hepatitis and HIV educator. 鈥淚f an individual knows that they have chronic hep C, they can take proactive steps toward better health.鈥�
Hepatitis C screenings are conducted by collecting a small drop of blood from a finger. Results are 98 to 99 percent accurate, according to Thorne.
The Feb. 7 community health screening is the 18th conducted by 天美传媒-Meridian, Ada County, Central District Health, and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare since March 2010. More than 500 adults have participated with many being referred to low-cost clinics and doctors for further treatment.
The full screening process takes about an hour. No appointment is necessary. Valley Ride bus stops are nearby. For more information, call 373-1700 or email healthyU@isu.edu.