CRMC TO SPONSOR 14th ANNUAL HEALTH FAIR
Staff members are busily preparing for Cameron Regional Medical Center’s 14th Annual Health Fair – a special wellness event from which area residents can derive great benefit. A comprehensive selection of free medical services will be offered.
The Health Fair will be hosted by the CRMC Foundation and will be held Saturday, October 15, from 8:00 until 11:00 a.m. In addition, the Community Blood Center will be conducting a blood drive in CRMC’s parking lot from 8:00 until 11:30 a.m.
“We truly hope people will come out and take advantage of the free wellness services that are being provided,” indicated Warren McElwain, CRMC Board President. “As part of the Medical Center’s Community Benefit efforts, we will be offering extensive testing and services intended to improve the health of area residents,” McElwain further stated.
Health Fair participants should take note that the traffic flow for this year’s event will be “flipped.” Attendees should park at the south end of the CRMC campus and enter the building through the Orthopedic & Rehab Center. Registration will take place in the Waiting Room of the Orthopedic & Rehab Center, and blood testing will take place in the adjacent Physical Therapy Department.
During the course of Saturday morning, various tests, medical screenings, and counseling services will be provided to the public at no charge. A broad panel of lab tests will include anemia, blood sugar, thyroid, cholesterol panel, iron, GFR, and BUN/creatinine. Participants are encouraged to fast after midnight to facilitate accurate lab results. A kidney function screening for urine protein will also be available.
“We highly encourage people to attend the Health Fair,” indicated Fred Kiehl, D.O., CRMC Chief of Staff. “This annual event provides patients with a convenient and inexpensive opportunity to find out if they have an issue requiring further medical attention or to monitor an existing condition.”
Always one of the most popular stations, carotid artery ultrasound screenings will be offered again this year. Moreover, a new feature will be abdominal aortic aneurysm screenings. Robert Carter, M.D., from Midwest Aortic & Vascular Institute, will be available for oversight and to discuss any significant abnormal findings that result from these two ultrasound tests.
Joseph F. Abrutz, Jr., CRMC Administrator, has advised that several other physicians will be participating in this year’s event: Education on women’s health will be available from Rebecca Poole, M.D., Obstetrician/Gynecologist; Marija Tonkovic, M.D., Dermatologist, will be offering “spot checks” for skin cancer; and Nancy Gasparovic, D.P.M., will once again be providing Podiatry screenings. In addition, Thomas Scott, M.D., will be in attendance to answer questions on Rheumatology, autoimmune conditions, and arthritis.
Two new tests at this year’s event will include Northwest Vision Center providing macular degeneration screenings and CRMC’s Physical Therapy Department conducting balance testing. This latest in balance testing is made possible by a new equipment system recently donated by the CRMC Foundation.
Flu vaccinations will be available to those over 18 years of age, with third-party payors being billed. Self-pay patients can receive the flu vaccine for a minimal charge of $21.00; however, all other testing services are being provided at no cost to the public.
Numerous door prizes will be given away during the event, and three drawings for free Bone Densitometry studies will be held. Healthy refreshments will be served in the Private Dining Room. (Those persons planning to donate blood after the Health Fair should be sure to take advantage of the free refreshments before presenting to the Community Blood Center vessel.)
Many educational exhibits will be in place during the Health Fair, including information on stroke awareness, weight management (with BMI calculations), COPD/sleep disorders, diabetes (with glucose testing), and mental health. Renee Rouse, PA-C, will be available to discuss shingles and answer questions regarding this virus. Representatives of the Cameron Ambulance District, Cameron YMCA, and the Green Hills Domestic Violence Shelter will also be present to highlight their services.
Mary Burrows, R.N., and Laura Klug, C.N.A., serve as Co-Chairwomen for the event, with CRMC staff members manning the various testing/screening stations. Thirty-plus CRMC Ambassadors and Foundation Board members will serve as greeters, guides, and coordinators. Additionally, nursing students from North Central Missouri College in Trenton will be on hand to assist in several capacities.
Questions regarding the Health Fair may be addressed to Carol Arthur at (816) 649-3226. Cameron Regional Medical Center and its Foundation are both 501(c)3 not-for-profit entities
