Samaritan Healthcare hosts health fair
Courtesy photos<br> Respiratory therapist Gary Lynch, left, takes finger pulse oximeter readings at Samaritan Healthcare's Community Health Fair last year.
MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Healthcare is offering free screenings, information booths and flu shots at their Community Health Fair Saturday.
“I started this last year because I wanted to do something to give back to the community,” said Connie Opheikens, Samaritan community relations coordinator. “I like helping people and want them to know they can stay in town for services.”
The fair is from 7 a.m. to noon inside Pioneer Medical Center, located at 1550 S. Pioneer Way.
“The free screenings are a great help to people because with the economy the way it is, many people are out of work and lost insurance benefits,” Opheikens said. “Some have cut back on doctor visits because of their financial situation, so this is a way for providers to diagnose issues.”
Available screenings include bone density, diabetes, foot health, blood pressure and body fat. There is also a basic panel to screen lipid profile, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose. A 12-hour fast is required to all participants.
Opheikens received funding for the fair from a grant received by Samaritan Healthcare Foundation.
“This is something I wanted to do for our community for a long time,” Opheikens said.
Opheikens said last year about 345 people attended.
“The big draw this year is that we have a free prize drawing for those who attend and visit all fair booths,” Opheikens said. “The winner receives a Nintendo Wii console and Wii Fitness package.”
Individuals must be 18 years or older to enter the drawing.
“Another difference this year is that we are having an information booth on bariatrics surgery to give the public an opportunity to find out more about our new program,” Opheikens said.
Other information booths include childbirth, colonoscopy surgery, internal medicine, mammography, the Moses Lake Clinic and the Moses Lake Community Health Clinic.
“We are trying to keep everything free or as low cost as we can,” Opheikens said.
Thyroid-stimulating hormone and prostate-specific antigen tests are available at a low-cost as well as flu shots offered by the Grant County Health District. The health district is also offering pneumonia and whooping cough shots.
Call the health district at 509-766-7960 for pricing information.
For more information on the fair, call 509-793-9645.