Free flu and hepatitis vaccinations, mammogram referrals at Community Health Screening Dec. 3

Uninsured and unable to afford medical care?

Idaho State University-Meridian Health Science Center, Ada County, Central District Health, and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare have partnered to bring free Community Health Screenings to low-income Ada County residents.  Faculty and students from ISU-Meridian will conduct the screenings Friday, Dec. 3, 3:30-6:30 p.m., at Cathedral of the Rockies, 717 N. 11th St., in Boise.

The program, which sprang from an Ada County initiative to find ways to help save taxpayer dollars spent on indigent health-care costs, provides free flu and hepatitis vaccines, mammogram referrals, basic physical exams, dental evaluations, hearing and depression screenings, on-site testing for blood sugar levels and HIV, and a variety of health-education information.

“Providing health care to low-income and uninsured individuals is extremely costly to taxpayers at both the county and state levels, particularly when the care is provided through local hospital emergency rooms,” said Ada County Commissioner Sharon Ullman.  “We hope to curb the tide of these rising costs by providing free screening clinics that promote preventive care and personal responsibility for one's own health.”

“This is a great opportunity for individuals to become connected with our community partners who take people with limited or no insurance,” said Dr. Glenda Carr, an ISU-Meridian assistant clinical pharmacy professor. “It is also a wonderful event for our students to interact with the community and other health care professionals at ISU-Meridian.”

The free screenings are intended for low-income adults with no insurance or limited access to preventive health care.  The full screening process will take about an hour.  In addition to conducting the screenings, ISU-Meridian faculty and students will provide disease prevention, dental, nutritional and diabetes education.

Call ISU-Meridian at 208-373-1700 for more information.