Free flu and hepatitis vaccinations, mammogram referrals at Community Health Screening Feb. 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 and uninsured Ada County residents.

Faculty and students from ISU-Meridian will conduct the screenings Thursday, Feb. 3, 3:30-6:30 p.m., at First Presbyterian Church, 950 W. State 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.  “It is our goal to cut costs for taxpayers by promoting preventive care and personal responsibility for one’s own health.  By identifying health issues before they escalate to emergency room visits, we are creating a win-win situation for students, patients and taxpayers.”

The Feb. 3 clinic is the fourth since September. To date, clinicians have screened more than 80 people and referred 78 percent to low-cost clinics for further evaluation or treatment.

“Prevention is a crucial piece of health care, and our mission with these screening events is to identify individuals at risk of preventable diseases,” said Dr. Glenda Carr, an ISU-Meridian assistant clinical pharmacy professor. 

The full screening process will take about an hour.  ISU-Meridian faculty and students will also provide disease prevention, dental, nutritional and diabetes education and make referrals for additional care if necessary.

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