Free flu shots and basic physical exams offered at ISU/Ada County Health Screening Oct. 22

Free flu shots, nutrition screening and basic physical exams are among the free services offered at a community health screening Thursday, Oct. 22, 4-7 p.m., at the Hispanic Cultural Center of Idaho, 315 Stampede Drive, in Nampa.

The screening is the second of six scheduled at various Treasure Valley locations through March for adults with no insurance or limited access to preventive health care.

“It’s not too early to protect yourself from the flu. Every year Idaho reports multiple deaths due to the influenza virus. A flu shot not only protects you, but those around you,” said Glenda Carr, screening co-organizer and Idaho State University-Meridian clinical assistant pharmacy professor.

Faculty and student clinicians administer the services which include:

●      Blood pressure checks, medication reviews and disease education
●      Dental evaluations
●      Depression and alcohol screenings and questionnaires
●      On-site testing for blood sugar levels, cholesterol, HIV and hepatitis C 
●      Hearing and eye screenings
●      Nutrition assessment and recommendations
●      Health education
●      Traumatic brain injury screenings

The Idaho Foodbank will provide free boxes of food for participants who want one.

"Healthy eating is often a luxury for low-income families. When resources are limited, just getting enough food takes precedence over choosing the healthiest foods.  Screening for food insecurity enables us to connect people to community resources to improve their diets,” said Ruth Schneider, a registered dietitian and ISU-Meridian clinical associate professor.

The Community Health Screening Program began in March 2010 through a partnership with ISU-Meridian, Ada County, Central District Health, and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.

The full screening process takes about 90 minutes, and patients in immediate need are given appointments at low-cost Treasure Valley clinics for additional care. For more information, call 373-1700 or email healthyU@isu.edu.