Idaho State University Health Fair April 21-22 will feature more than 60 health learning centers

The Idaho State University Health Fair 2011 – celebrating its 31^st year – is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday and Friday, April 21-22, and will feature more than 60 learning centers on a variety of health issues.

Examples of services offered at the fair include everything from body-fat screenings and tests of grip strength, to nervous system evaluations and home health and hospice information. Other learning centers will provide blood pressure readings, a medication brown bag for participants to bring in their medicines and ask pharmacy students about them, and hearing screening tests, to name a few.

The annual free Health Fair is sponsored by the ISU Division of Health Sciences and Portneuf Medical Center. It will be held in the ISU Pond Student Union Ballroom.

Portneuf Medical Center (PMC) will provide laboratory services and blood draws at the fair on April 21-22. Blood draws will also be available on a walk-in basis from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday from April 1 – April 20 at both the East and West PMC laboratory locations. A 14-hour fast is required prior to a blood draw for the lipid profile and general chemistry profile.

The PMC East lab is located at 777 Hospital Way with access to the lab through the main entrance. West Campus PMC lab draws will be at the Main Lab, 651 Memorial Drive. Access is on the ground floor (level 6 of the parking garage elevator). Parking is available in the parking garage.

Participants who have their blood drawn on or before April 15 can pick up their blood profile results at the ISU Health Fair where health care professionals will help interpret results. If you have your blood drawn after April 15 or at the Health Fair, your results will be mailed to you.

PMC offers a general health blood profile for $35. The screening will include a chemistry profile, assessments for cardiac risk based on cholesterol levels, a complete blood count and a thyroid screen. Optional tests include a $15 confidential HIV screening and a $15 prostate antigen test. Other tests that will be offered this year include thyroid function screen for $15, iron level for $5, uric acid level for $5, glycohemoglobin for $25 and insulin level for $25.  

Last year’s Health Fair featured more than 60 learning centers, providing services to hundreds of participants. ISU dental hygiene, nursing and pharmacy students will be available for consultation on medications, healthy teeth and gums, nutrition as well as other health-related topics.

For more information on learning centers, contact Wendy Moschella at 282-2132.  

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