Idaho State University-Meridian faculty, students to offer free health screenings to uninsured on March 15 in Boise

Uninsured and in need of medical or dental care?

Attend a free Community Health Screening, Thursday, March 15, 4 to 7 p.m., at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 707 W. Fort St., Boise. Faculty and student clinicians from the Idaho State University-Meridian Health Science Center will conduct the screenings.

Services include:

●      Basic physical exam, including blood pressure check, foot exam and medication review

●      Dental evaluation

●      Hearing, depression and alcohol screenings and questionnaires

●      On-site testing of blood sugar levels and HIV status

●      Flu shots

●      Mammogram referrals

●      Nutrition assessment and recommendations

Since March 2010, ISU-Meridian, Ada County, Central District Health, and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare have partnered to offer the screenings to low-income or uninsured Ada County adults. 

The goal is to provide health education information and identify potential health problems before uninsured patients become so ill they are forced to seek treatment at hospital emergency rooms, increasing the financial burden on taxpayers.

"Through the screenings, we have identified individuals who were in need of immediate care, possibly saving their lives.  Many others have had chronic medical conditions that were not an emergency, but if left untreated had the potential of becoming a more serious and costly health crisis," said Ada County Commissioner Sharon Ullman.

"Prevention is a crucial piece of health care, and our mission with these screening events is to identify individuals at risk of preventable diseases and get them connected with providers in the area, all the while providing our students valuable clinical experience," said Dr. Glenda Carr, an ISU-Meridian assistant clinical pharmacy professor. 

The full screening process takes about an hour.  No appointment is necessary. For more information, call 373-1700.