ISU Health Fair 2015 March 19-20 features more than 70 health learning centers; walk-in blood draws available

The Idaho State University Health Fair 2015 – celebrating its 34th year – is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday and Friday, March 19-20, in the Pond Student Union Ballroom. Parking is free in the Pond Student Union parking lot.

This year’s fair will feature more than 70 learning centers, blood draws and comprehensive health screenings and informational services on a variety of topics.
Examples include:

• Five College of Pharmacy screening centers offering a variety of services including Operation Diabetes, Operation Heart, and information about prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications and herbal and dietary supplements.

• Functional fitness testing by the ISU physical therapy department offering balance and fall-risk screening.

• Foot exams by the School of Nursing that includes the health promotion of proper foot care, nail clipping and massage.

• Nutritional counseling by dietetics faculty and students.

• Physical exams that include measurement of height, weight and waist circumference; body-fat percentage; blood pressure and oximetry.

• Mouth, head and neck screenings by dental hygiene students and faculty.

• Hearing screenings by the communications sciences and disorders department.

Other services include tests of grip strength, nervous system evaluations and home health and hospice information. For complete information on the fair visit www.isu.edu/healthfair.

The annual free fair is sponsored by the ISU Division of Health Sciences and Portneuf Medical Center.

Portneuf Medical Center (PMC) will provide laboratory services and blood draws at the fair. Remember to fast for 14 hours if you want a full lipid screening.
Blood draws will also be available on a walk-in basis from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Sunday through March 31 at the PMC lab located at 777 Hospital Way with access to the lab through the main entrance. A 14-hour fast is required prior to a blood draw for the lipid profile and general chemistry profile.
Participants who had their blood drawn on or before March 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 March 15 or at the Health Fair, your results will be mailed to you.

PMC offers a general health blood profile for $43. The screening includes a chemistry profile, assessments for cardiac risk based on cholesterol levels, a complete blood count and a thyroid screen. Other tests include a $22 confidential HIV screening and an $18 prostate antigen test. PMC is also offering a thyroid function screen for $16, iron level for $5, uric acid level for $5, A1c/Glycohemoglobin for $27; insulin level for $27; and vitamin D level, a test for osteoporosis, $18.

For more information, contact Stephen Wright, 208-282-2482, wrigstep@isu.edu or 208-282-2482 or visit www.isu.edu/healthfair.