Free health fairs set for next month

The Health Wagon has announced dates for three community health fairs in March.

The schedule includes:

• Wednesday, March 11: Zion Family Ministries, Wise.

• Thursday, March 12, Valley Freewill Baptist Church, Clintwood.

• Friday, March 13, Clinchco Community Center.

All clinics will take place from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Services will be provided at no charge.

The Health Wagon and community partners will be joining forces with medical staff and students of the Quillen College of Medicine from East Tennessee State University to provide services.

Services will include complete medical history and comprehensive physical examinations; sports physicals and school physicals; lab services including cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides in addition to glucose and hemoglobin A1C readings for diabetic screenings. Additional labs may be performed if medically indicated.

Women can receive pap smears and clinical breast exams. Ballad Health mobile mammography will be available for mammograms and appointments are strongly recommended, but not required. A sonographer will be attending and performing ultrasounds. Dr. Joe Smiddy, Health Wagon board chair, medical director and pulmonologist, will be doing chest x-rays and pulmonary consults. Ultrasounds will also be offered (abdominal, pelvic, thyroid, breast and musculoskeletal).

Other services include blood pressure checks, height, weight, pulse, pulse oximetry, ECHOs & EKGs (if medically indicated), urinalysis, hearing test and vision screening. Vision will include retinal scans and glaucoma testing. Colorectal screenings, bone density screening, ankle brachial testing, prostate and testicular exams, pulmonary function testing, smoking cessation education will be offered. Patients can also take advantage of medication review, depression screenings and stress management, including massages.

Local health care providers, health departments and other local service organizations will provide informational booths. Assistance with new Medicaid enrollment will be available. Anyone interested in enrolling should bring proof of income as well as the names and Social Security numbers of all household members.

Participants are encouraged to not eat or drink after midnight (except water and black coffee) if having blood work performed. Those who would like medication review should bring all medicines with them.

Door prizes donated by area merchants and giveaways will be distributed. A free Culligan water filter will be given, while supplies last, to all participants who register and receive at least one simple screening (i.e. blood pressure check).

If any agency would like to participate, please call the Health Wagon for availability of space at 276/328-8850.

For more information, visit www.thehealthwagon.org.