Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
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“This is the largest number we’ve ever had come through for the screening,” Wilder said. “Each year we get a few more people.”
The screening, which was free to the public, lasted from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the hospital’s front lobby. At noon, just in front of the screening tables was a celebration conducted by Dr. George Jackson, chairman of the Martin Luther King Jr. Social Action Committee, TMC Chaplain Cyrus Bush and Wilder. It was the final day of the nine-day MLK Week celebration the social action committee was holding.
“It’s been a great week,” Jackson said. “It’s been very productive — beyond our expectations. The hospital is so generous to open its doors.”
The program was planned by Wilder, Bush and Linda Hunt, executive director of the TMC Foundation, as well as Jackson.
“We just wanted to raise awareness of issues that are significant today,” Bush said. “The hospital is a great location. It seems to be the focal point of the community.”
The two most popular tables for people to get a free screening were the laboratory table, which offered cholesterol check, glucose check and screening for prostate cancer, and a blood-pressure checking table. The lab table was run by lab supervisor Julie Rose, along with Rose Wiig, a phlebotomist and histoligist, and Hazel White, a phlebotomist. Julie Rose noted this was the first year the hospital offered free checking for prostate cancer at its health fair.
“That is actually a very costly test,” Rose said of the prostate cancer screening. “This is a great opportunity for people who don’t go to a regular physician for check-ups to get these tests at no charge. We’ll send a sheet to them explaining the results in laymen terms. They can call us back and we’ll refer them to Tom Doyle, our wellness director.”
Actually Doyle wears more than one hat at TMC. He is also the stroke center coordinator, and that’s the hat he was wearing at the health fair, as he manned the blood pressure checking table.
“We saw quite a few people who had high blood pressure today,” Doyle said. “A couple of people admitted to me that they were on blood pressure medication, but had stopped taking it. I would advise anyone who is on prescribed medication not to stop taking it without permission from their doctor. If your blood pressure is constantly over 140/90, you need to go to a doctor to see what you can do to get it back down.”
Wilder noted that TMC had a Medication Assistance Program, which could aid people with financial challenges in affording prescribed medicine.
“This program is designed to assist individuals who don’t have insurance and are on medication that they otherwise could not afford,” said Nicolie Medley, who operates TMC’s Medical Assistance Program. “The program and the medication are free to those who qualify for it.”
There was a table for osteoporosis testing. There were also informational tables, such as the one for Sodium Solutions, a new store that offers low sodium meals, and TMC’s sleep center.
“We treat all types and conditions of sleep disorders,” said Steve McMahan, director of the sleep center. “It’s not a hospital-type of experience. Our rooms are more like hotel rooms. It’s a very comfortable experience with no needles involved.”
Among attendees at the health fair were Rev. Huey Turner and Rev. Billy Parham. Turner is pastor of the Church of Tomorrow. Parham is also a minister at that church, as well as director of the Shepherd’s Inn, a homeless shelter that the church started. The ministers brought all those staying at the Shepherd’s Inn to take advantage of the free health screenings.
“We try to have screenings off and on throughout the year, but I think people have come to count on this one,” Wilder said of TMC’s annual Martin Luther King Day event. “I think we’re all aware that sometimes we’re not in the best of health.”
Staff Writer Kevin Reid can be reached at 472-9500, ext. 230, or at reid@tvilletimes.com.