Hands-on health care at the Grand Center

You can start the New Year with wellness in mind by attending this weekend’s 14th annual Community Health Fair, when approximately 30 health-care organizations, professionals and other health-related businesses will come together in one location to talk about their services and products.

“There will be a lot of hands-on, interactive displays,” Moab Regional Hospital Director of Community Relations and Development Sarah Shea said. “It’s a great chance for the community to interact with various hospital departments and learn about the medical services available here in Moab.”

The free event will take place on Saturday, Jan. 21, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Grand Center, 182 N. 500 West.

If you happen to need a blood draw, this is a good time to have it done: The health fair offers a low-cost blood draw for $60, which covers a series of blood tests, including a complete blood count, complete metabolic panel, lipids, thyroid-stimulating hormone and A1C blood glucose. Typically, all these blood tests would cost between $300 and $500 out-of-pocket, Shea said.

In the past, results of the low-cost blood draw were available at the heath fair. This year, people can earn a voucher for the blood draw by visiting at least four different vendors at the health fair. Blood draws will be scheduled when a person presents his or her voucher.

Appointments may be made at the health fair’s laboratory booth, or you can schedule an appointment after the fair by calling the hospital’s front desk at 435-719-3500.

Those who are unable to attend the health fair but would like to obtain a voucher can call AmeriCorps Vista volunteer Susan Toth at 435-719-5580 and ask to be placed on the waiting list for the procedure. Blood draws will take place on Mondays through Fridays from Jan. 23 to Feb. 17.

Jim Lewis, a physical therapist with Mountain Land Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, will offer attendees a free body fat assessment using an infrared tester that only requires a person to roll up his or her sleeve to measure body fat. He will also give out information about the clinic and various treatments it provides for musculoskeletal injuries, and balance problems, for example.

You can also get your blood pressure checked for free by student nurses from Utah State University-Moab’s campus. Academic adviser Sam Sturman said the university presence aims to raise awareness of its certified nursing program in Moab.

“I will have information on how to apply and go to school at Utah State,” Sturman said. “Plus, I will have information on prerequisites, and other degrees available on the USU-Moab campus.”

Event sponsor Moab Regional Hospital will have representatives from several of its departments, such as radiology and emergency, at the event. Other organizations that will be present include Grand County Emergency Medical Services, Moonflower Community Cooperative, CrossFit Moab and Mountain Land Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation.

Jan. 21 Community Health Fair offers low-cost blood draws and wealth of information about local services

“It’s a great chance for the community to interact with various hospital departments and learn about the medical services available here in Moab.”

When: Saturday, Jan. 21, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Grand Center, 182 N. 500 West

Cost: Free

Information: 435-719-3683

For more information, call 435-719-3683.

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