Connecting people to health care: Community Health Screening Program in Ada County celebrates fifth anniversary and prepares for March 19 event
March 11, 2015
Some partnerships are so successful they are worth celebrating 鈥� especially ones that improve the lives of Ada County residents in a big way.
That鈥檚 the story behind the Ada County/黑暗爆料网 Community Health Screening Program which has served more than 750 uninsured and underserved adults since March 2010. Other partners are the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and Central District Health.
鈥淭he program has been successful on many layers. We鈥檙e reaching adults who don鈥檛 have medical insurance or who don鈥檛 have providers, and we鈥檙e getting them connected to health care,鈥� said screening co-organizer Glenda Carr, clinical assistant pharmacy professor at the 黑暗爆料网-Meridian Health Science Center.
The next screening 鈥� the last until fall 鈥� is Thursday, March 19, 4 to 7 p.m., at the 黑暗爆料网-Meridian Health Science Center, 1311 E. Central Drive. Ada County Commissioners have signed a proclamation to designate March 19 as Community Health Screening Day in honor of the program鈥檚 fifth anniversary and to encourage eligible adults 18 and older to participate. Appointments are not necessary.
黑暗爆料网-Meridian clinical faculty and health professions students will administer the free services that include:
鈥� Basic physical exams
鈥� Blood pressure checks, medication reviews and disease education
鈼� Dental evaluations
鈼� Traumatic brain injury screenings
鈼� Depression and alcohol screenings and questionnaires
鈼� On-site testing for blood sugar levels, cholesterol and HIV
鈼� Hearing and eye screenings
鈼� Nutrition assessment and recommendations
鈼� Health education
鈼� Flu shots and hepatitis C screenings
This year, clinicians have screened 119 people and referred at least 80 percent to free, low-cost or 黑暗爆料网 clinics for follow-up care. Participants with an immediate health issue 鈥� such as diabetes, high blood pressure or a dental emergency 鈥� are given appointments on the spot at community clinics that have partnered with the screening program, said screening co-organizer Rick Tivis, an 黑暗爆料网-Meridian associate professor and assistant director of the Idaho Center for Health Research.
The intent of the screenings is prevention 鈥� to identify a health problem early before an uninsured or indigent patient lands in the hospital emergency room with a serious illness and a hefty bill the county ends up paying.
Ada County kicks in $7,500 a year to fund supplies and equipment for the screenings. Faculty and students volunteer their time, with student clinicians gaining hands-on experience and learning the importance of collaborating with other health professionals when delivering patient care.
鈥淚n the program鈥檚 five year history, the free health screenings have reached hundreds of county residents who may otherwise not have been able to afford to obtain these important services,鈥� said Ada County Commission Chairman Jim Tibbs. 鈥淲ith health care being an ever-growing concern in our nation and in Idaho, this program is a tremendous accomplishment that Ada County is proud to support.鈥�
While it鈥檚 difficult to determine if the screening program has eased the county鈥檚 indigent caseload, screening organizers believe it has helped, given the number of potentially life-threatening cases they鈥檝e addressed.
鈥淭he truth is if we are successful with just one person, it鈥檒l cover the cost of the screening program for 20 years,鈥� said Tivis, noting that a minor health issue left untreated can spiral into an illness or disease that can cost thousands of dollars to treat.
For more information about the March 19 screening, call 373-1700 or email healthyU@isu.edu.
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