Many get free tests, vaccinations, etc. at Baptist community health fair 2018

More than 200 individuals attended the Baptist community health fair 2018 event. It was held Thursday morning, Oct. 18, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County in New Albany. The annual event is part of Baptist’s “commitment to raising the collective health of the community.”

Various free medical tests and healthcare information were available from Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County and several other health care providers.

Available at the health fair were a variety of free services including flu vaccinations, body mass index assessments; blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose screenings; and coronary risk factor assessments.

Baptist Hospital health care professionals provided blood pressure checks.

Through a partnership Baptist-Union County has formed with the Mississippi Kidney Foundation, attendees at the Baptist community health fair 2018 also had the opportunity to undergo a free blood test to determine if they have kidney disease. The screening test is a finger prick which measures eGRF and creatinine, two major indicators of kidney function.

The Internal Medicine and Pediatric Clinic (IM&PM) was one of three New Albany clinics represented at the health fair.

In addition to the free services performed by the Baptist Hospital professional staff, free services and information was available from other health care providers during the Thursday morning health fair. Besides the free testing provided by the Mississippi Kidney Foundation, other health care organizations providing services and information included three New Albany clinics: Internal Medicine & Pediatric Clinic (IMPC), Creekmore Clinic and Dr. Robert Barnett’s Women’s Clinic of New Albany.

It is time for flu vaccines, and they were free at the health fair.

Three different hospice organizations had representatives providing information during the event from 7 to 9 am in the hospital’s main lobby. Other participants included assisted living institutions and a local retail pharmacy.

Bone Density testing by Baptist technicians was available.

Home Health Hospice was one of three hospice organizations represented at the Baptist community health fair.

Free events, such as this health fair, allow community members to get an accurate picture of their overall health, which can help them make informed decisions about lifestyle changes,” said Walter Grace, CEO and Administrator of Baptist Union County.

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County CEO & Administrator Walter Grace (at right in photo) met and visited with many of those attending the health fair

Baptist Union County, the recipient of many awards and accolades, was recognized by Premier as one of only three hospitals in the nation that achieved top performance in all seven of the areas measured in Premier’s Quest collaborative. The hospital was awarded the Outstanding Patient Experience Award by Healthgrades and was named a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures® by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in America, in 2018.
Baptist Union County offers a variety of health care services, including adult and pediatric inpatient services, labor and delivery, cancer center, outpatient surgery and a 24-hour expanded emergency room. The hospital also offers telemedicine and comprehensive diagnostic services, including an American College of Radiology- Accredited Breast Care Center of Excellence.