Dateline: April 22, 2004

Free screenings to be available at health fair 

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Area residents are once again promised a full slate of free health screenings as well as financial advice at the Good Health, Much Wealth – Your Choice Health Fair scheduled for Thursday, April 29, 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Bairfield Activity Center at Clarendon College.

The health and wealth task force continues its commitment to providing easy access to information and services in a day at one location.  Last year’s event saved the public in excess of $30,000 on free health screens and financial services.  Each year the services are expanded, and this year is no exception.

Administering screening such as glucose, cholesterol, prostate, hemoglobin, and blood pressure will be a collaborative effort by the Donley County Hospital District, Associated Ambulance Authority, Clarendon Family Medical Center, Donley County Medical Center Nursing Home, Novartis Pharmaceutical, Northwest Texas Healthcare System, and Clarendon College’s LVN program.

Individuals are encouraged to fast for twelve hours prior to the screens to ensure more accurate results.

PSA’s will be offered to men 40+.  The American Cancer Society recommends PSA’s once every ten years after the age of 40, unless advised otherwise by a physician.

 The Novartis Pharmaceutical will be sponsoring the MME, “Mini Mental Exam,” for individuals who are concerned about memory loss or that of their loved one.  The Lion’s Eye Bank will provide glaucoma screening.

The only services which require fees will be breast mammograms by the Harrington Cancer Center.  Appointments are required for the mammograms and can be made by calling 356-1905 or 800-377-4673 in Amarillo.

Coffee Memorial Blood Bank will be attending the Health Fair; however, their annual blood drive will be in May.

Providing financial information and services this year will be Edward Jones Investments, Herring National Bank, and Asset Conservation Systems.

Educational exhibits will be provided by the Amarillo Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, American Red Cross, Odyssey Health Care, Donley County Extension Service, Novartis Pharmaceutical, Panhandle Regional Planning Commission 9-1-1 Network, Med-Link Services, RSVP, Meredith House, National Weather Service, Texas Panhandle Poison Center, Panhandle Rehabilitation Specialists, Advanced Hearing Technologies, Harrington Cancer Center, Northwest Texas Health Care System, Texas Gold, Home Sleep Diagnostics (Sleep Disorder), Senior Advantage, The Pavilion Wound Care Center, and the Balance Center.

Patrick Robertson of KEFH 99.3 will provide a live remote broadcast at the health and wealth fair.  As the day progresses, door prizes donated by exhibitors will be awarded and announced on the air.

For more information about Good Health, Much Wealth – Your Choice – Health Fair, contact the Donley County Extension Service at 874-2141.