(Editor's note: The following is a guest column by Monogalia General Hospital Volunteer Health Fair Coordinator and Community Developer Faye "Tag" Stiles.)
With the Tucker County Health Fair on the horizon this Saturday, this is an ideal opportunity to let you know how vital health fairs are to our area's citizens.
The right screening, at the right time, can save your life. For example, Mon General has hosted a health fair for former employees of a major business in the area. And each of the last two years, at our ultrasound screening, significant carotid artery blockage was discovered, and those individuals needed to be treated immediately. It is very possible that this screening saved a life. This screening will be offered by the tremendous staff with Morgantown's Heiskell-King-Burns-Tallman-Wolen.
Mon General knows health fairs. For the past 26 years, Mon General has conducted its health fair locally, and has assisted literally tens of thousands of individuals with their health care needs, at little or no cost. As a result of the effort of myself, Mon General physicians and staff will make the trek to Tucker County in an effort to make a healthy difference in the lives of Tucker County-area residents. In partnership with Davis Health System, many of the same key health screenings will be offered.
This health fair is for everyone. This year, we will have a free Turtle Slide Tube Ride and several other fun activities for the kids.
Health education allows you to take charge of your health. Many booths will be set up from a few of our area hospitals and clinics, and wellness and preventative medicine representatives will available to empower you to learn more about taking the best care possible of you and your loved ones.
A health fair is the right thing to do, especially for those who can't afford health care. Mon General is a leader in northcentral West Virginia in providing these low cost screenings. For just $30, attendees can receive a "full panel" screening, which allows experts to see how you are doing health-wise. Other blood screenings that are available are the "prostate specific antigen," or PSA (for men), for $15, and a thyroid test for only $15.
Men who have a yearly blood test (a PSA) to examine their prostate specific antigen levels are nearly three times less likely to die from prostate cancer than those who don't have annual screenings. Experts say the PSA blood test is the best simple screening test available for prostate cancer that picks up prostate cancer earlier, while it's still curable. Men ages 50 and older should be tested annually for prostate cancer. This screening is available at the Tucker County Health Fair.
The month of May was Skin Cancer Awareness Month. If you weren't able to be screened for skin cancer, the Tucker County Health Fair will provide you that opportunity on Saturday. This opportunity is important because skin cancer is the most preventable types of cancer. Excessive exposure to the sun's UV rays is the most common cause of the disease. More than 1 million people are affected each year. Your best defense in preventing skin cancer is to avoid excessive exposure to the sun. When you are outdoors, be sure to always wear sunscreen, and stay in a shady area, if possible.
In this day and age, health care has gone mobile. Tucker County Health Fair guests can have an ultrasound for the gallbladder, aorta and carotid artery, foot screenings, body fat analysis, vision screening, and information on EKGs will also be available. Blood pressure screenings and finger sticks will be available, as will information on black lung and kidney information. Numerous other screenings will be available.
It's also important to remember, for your own information, and saving the cost of an office visit, that you have the opportunity to speak with many doctors, physician's assistants, nurses and other support staff who can answer many of your questions regarding a healthier you.
Mon General has been a leader in preventative health maintenance for many years, with its workplace commitment, as well as its commitment to the community. The old adage: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" has never been more important, especially with all of the screenings caregivers have at their fingertips. Unfortunately, we have a "sick care" health care system nationally rather than a preventative medicine focus. Preventative medicine is the cornerstone of a health care system that focuses on preventing an illness from occurring (or discovering it early) rather than treating it after the fact.
That is why Mon General is so committed to these types of health fairs.
(Editor's note: Anyone wishing to write a guest column or op-ed on their field of expertise or interest may submit the work to The Inter-Mountain for consideration. Copies must be typed, contain between 500 and 700 words and may be faxed to 304-636-8252, mailed to P.O. Box 1339, Elkins, W.Va. 26241 or e-mailed to lhskidmore@theintermountain.com. Questions may be directed to Editor Linda Howell Skidmore at 304-636-2124.)
