MARYSVILLE – Community Memorial Healthcare (CMH) and Parents as Teachers (PAT) in Marshall County have partnered together this spring to bring the area a new and improved community event! Combining CMH’s low-cost comprehensive blood profile screenings and PAT’s early childhood fair, this year will be the first-ever combined Health & Safety Fair on Saturday, April 27, 2019, on the CMH campus at 708 N. 18th Street, Marysville.
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Comprehensive blood profile screenings will be offered in the hospital lobby from 6-10 a.m. for $30 (an additional prostate cancer screening is available for men for $15). Then, a children’s fair will be in the CMH south parking lot from 10 a.m. until noon.
“Combining the two events gives us a greater opportunity to serve more people, and to expand on what is already offered,” said Ashley Kracht, director of public relations at CMH. “We are excited to bring a new crowd to both events, and for the additional opportunities hosting the children’s fair outdoors brings.”
The children’s fair will include an inflatable obstacle course and bouncy house castle, face painting, a petting zoo of baby farm animals, emergency vehicles on display, a medical transport helicopter, and about 30 booths with health and safety information and screenings for families with young children.
In case of poor weather, the children’s fair will be moved indoors to its former location at Lincoln Center, 405 N. 4th Street, Marysville.
This is the 12th year CMH has offered the low-cost blood profiles as a community service. All lab work is done in-house, and results are mailed out early the following week.
“We put a lot of focus on preventative care, and want people to be knowledgeable about their own health,” said Curtis Hawkinson, hospital administrator. “Our job is to be here when you need us, but it’s also to help make our community a healthy place to live and work.”
This is the fifth year for the early childhood health and safety fair. “Each year, this event has continued to grow,” said Kris Hargrave, PAT director for Marysville and Valley Heights school districts. “We’re happy to bring this information to our families we serve, and also many we don’t get to see on a regular basis,” she said. “Spring is a great time to explore with your children, and also do a little health and safety “housekeeping” as you are spring cleaning, as well.”
For the lab draw fair, the public is asked to enter through the main (south) doors, where they will be greeted by hospital personnel for registration. Stations will be set up in the front lobby/outpatient area for blood draws.
Cost of the blood profile is $30. For men, a PSA screening for prostate cancer is offered for $15. The blood profile includes testing for the following:
- Lipid profile: tests for total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol (often called good cholesterol), and triglycerides. The lipid profile is a group of tests that are often ordered together to determine risk of coronary heart disease.
- TSH blood test: used to find out whether the thyroid gland is working properly and can identify conditions of an under-active thyroid gland (hypothyroidism), or an over-active thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism).
- CBC (complete blood count): measures the concentration of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets in the blood.
- HgbA1C (hemoglobin A1C): a test to measure the average blood sugar level over the past 90 days.
- CMP (comprehensive metabolic panel): typically a standardized group of tests used as a broad screening tool to evaluate organ function and check for conditions such as diabetes, liver disease, and kidney disease. The CMP includes testing for proteins, electrolytes (including potassium), liver enzymes, and kidney function tests.
- PSA (prostatic specific antigen): a screening test for male prostate cancer.
Please do not eat 12-14 hours prior to the test. You may have moderate amounts of black coffee or water. Continue taking any medications as prescribed by your physician.
Complimentary light refreshments will be available in the hospital cafeteria, and Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Marysville, will be hosting a fundraiser breakfast simultaneously at their fellowship hall, directly adjacent to the south CMH parking lot. Those attending the health fair are encouraged to stop by the church for a hearty meal after having their lab drawn.