Health Check is Back!

Read Time:2 Minute, 48 Second

After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, Health Check is back!

Free and low-cost health screenings will be available in Bedford and Dundee areas soon. Health Check is a United Way and ProMedica sponsored service that has been popular in Monroe County for over 30 years and was just taking off in Lenawee County after four successful events in 2018 and 2019. Health Check offers low or no cost health screenings that includes a 22-panel blood test for $20, free blood pressure check, free nutrition and medication counseling. Other blood tests are optional for small fee: HA1C (diabetes check) for $15, Vitamin D deficiency check for $10 and Stool Kit for $5. The Monroe County Health Department usually offers a range of adult vaccines as well.

In addition to the Monroe County Health Department, Health Check community partners include ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital, Family Medical Center, Department of Health and Human Services, Area Agency on Aging, and RSVP volunteers. The costs for this event are minimal due to these partnership collaborations.

A drug take back event will also be held in conjunction with the health services mentioned. Pills only can be dropped off (no syringes, liquids or creams). Local law enforcement and pharmaceutical professionals oversee this activity. Health Check is open to the public and no appointments are necessary. Free vouchers for the 22-panel are available for those who cannot afford the $20 fee. Contact 734-242-1331 to request a free voucher.

After a 2-year hiatus, it feels good to offer Health Check once again. Since the local labs were very busy with COVID-19 related activities, we were not able to offer Health Check at all. We have received many phone calls in the past 2 years asking when we were going to offer this service again. We had no idea when our ProMedica partners would be able to offer these services again. Luckily, they recently approached us that they were ready! Even for those who have insurance or simply need multiple blood work-ups annually, Health Check offers an affordable alternative for these important health care costs.

THANKS to all who support the United Way’s life changing efforts to address the health, education and financial stability needs of the community! Annually the United Way funds 25 local Monroe County agency programs. They also sponsor countywide 2-1-1 services, and coordinate Project Ramp, 4 annual Health Check events, and the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP). All funds raised in Monroe County stay in Monroe County. For more information about the GIVING AND LIVING UNITED, please contact us! Call us at 734-242-1331, contact us for an appointment at our office: 216 N. Monroe St., Monroe, MI 48161. You can visit our website at www.unitedwayMLC.org . Or you may contact me at lpipis@unitedwaymlc.org. For more information on the Hope Research Center, go to https://www.ou.edu/tulsa/hope or the HOPE National Resource Center https://positiveexperience.org . For more information on ACES research, go to https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/about.html . Caution: taking the ACES 10-question survey may trigger past trauma, so do so in a safe space and frame of mind.

Laura Schultz Pipis is the Associate Director of the United Way of Monroe/Lenawee Counties.

Source link