Krystal Geeson
Staff Writer
The Division of Health Sciences will host the 33rd Annual Health Fair at ISU on March 20 and 21 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Pond Student Union Building Wood River Room.
“This event is open to the community, ISU faculty, staff and students,” said ISU Health Fair Coordinator Stephen Wright.
Last spring there were an estimated 850 people in attendance.
Those in attendance will have access to discounted laboratory services such as a blood draw through Portneuf Medical Center as well as community and ISU screening and patient education centers. There will also be on-site testing for blood sugar levels and cholesterol.
“One of the benefits is that [those in attendance] can see what the ISU clinics have to offer,” said Wright. “Attendees can get health information from our different departments in the Division of Health Sciences, as well as information from health-related businesses in the community. This year, we have concentrated our screenings into one central location to better serve those in attendance and to increase the collaboration among the various health care professions.”
These screenings include functional fitness testing, foot exams, nutrition counseling, physical exams, mouth, head and neck screenings, hearing screenings, glucose screenings and cardiovascular counseling.
The fair is run by both faculty and students within each department in the Division of Health Sciences and enhances students’ clinical learning skills.
Students earn clinical hours for performing these health screenings and the students in attendance get the opportunity to learn more about the health resources in Pocatello available to them.
A couple of booths at the Health Fair this year will be hosted by the Department of Dental Hygiene.
Colleen Stephenson, a faculty member from the Department of Dental Hygiene, said one of their booths will include screenings for obvious signs of inflammation, disease or decay.
“There is a definite link between oral health and systemic health. In fact, The American Diabetes Association has recently added periodontal disease as the sixth complication of uncontrolled diabetes,” said Stephenson. “Our goal is to look for signs of disease and inflammation, increase patient awareness through education and make referrals as needed.”
They will also have information available for anyone interested in being seen as a patient in the Dental Hygiene Clinic.
In addition to providing screenings, the Department of Dental Hygiene will have a booth featuring iPads with an app that allows attendees to take a picture of their smiles and see how they might look with their teeth in different gradients of white.
Professional-strength Whitestrips will also be available for purchase at a reduced cost of $40 as a student fundraiser with proceeds used to fund various community service activities.
The School of Nursing will also have several booths at the Health Fair.
Some of the information provided will include topics of the brain, hypertension, colorectal cancer, renal health, and skin cancer.
There will also be a booth with information and resources regarding mental health nursing. Nursing has many different groups of students in different levels of studies.
Deb Reiland, a clinical assistant in the program, has students in their senior year taking part in community nursing.
“My students are doing hands-on screening and having attendees referred to the right place,” said Reiland. “We are doing two minute foot exams and trying to prevent amputation and lower extremity problems.”
These exams will include the health promotion of proper foot care and clipping.
Christy Sabel, another clinical assistant, said her students will have information regarding the care of pregnant families. Their booth will provide nutrition information for those pregnant, considering pregnancy and post-pregnancy.
“Definitely come out and enjoy the Health Fair. Not just for the discounted blood draws, but also to see what the health care community has to offer and what ISU has to offer,” said Wright.
The 2014 Health Fair is a part of Idaho State University Week, a joint proclamation from Chubbuck Mayor Kevin England and Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad. Multiple events will be taking place the week of March 17-22, including a performance by the Civic Symphony on March 21 in the Jensen Grand Concert Hall and Celebrate Idaho State on March 18 in the PSUB.
Free parking will be offered in the general parking lot near the PSUB for the Health Fair. For more information, call (208) 282-2482 or visit isu.edu/healthfair.
