ISU health fair offers various free services
Idaho State University’s annual health fair is back and doing more to make sure attendees know how to live healthier lives, by offering a number of free services.
That’s what brought Clark Christiansen to the fair Thursday.
“I have an upcoming doctor’s appointment and I thought some of these free screenings would maybe give me good questions to talk to my doctor about,” he said. “It was worth it, very much so.”
This year’s fair features around 70 booths showcasing local health businesses and various departments of ISU’s Division of Health Sciences. Steve Wright has coordinated the fair for the past five years and he always tries to make it bigger and better each time.
“We’re always trying to add new components, new aspects, to the health fair,” he said. “We’re in the second year of the health screenings, and that’s just a wonderful, free service to the community.”
There are ten free screenings in total, ranging from foot exams by the School of Nursing and diet advice from the department of dietetics. Each screening is administered by students and faculty in those specific disciplines.
Besides showcasing what’s available at ISU’s health clinics, the screenings are meant to give health care access to those who don’t have it. For those who do, it provides health care information that can be applied elsewhere.
“Part of the problem in Southeast Idaho is access to affordable health care for some people,” said Paula Phelps, director of physician assistant studies. “Some of these health screenings can identify problems that are early on or ones that people didn’t realize they had.”
With his screening results and health care tips in hand, Christiansen said he doesn’t plan to keep it to himself.
“There’ll be some application on my individual part, with my own physician and my own health,” he said. “I’ll also tell a couple of other people.”
Blood draws and laboratory tests, like thyroid and cholesterol screenings, are also offered at the fair. While they’re not free, they’re offered at a discounted cost.
The ISU health fair continues on Friday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Pond Student Union. The fair is free to attend.
