Coordinators talk about bring event back after COVID
After a three-year pandemic pause, the MCHI Live Healthy Health Fair is coming back Jan. 14, in conjunction with the Craft and Vendor Show at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds.
The event will run from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Farr Building, with the vendor and craft show lasting until 2 p.m.
MCHI marketing director Tina Hunt and foundation director ReeAnn Regier are coordinators for the health fair, stating their excitement in bringing back the event from before COVID-19.
“We’re very excited because people in the community have missed the events,” Regier said. “It has always been our goal that we do this event to support healthy living throughout the year for community members, and that always starts with discounted blood draws in the clinic. We weren’t able to do the discounted blood draws in the clinic last year even though we had done that in the past, and so this year, we’ll start over and do the blood draws in the clinic and then follow it up with the Health Fair on Jan. 14.”
Prior to the health fair, the discounted blood profiles will be held at Memorial Health Clinic on Jan. 3, Jan. 5 and Jan. 10. These medical benchmarks are meant to be compared every year to track health changes.
“It’s really helpful to know where your numbers are to see if you’re out of range, are creeping up towards maybe pre-diabetes or your numbers related to your heart health are good,” Hunt said. “There are a lot of things that healthcare professionals can tell from your blood profile.”
Part of the reason the Health Fair was founded was to provide consistent tests that people could compare from year to year, Regier continued. It allows people to look at those numbers every year and track them.
According to a promotional flier, the discounted cost of the blood profile testing is $45, PSA for prostate cancer screening is $25 and Hemoglobin A1c diabetic screening is $15. “These discounted screenings are self-pay, whereas, at typical appointments for wellness or illness, the cost of the blood draw is run through insurance and may result in varying out of pocket costs depending upon coverage,” said Hunt. “One thing with the low-cost blood draws is some people may get their numbers when they go in for their wellness visits and some like to check it again throughout the year. For some who do not have insurance, this is the only way they check it, so it’s super important as a way for people to know their numbers so they can catch anything that’s happening now or can help prevent something that may be coming down the road.”
Hunt encouraged people to call the scheduling office at 402-694-8274 right away.
“People will need to call and schedule a time to come in for the blood profiles,” Hunt said. “We do the blood draws first thing in the morning between 6 and 8 a.m. Just simply call our scheduling office and get on the schedule.”
On the day of the Health Fair itself, there will also be cardiovascular screenings from the Bryan Health Mobile Screening Unit that has AFIB screenings to detect an irregular heartbeat, carotid artery ultrasound screen for detecting plaque deposits in arteries that can lead to strokes, abdominal aortic ultrasound screening for detecting an aneurysm in that area and peripheral artery disease screening comparing blood pressure from ankles to arms to measure blood flow. Appointments for these screenings can be made by calling the scheduling office as well. There will also be a variety of Health Fair exhibitors.
“We will have everything across the board, from... fitness experts who will be there, aestheticians who will be talking about skin care, massage therapists who will sharing about different modalities and people that specialize in light therapy for healing and for supporting your immune system,” Regier said. “Other health-related entities will participate as well.”
“We’ll also have several MCHI departments and divisions exhibiting to share what they do,” Hunt added. “Some departments will have demonstrations and screenings, including blood pressure checks and fitness testing (and) other things that people can take advantage of there. Overall, for MCHI and other organizations that participate, the health fair is a great way to let people know that yes, we do that here.”
While there used to be a home show at the same time, that has been discontinued, though coordinators of the Health Fair said they continue to be committed to the health of Hamilton County and surrounding communities.
“Our goal is to support healthy living in our community and that’s always been our goal,” Regier said. “So that’s why we’re continuing to hold the health fair.”
The end of the home show tradition has caused the Health Fair to change locations and partners for the future.
“We’re moving to a larger building so that we can partner with the Craft and Vendor Show,” Regier explained. “Typically, we had it in the Ag Building, and this year we’ll be holding the event in the Farr building, which also has the kitchen area so that the Optimists will be able to provide the pancake breakfast. Everything will be under one roof this year.”
Along with the Optimist Club of Aurora’s pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m., the Craft and Vendor Show will provide a variety of items for sale including baked goods, DIY nail polish, candle makers, meal solutions, books and crochet, about 30 to 40 booths, according to Linda Ptacnik, coordinator of the Craft and Vendor Show.
“There are a lot of new vendors, new ideas, lots of handcrafted items and primitives that are selling very well,” Ptacnik said as she has coordinated many shows throughout the year. “As well as some of the more popular home-based businesses like Scentsy, Epicure and businesses like that. I think we’ll have good attendance, if the weather’s satisfactory. I look forward to continue next year.”
The MCHI coordinators stated their hopes as well for a good turnout and to continuing to support community health for Hamilton County and surrounding communities every year.
“We’re hoping for a good turnout, there will be a lot of booths with some interactive things going on,” Hunt concluded. “And it’s just a great way to learn about all the services that are available in our community and how to get your new year started off right when it comes to your health and wellness.”