Health, Safety and Fun!

Spring is in the air, and families are eager to get out and enjoy the sunshine. If you are looking for an opportunity to get the whole family involved and learn more about your community, then mark your calendar for May 9 from 9am to noon when Boundary Community Hospital will host its annual Health Fair and Fun Run. Organizer Marcia Morman shares that there will be several booths where one can gather information about health related issues. There will also be an opportunity to receive coupons for free healthcare tests and some of the tests will even be administered at the fair.

Morman shares that one of the tests you may take the day of the fair is a blood-sugar test. To ensure the most accurate result, she instructs that people should not eat or drink 12 hours prior to the test. In addition, the hospital will administer free blood pressure checks, and the rehabilitation department has several interesting screenings planned as well.

The laboratory from Boundary Community Hospital will be distributing coupons for one free lipid panel, a screening that identifies cholesterol in the body — High Density Lipoprotein (HDL), Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), along with a calculation of Cholesterol/HDL ratio, which evaluates cardiac risk. The value of this coupon is $79 and is good for two weeks.

For diabetics, there is a coupon valued at $49.00 for a Hemoglobin A1C test. This is not a screening test, but a test that monitors long-term diabetic control, and for that reason, is only for diabetics. That coupon will also be good for up to two weeks.

Those at Boundary Community Hospital are eager to share with the community all the services they offer and to provide the community with information to live a healthier lifestyle.

"The Health Fair is an event that we always look forward to," said hospital administrator, Craig Johnson. "People who make it their career to know the answers to health questions will be here to address health topics. It is an informative, learning and fun atmosphere for people of all ages."

Just some of those with information eager to share are representatives knowledgeable about medical equipment, aging issues, dementia, hearing, nutrition, diabetes, childbirth, hospice, mental health, substance abuse, handwashing, cancer support, safe sleep for babies, food preparation and Medicare.

The departments from our local hospital will also have information on cardiopulmonary issues, rehabilitation, radiology, nutritional and outpatient surgery. There will be representatives from Boundary Community Hospital’s Extended Care Facility who will provide information on their services.

A new and exciting development in medical care is the health portal, which allows patients digital access to some of their medical records. Morman shares that those records may be accessed by patients from any location, any time of the day or night. All they need is a laptop, desktop, smartphone or other electronic device. There will be someone available from the medical records department at Boundary Community Hospital to assist and guide individuals through the sign-up process.

The kids won’t want to miss the opportunity to see MedStar Critical Care Transport Service land their helicopter or a get a close up look at the fire truck from Bonners Ferry Fire Department. Also present will be members of the Boundary Volunteer Ambulance Service.

A popular event to kick off the day is the Fun Run. Like the Health Fair, it too is free of charge. And don’t think it is for people only interested in a fast-paced run; it has opportunities for people of all fitness levels to enjoy a walk or run in the beautiful spring weather. There will be three distances — 3k, 5k and 10k. Registration, which will be across from the front entrance to the hospital, will open at 7am with the run begins at 8am. You will want to arrive early, as there will be free T-shirts to the first 70 registered participants.

Morman is hopeful that people will spread the word and make this year’s event even bigger and better. “Last year we had 139 racers. We are hoping for even a larger turn-out this year,” she said.

Again this year, there will be the popular Bike Rodeo, which teaches kids bicycling safety tips and includes a bicycle tune-up by Far North Outfitters and a free helmet provided by the hospital. A parent must be present with the child, and helmets are only for children who are present at the bike rodeo. There will be 50 helmets given away. The Bike Rodeo begins at 9 a.m. and lasts until all the helmets are given away or noon—whichever is soonest.

Early registration for the Fun Run is encouraged. Email a request for the pre-registration form to run@bcch.org. If you pre-register, then you can go to the pre-registered line the day of the race, but, as a word of caution, still come early enough to leave time to pick up your packet. For information about the races, be sure to check out the FAQs at www.boundarycommunityhospital.org.

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