After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the health check is back!
Free, low-cost medical exams will soon be available in Bedford and Dundee. Health Check is a service sponsored by the United Way and ProMedica that has been popular in Monroe County for over 30 years and was just taking off in Lenawi County after four successful events in 2018 and 2019. Health Check offers low- or no-cost health checks that include blood testing for 22 panels For $20, free blood pressure check, free nutrition and medication counseling. Other blood tests are optional for a small fee: a HA1C (diabetes check) for $15, a Vitamin D deficiency check for $10 and a stool kit for $5. The Monroe County Health Department usually offers a range of vaccines for adults as well.
In addition to the Monroe County Health Department, Health Check community partners include ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital, the Center for Family Medicine, the Department of Health and Human Services, the District Agency on Aging, and RSVP volunteers. The costs of this event are minimal because of this collaborative partnership.
A drug recall event will also be held in conjunction with the aforementioned health services. Only pills can be dropped (no syringes, liquids or creams). Local law enforcement and pharmaceutical professionals oversee this activity. The health examination is open to the public and no appointment is required. Free coupons for 22 boards are available for those who can’t afford the $20 fee. Call 734-242-1331 to request a free voucher.
After a two-year hiatus, it’s a good idea to offer a health check again. Because the local labs were so busy with activities related to COVID-19, we weren’t able to offer Health Check at all. We have received many phone calls in the past two years asking when this service will be offered again. We had no idea when our partners at ProMedica would be able to provide these services again. Fortunately, they called us recently that they are ready! Even for those who have insurance or simply need multiple blood tests per year, Health Check offers an affordable alternative to these important healthcare costs.
Thank you to all who support United Way’s life-changing efforts to meet the health, education, and financial stability needs of the community! The United Way annually funds 25 local Monroe County Agency programs. They also sponsor 2-1-1 district-wide services, coordinate the Ramp Project, 4 annual health screening events, and the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP). All funds raised in Monroe County remain in Monroe County. For more information about the Giving and Living Organization, please contact us! Call us at 734-242-1331, Call us to schedule an appointment at our office: 216 N. Monroe St., Monroe, MI 48161. You can visit our website at www.unitedwayMLC.org. Or you can contact me at lpipis@unitedwaymlc.org. For more information about 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. Warning: Taking the ACES 10-question survey may result in prior trauma, so do it in a safe place and in a frame of mind.
Laura Schultz Pepes is the Associate Administrator of the United Monroe/Lennawi Way Counties.
