Westlake health fair returns

The Westlake Regional Hospital Health Fair returns this year in a scaled-down version but will continue to offer the ever-popular health screening.

The health screening will be available for $12 and will provide more than 30 different analyses, including a complete blood count, chemistry profile and cholesterol and thyroid profile. Blood will be drawn from a person’s arm for the tests, with tests valued at more than $300. In addition, a PSA cancer screen is available and recommended for men over 50 or men with a family history of prostate cancer, who have had a vasectomy or are African American. The PSA costs an additional $8.

Due to time constraints, exhibits will not be set up this year.

Dave Rasmussen, CEO of Westlake, said the schedule didn’t allow for putting together a complete health fair but hospital officials want to make sure the community has the opportunity to have the health screening. Thousands of people take part in the annual blood draw.

“We didn’t think we would be able to pull it off and get everything done for a complete health fair but we intend to bring it back next year,” Rasmussen said.

The Health Fair blood draws will be held from Tuesday, Oct. 16 through Friday, Oct. 19, and Tuesday, Oct. 23 through Saturday, Oct. 27. Screenings will be conducted at Westlake Regional Hospital each day from 6:30 a.m. until 9 a.m. except on Saturday, Oct. 27, when hours will be extended until 10:30 a.m.  

More details will be provided in next week’s edition.