Intermountain Cedar City Hospital will be holding free health screenings this Saturday, Sept. 23, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Cedar City Walmart in the Providence Center. Available screenings will be for prediabetes, blood pressure and depression.
Intermountain will be joining forces with multiple community agencies to offer these screenings. Information about prescription safety, referrals to free community resources such as SUU’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), and naloxone kits which can reverse effects of an opioid overdose will be available.
Prevention is the goal with these free screenings. Amber Rich, Community Health Manager at Intermountain Dixie Regional, said, “the intent is to help people identify potential health risks and take steps to improve their health.”
However, if screenings bring up concerns there will be options and support provided. “If someone screens positive or has health concerns, we don’t want them to walk away without support,” said Rich. “We have wonderful community partners we’ve been working alongside to ensure that everyone leaves armed with helpful information, contacts, and access to free community classes that can help them navigate the road to improved help.”
SUU CAPS is one source of help in the community. Their goal is to help students at SUU reach their own goals in education, careers and in their personal lives. The CAPS staff is there to help students not only with serious conditions but also with interference of everyday stress.
Services available there include individual counseling, couples counseling, group counseling, biofeedback, workshops and telemed services, all of which are confidential and free.
Intermountain’s screenings are the result of an assessment of community health needs that was carried out by Intermountain Dixie Regional and Southwest Utah Public Health Department. The assessment got input from community leaders and health data analytics and showed that prediabetes, high blood pressure, depression and prescription opioid misuse are the health priorities for southern Utah.
According to Rich, college-aged students who participate in screenings find the information about depression and the resources given helpful.
Suicide is currently the leading cause of death for Utah teens and Utah is among the top two states in the country for prescription drug overdose. Intermountain and its partners hope to help improve this in the community.
“We want people to understand that prescription drugs kill more people than illegal drugs every year in Utah,” Rich said. “Just because it comes from a pharmacy doesn’t mean there are no dangers in sharing or taking an extra.”
Visit the Walmart health screenings Saturday Sept. 23 from 12-3 p.m. at 1330 S. Providence Center Drive.
If you or anyone you know needs help or support, visit the SUU CAPS office at 136 W. University Boulevard (Center Street.) They are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Story By
Katelyn Connors
reporter4@suunews.com
