Free Get Health Connected Community Event Set for Saturday, Sept. 15 to Assist Those With No or Little Health Insurance

Everyone knows someone who has little or no health insurance, limited access to medical care or even insurance with such a high deductible they can’t afford to get routine medical exams. In Onondaga County, more than 10 percent of adults, or 32,000 people, do not have any type of health insurance and nearly 15 percent, or 51,000 adults, said cost prevented them from visiting a doctor within the past year. (1)

These numbers of people not accessing routine medical care are a primary reason for the annual FREE Get Health Connected Screening Fair. Health screenings can be helpful because they detect health problems at early stages, when there is a greater chance to save lives. The event is especially designed for people who are uninsured and under-insured, Those unable to schedule regular exams for one reason or another can also take advantage of the opportunities for screneings this event offers.

Set for Saturday, Sept. 15, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community School, 416 E. Raynor Ave., Syracuse, the Get Health Connected Screening Fair offers free onsite health screenings and information to adults (18 and older), including:

- blood pressure

- breast cancer *
- colorectal cancer

- cholesterol
- diabetes

- skin cancer *
- HIV

- lung function
- prostate cancer *
- vision/glaucoma
- sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)

* Advance appointment needed by calling 464-8668.

Facilitated enrollers will be onsite to help individuals select and enroll in public health plans. Spanish and other language translators will also be available.

Additionally, pharmacists will be at the event teaching people about the importance of medication logs and how to complete them, along with smoking cessation counselors; emergency medical personnel providing CPR and AED demonstrations; demonstrations of proper hand-washing technique and healthy food preparation; and many more tables with information and experts to answer questions.

Free parking, free transportation by request, door prizes and healthy refreshments will be available to anyone taking advantage of the free screenings. Please call 315/464-8668 for more information or to make a transportation request.

Get Health Connected is a voluntary consortium of Central New York health and human service agencies and hospitals with support from local corporations. The entire event is organized and executed with goods and services donated by these organizations.

(1) New York State Expanded Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Report: July 2008-June 2009, Onondaga County.