Valley Health continued to treat the healthcare needs of area residents through its annual Community Wellness Festival. Because of COVID, this year’s festival, which is typically one day, extended March 19-26, with most screenings offered on an appointment basis.
Located at the Apple Blossom Mall, the free-or-reduced-cost health services and screenings included:
- Blood testing from Valley Health Lab Services
- Heart Attack Risk Program (HARP) assessment with Valley Health Wellness Services
- Wellness checks for kids, along with blood glucose and blood pressure screenings with Shenandoah University Nursing
- Medication reviews with Shenandoah University School of Pharmacy
- 12-lead EKG and carotid ultrasound screenings and hands-only CPR training with Valley Health Heart & Vascular
The annual event is a success because of the employees who volunteer to work and serve the community at the festival.
What participants had to say
Sarah Wines, who attended the festival on March 26, learned about the screening opportunities in the newspaper. “I’m getting older and have never had a carotid screening done,” she says. “I have other health conditions, and for me this is like a one-stop shop. I can get everything checked.”
Janet Russell, of Stephens City, got her blood pressure and glucose checked. “I think the wellness festival is absolutely an asset to the community,” she says. “I think it’s wonderful that Valley Health can do this.”
West Virginia resident Rose Miller says she saved money by getting her bloodwork taken at the wellness festival as opposed to in a lab. “I think this is a good service,” Miller says. “It helps people save money they could apply to other things.”
Laura Burdick got her blood pressure taken. She says the festival screenings help detect diseases and health conditions. “A lot of people are diabetic and don’t even know it.”
