After an unexpected cancellation last year, Prowers Medical Center will host its annual Health Fair this spring in a new format to ensure all community members can receive the care they need, when they need it most.

This year, the Prowers Medical Center Health Fair will run over the course of a four-month period from April through July. Starting April 7, patients can receive a wellness screen for just $25. The Health Fair will be held from 7 to 10 a.m. every Wednesday until July 28 in the Education Room of the main hospital.

Patients must have an appointment to attend, as pre-registration is essential in expediting the process. Appointments can be made from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday by calling the Health Fair-specific line: 719-336-8363. Prowers Medical Center will accept appointments for 75 patients per week.

Health Fair participants will receive several essential tests during their wellness screen, including a lipid profile, kidney functions, electrolytes, liver enzymes, thyroid, hemoglobin A1C, complete blood count and a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) for men. In order to follow COVID-19 guidelines and remain as contactless as possible, blood pressure tests will not be performed this year.

Two phlebotomists and an admissions employee will assist Health Fair patients through the process. Results should be finalized within 24 hours and available on Prowers Medical Center’s Patient Portal. If a patient prefers to have their results mailed to them, they should supply a self-addressed, stamped envelope and can expect to receive results in the following weeks.

The goal of the annual Prowers Medical Center Health Fair is to provide the community an opportunity to obtain a variety of lab tests at a significantly discounted price. This is a great time for patients to learn more about what the hospital does and to check in on their overall health. It’s also a chance for them to build relationships with Prowers Medical Center providers and staff.

“You can never be too proactive when it comes to your health,” said Tress Gadash, Lab Manager for Prowers Medical Center. “The earlier you know about a condition you have, the sooner you can explore treatment options or learn how to better manage it.”

A more than 40-year tradition before the pandemic, the hospital has typically organized the Health Fair to correlate with Hospital Week in the second week of May. It is usually held over the course of three days, in which Prowers Medical Center staff processes around 250 tests per day.

Even though the event will look different this year, Gadash said it was important for Prowers Medical Center to continue to support their community.

“We feel we have an obligation to provide patients the opportunity to locally and affordably monitor their health annually,” Gadash said “Everybody has had to deal with the effects of the pandemic, so now is a good opportunity for patients to ensure their habits of last year are not directly affecting their health.”

Health Fair participants are encouraged to drink plenty of water before their visit, and 8 to 12-hour fasting for blood tests is recommended. Patients must wear masks and maintain social distancing guidelines while on site. They should prepare for their screening upon entering and stay home if they are not feeling well.