Community Calendar

Working Together for Health: HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital and Effingham County Health Department partner to provide low-cost health screenings

HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, in partnership with the Effingham County Health Department, offers low-cost health screenings to the community. Called “Working Together for Health”, this service is available to anyone in the community, especially for those with high-deductible insurance plans.

The health screenings are conducted the first Tuesday of each month from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. The next screening is scheduled for Tuesday, October 1 at the Effingham County Health Department at 901 West Virginia Avenue in Effingham.  The low-cost health screenings that will be offered are:

• Cholesterol and Triglycerides – Cost: $20

An important measure of heart health, a cholesterol and triglyceride blood test measures the total amount of fatty substances (cholesterol and triglycerides) in the blood. This test requires drawing a blood sample from the vein. Prior to the test, fasting for 10 hours is required.

• Blood Sugar – Cost: $20

A screening for prediabetes and diabetes, this blood test is used to determine the amount of glucose in the blood. This test requires drawing a blood sample from the vein. Prior to the test, fasting for 10 hours is required.

• Hemoglobin A1C – Cost: $20

An A1C test measures your average blood glucose for the past two to three months. This test is used to diagnose type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and to gauge how well a person’s diabetes is being managed. People who have diabetes need this test regularly to see if their levels are staying within range. This test requires drawing a blood sample from the vein. No fasting is required prior to the test.

No appointments are necessary and walk-ins are welcome.  Cash payment (cash, credit card, debit card or HSA card) for tests is required at the time of the screening. Insurance plans or medical cards will not be billed.

Screenings participants will be mailed the test results. The participant is responsible for follow-up with their physician to review the screening results and obtain medical advice and treatment.

In addition to the Working Together for Health service, the Effingham County Health Department continues to offer additional low-cost, physician-ordered, diagnostic testing during regular business hours throughout the month. Please call the Health Department at (217) 342-9237 for details about this service.

For more information about “Working Together for Health” low-cost screenings, contact the Effingham County Health Department at (217) 342-9237.  For more information about the Effingham County Health Department, visit their web site at effcohealth.org. For more information about HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, visit St. Anthony’s web site at stanthonyshospital.org.

HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital is part of the Southern Illinois Division of Hospital Sisters Health System, which also includes HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon, HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese, HSHS Holy Family Hospital in Greenville, and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland.

About Hospital Sisters Health System

Hospital Sisters Health System’s (HSHS) mission is to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through our high quality, Franciscan health care ministry. HSHS provides state-of-the-art health care to our patients and is dedicated to serving all people, especially the most vulnerable, at each of our 15 Local Systems and physician practices in Illinois (Breese, Decatur, Effingham, Greenville, Highland, Litchfield, O’Fallon, Shelbyville, and Springfield) and Wisconsin (Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Oconto Falls, Sheboygan, and two in Green Bay). HSHS is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries, and Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is the founding institute. For more information about HSHS, visit www.hshs.org.  For more information about Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, visit www.hospitalsisters.org.