Robust attendance at Clark Fork Valley Hospital health fair

By CHUCK BANDEL

Valley Press

With health care concerns a dominating topic these days, getting information to people is a prime focus for health care providers.

Evidence of that and the public’s interest in their health was evident Thursday at the VFW hosted Health Fair sponsored by Clark Fork Valley Hospital and its Family Medicine Network.

An estimated 50 area residents attend the noon to 6 p.m. fair, which featured representatives from a wide variety of health care options.

Justin Holmes, who along with his wife Andi own and operate town pharmacies in Plains and Thompson Falls, said the rise in personal health awareness has been sparked in part by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“People want to know what they can do and what is available to them,” Holmes said. “We are here to promote healthcare awareness in the community and let people know what is available to help them.”

In addition to increased demand for Covid-related products like zinc and “Z-pac” virus combative drugs, Holmes said an increasing number of customers are asking about natural solutions to boosting their health and immune systems.

“There has been a significant increase in people seeking information about natural products,” he said. “We are selling a lot more zinc and vitamin C since the Covid outbreak. People want to know about alternative options to keep them well.”

Holmes said both his pharmacy locations, including the one he and Andi, a registered pharmacist, purchased in Thompson Falls a year ago, feature an increasing variety of holistic, or natural health products.

Among those are elderberry syrup and a product called Sovereign Silver, both touted as effective immune system boosters.

Also on hand was Jennifer McPhesson, a representative of the Local Advisory Council, a group of community members interested in assessing, planning and strengthening behavioral health services in Sanders County. Pandemic-related issues as well as a host of other concerns in these stressful times have been shown to increase the need for such services throughout the area and nation.

“Our goal from a behavioral standpoint is to help hook people up with those who can help them get through the stress of healthcare issues,” McPhesson said.

She added that group is looking for volunteers to join the effort and can do so by attending their monthly meetings the last Wednesday of each month from 9-10 a.m. at the Sanders County Courthouse Justice Courtroom in Thompson Falls.

Other tables at the event offered information about breast cancer awareness and screening, organic and natural supplements and immunization availability. Also on hand were representatives of the Plains Women’s Club and Toastmaster International, both of whom support a variety of health related causes.

Event organizer Janie Hom, a Community Health Improvement Specialist with Clark Fork Valley Hospital, said she was pleased with the turnout and hoped the event would continue to grow in the days ahead.

“We hope information events like this can help give people a sense of normalcy concerning their personal healthcare,” Hom said. “There is a lot of anxiety, fear and confusion out there and I hope we can help get healthcare information out to more and more people.”

She said focusing on preventive care such as improved diets, exercise and sleep are “absolutely necessary” elements of good health.

As part of the CFVH’s display at the event, Hom offered free blood oxygen, CO-2 level monitoring and cholesterol screening throughout the day.

“We had about 30 people get their blood glucose levels checked during the event,” Hom said. “That’s a good number but we want to reach as many people as we can.”

Fair attendees adhered to strict Covid guidelines, including masks, hand sanitizing stations and body temperature readings taken on everyone who attended.