OHSU students offer free health screenings for uninsured, homeless

WHAT

Oregon Health & Science University’s medical, nursing, dental, pharmacy and physician assistant students will provide free health screenings to the uninsured, under the guidance of OHSU faculty, during the annual “Health Screening Fair.” Last year, more than 100 OHSU students and community health professionals provided services for more than 220 uninsured Oregonians. This year’s fair will be in conjunction with the weekly free meal service “Pot Luck in the Park.”

The annual screening fair is part of OHSU’s student-led Cover the Uninsured Week and includes free:

• Blood pressure and body mass index checks
• General medical exams provided by medical students and physicians, as well as referral resources provided by Project Access Now and many local clinics
• Medication counseling (bring prescriptions)
• Reading glasses, as well as vision and hearing exams
• Foot exams
• Diabetes screening, education and counseling
• Hygiene kits and first aid
• Hair cuts
• Pet care, including general exams, flea and de-worming and vouchers to veterinary clinics to obtain vaccines (coordinated by OSU College of Veterinary Medicine)
• Dental exams, extractions and fillings (dental services from 9 a.m. to 2pm)

Portland State University pre-health students and representatives from a number of community clinics and professional organizations will be on hand to schedule follow-up appointments, and referrals to addiction, mental health and domestic violence services, as needed. Resources for homeless youth also will be available.

WHEN

Sunday, March 6, noon to 4 p.m.

WHERE

O’Bryant Square, S.W. 9th and S.W. Washington Aves., downtown Portland

DETAILS

Additional “Cover the Uninsured Week” lectures, activities include:

Monday, March 7

9 a.m.
Oregon Academy of Family Physicians Lobby Day
Salem

Noon
“Care and Access in the Era of Health Reform”
Panelists include: Lisa Dodson, M.D., Jessica Gregg, .D., Linda Nilsen-Solares, M.D., James Reuler, M.D.
OHSU Auditorium (Old Library building), Marquam Hill Campus

Tuesday, March 8

Noon
“Health Care for the Homeless and Underserved”
Old Town Clinic Panel; Moderator: Chuck Sve, Central City Concern
OHSU Richard Jones Hall, Room 4320, Marquam Hill Campus

Wednesday, March 9

Noon
“Single Payer System”
OHSU School of Nursing, Room 107, Marquam Hill Campus

6 to 8:30 p.m.
Oregon Food Bank Volunteer Session

Thursday, March 10

Noon
“The Role of Primary Care in Expanding Coverage of the Uninsured”
Carole Howe, associate dean for policy, practice and primary care in the OHSU School of Nursing
OHSU School of Nursing Auditorium, Room 144, Marquam Hill Campus

Friday, March 11

9 a.m.
Single Payer Lobby

Noon
Single Payer Rally
Salem

2 p.m.
Kathryn Robertson Memorial Lecture in Global Health: “The Health of Our World”
Anne-Marie Slaughter, J.D., Ph.D.
OHSU Auditorium (Old Library building), Marquam Hill Campus

Saturday, March 12

“Hills 4 Humanity”
Runners start at 9:30 a.m.
Hikers start at 10 a.m.
A 3.5 mile run/walk through Marquam Nature Park/OHSU. Proceeds will benefit the Southwest Community Health Center as well as next year’s Cover the Uninsured Week events. For more information and to register, visit www.active.com/running/portland-or/7th-annual-hills-for-humanity-trail-run-and-hike-2011

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