Health Departments’ three clinics now offering DOT physicals
The Henry and Stark County Health Department announced that DOT physicals are now available at their Toulon location, making low-cost physicals available to area drivers at all of the clinic locations in Kewanee, Toulon and Colona.
The Department of Transportation requires some drivers to get regular physical exams to make sure they can drive safely. If any of the following apply to you, you must get a DOT physical and carry a DOT medical certificate when you drive a commercial vehicle:
● You are paid to operate a motor vehicle that holds nine to 15 passengers; you drive the vehicle more than 75 miles from where you report to work; you operate this vehicle for interstate commerce purposes.
● You operate a motor vehicle with a gross combination weight rating, gross vehicle weight, gross vehicle weight rating, or gross combination weight of at least 10,001 pounds; you operate this vehicle for interstate commerce purposes.
● You transport hazardous materials in certain quantities.
According to First Choice Healthcare, “If you want to comply with federal law, a qualified medical examiner must complete your DOT physical form.” Their Nurse Practitioners in Kewanee, Toulon and Colona are Certified DOT medical examiners.
DOT physical participants should expect the examiner to review their health history and ask the participant to list the medications taken on a regular basis.
In addition, those who are seeing a provider and are on medication for sleep apnea, diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiac, anxiety, ADHD/ADD, depression and other mental health issues, and seizures. Participants need to obtain a “clearance letter” from the provider of care and bring it to their appointment.
Please note appointments for DOT Physicals, which are necessary, may be made by contacting the First Choice Healthcare Clinic nearest you, Kewanee 309-852-5272; Colona 309-792-4011; and Toulon 309-852-3115. For more information visit their website at www.henrystarkhealth.com.
World TB Day: Health departments stress the crucial need for testing
The Henry and Stark County Health Departments announce that March 24 was proclaimed World TB Day. This annual event raises public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of TB, and to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic. The date marks the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the bacterium that causes TB, which opened the way towards diagnosing and curing this disease.
RaeAnn Tucker, health department director of Health Promotion said, “Too many people in our country and around the world still suffer from TB. Tuberculosis remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious killers.”
Every day, over 4100 people lose their lives to TB and close to 28,000 people fall ill with this preventable and curable disease.
“Global efforts to combat TB have saved an estimated 66 million lives since the year 2000. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has reversed years of progress made in the fight to end TB. For the first time in over a decade, TB deaths increased in 2020.” said Tucker
The theme of World TB Day 2025 is “Yes, We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver.” TB continues to devastate millions of people around the world, with serious health, social and economic consequences.
This year’s theme is an ambitious call for hope, urgency and responsibility. It conveys the urgent need to invest resources to ramp up the fight against TB and achieve the commitments to end TB made by global leaders. More investment will save millions more lives, accelerating the end of the TB epidemic.
“Until TB is eliminated, World TB Day won’t be a celebration. But it is a valuable opportunity to educate the public about the devastation TB can spread and how it can be stopped,” Tucker said.
TB testing can be done at all First Choice Healthcare Clinic locations. To schedule an appointment, call Kewanee 309-852-5272; Colona 309-792-4011; or Toulon 309-852-3115.
Diabetes Alert Day: Health Departments advocate for community health awareness
March 26 has been designated as Diabetes Alert Day. Nearly 26 million children and adults have diabetes and an additional 79 million are at-risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes. This disease is taking a devastating physical, emotional and financial toll on our country. Yet, most Americans don’t consider diabetes a serious matter. They feel it is someone else’s responsibility; someone else’s problem.
The Health Department along with the American Diabetes Association (ADA), wants to raise awareness about the importance of knowing the risk factors and symptoms associated with diabetes; as well as, its serious and life-threatening complications such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease and amputation.
Diabetes is dangerous because high blood sugar isn’t usually something you can feel. Many people have no outward type 2 diabetes symptoms at all and can go years without being diagnosed. That’s why it’s important to be aware of the type 2 diabetes symptoms and risk factors for diabetes. Get screened by a health care provider if you have the following type 2 diabetes symptoms:
- Being unusually thirsty
- Having to urinate often
- Feeling hungry all the time
- Losing weight (without trying)
- Having blurry vision
- Feeling very tired
- Frequent infections
- Cuts and sores that heal slowly
If you are over age 45, talk with your health care provider about being tested for diabetes, especially if you are overweight or have family members with the condition. Regardless of your age, if you are overweight and have one or more of the other risk factors listed, the ADA suggests that you be tested for diabetes now.
First Choice Healthcare family nurse practitioners in Kewanee, Colona and Toulon can help with the management of non-insulin dependent diabetes management; high blood pressure and high cholesterol. If you don’t know your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol numbers; They have services that can help you see where you stand.
And for diagnosed diabetics, First Choice Healthcare notes they have low-cost lab services available with a doctor’s order. Testing is available through their clinic offices in Kewanee 309-852-5272, Colona 309-792-4011 and Toulon 309-852-3115.