Henry & Stark Health Department marks Cholesterol Education Month with affordable lab special

September is Cholesterol Education Month. Too much cholesterol in the blood can lead to heart disease and stroke – America’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers. Seventy-one million American adults have high cholesterol, but only one-third of them have the condition under control.

With this in mind, the Health Department and their First Choice Healthcare Clinics are offering a clinic special during September and October featuring a combination General Health/Thyroid Panel Blood Test for only $50. This test includes a full lipid cholesterol panel. Fasting is recommended for achieving optimum results in these tests.

The First Choice Healthcare Clinics will be offering this special at all of their locations in Kewanee, 110 N. Burr Blvd.; Colona, 103 1st St; and Toulon, 120 E. Court St. This special is open to all area residents, and appointments are necessary and will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. These lab specials are available on a cash only basis.

To schedule an appointment or for more information on the First Choice Healthcare Clinics’ Fall Lab Special, call Kewanee 309-852-5272; Colona 309-792-4011; or Toulon 309-852-3115 or find them on Facebook at Henry and Stark County Health Departments & First Choice Healthcare.

Health Department highlights mental health resources during September awareness campaign

September has been designated as Suicide Prevention Month. The Henry/Stark County Health Departments and their First Choice Healthcare Clinic’s staff are joining communities across the country in a day of action focused on the first Annual 988 Day on Sept. 8.

The day is a national initiative to assure everyone that they are not alone. Simply calling or texting 988 or chatting 988lifeline.org anytime, 24/7 will connect a person in crisis with any mental health or substance use-related distress with a skilled, caring and nonjudgmental counselor.

With rising levels of anxiety, depression, emotional distress, and overdose deaths, it is crucial that people have somewhere to turn when they’re in crisis. Suicide is a leading cause of death in the US. And it works. About 98 percent of the people who call, chat, or text the 988 Lifeline get the crisis support they need and do not require additional services at that moment.

The Health Department and their First Choice Healthcare offers Mental Health Services. Through their First Choice Healthcare psychiatric nurse practitioner, clinic and school-based mental health therapists, mental health nurse and supportive staff they are pleased to be able to offer this support to our community.

In addition, the Health Department and their First Choice Healthcare staff offers area employers and groups the QPR – Question, Persuade, Refer Suicide Prevention Training. QPR training is designed to help individuals to possibly save a life. QPR is not a form of counseling or treatment. Rather it is intended to offer hope through positive action. By learning QPR, participants will come to recognize the warning signs, clues and suicidal communications of people in trouble, and gain skills to act vigorously to prevent a possible tragedy. To arrange a QPR training for your staff or organization or for more information please call 309-852-5272 Ext. 261.

Get Covered Illinois Health Insurance Navigators at upcoming events

The Henry and Stark County Health Departments and the Get Covered Illinois Navigator Program asks, “Do You Need Health Insurance?” Their Health Insurance Navigators will be present at some upcoming local events to assist anyone looking to set up health insurance coverage:

Colona Township Hall, 801 1st St., Colona, IL
Friday, Sept 5
12:30-3:30 p.m.

Kewanee Food Pantry, 924 Rose St., Kewanee, IL
Tuesday, Sept. 9
10 a.m.-1 p.m.

“Get Covered Illinois” Navigators can help you:

● Find affordable health coverage that meets your needs
● Fill out and submit your application
● Compare quality health plans side-by-side
● Find out if you qualify for financial help to lower your monthly premium
● Find out if you qualify for Medicaid or an affordability program
● Understand your benefits
● Understand health insurance terms

Remember you may be eligible to enroll in a Get Covered Illinois health plan outside of the usual Open Enrollment, or make changes to your existing coverage, if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). The SEP may require you to enroll within 60 days of a Qualifying Life Event.

A qualifying life event is a life change, such as:

Loss of Health Coverage, due to:

● Losing job-based coverage
● Losing Medicaid coverage
● Losing Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors or Health Benefits For Immigrants Adult coverage
● A divorce or legal separation
● Turning 26 years old, no longer eligible for parents’ coverage
Other Qualifying Life Events include:
● Getting Married
● Having a baby or adopting a child
● Moving to a new ZIP code or county
● Becoming a US Citizen
● Leaving incarceration.

For more information on this Get Covered Illinois Navigator Event or assistance in enrolling in a Get Covered Illinois Healthcare Marketplace please call 309-852-5272.

Don’t get stuck: Use a sharps kiosk near you

The Henry & Stark County Health Departments remind residents that they have Illinois Environmental Protection Agency -EPA funded Residential Sharps Collection Kiosks in six communities, five-Henry County, one-Stark County, where citizens may safely drop off their used sharps.

Medical sharps, such as needles, syringes and lancets, pose an injury risk for anyone who comes in contact with these items. Large numbers of sharps are used and generated by individuals and in homes and residences each and every day. If sharps are not disposed of correctly, they can be a safety and health hazard to any children, adults or sanitation workers that may come in contact with them.

The Health Department is partnering with local law enforcement and county officials, and a pharmacy to locate convenient disposal sites for local residents to utilize.

The Residential Sharps Collection Kiosks are located at the following locations during regular business hours:

● First Choice Healthcare Kewanee Clinic, 110 N. Burr Blvd., Kewanee
● First Choice Healthcare Colona Clinic, 103 1st St., Colona
● First Choice Healthcare Toulon Clinic, 120 E. Court St., Toulon
● Geneseo Police Department, 119 S. Oakwood Ave., Geneseo
● Henry County County Courthouse, 307 W. Center St., Cambridge
● Alpha Pharmacy, 211 S. 1st St., Alpha

For more information on the programs and services available through the Henry & Stark County Health Departments and First Choice Healthcare call 309-852-0197 or visit their website at www.henrystarkhealth.com or find them on Facebook at Henry and Stark County Health Departments