Health Screenings & Community Fairs
The Community Health Department for Dignity Health at California Hospital Medical Center regularly performs health screenings in the community.
Our free health screenings are conducted at various churches, schools, community centers, and other organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life for our sisters and brothers who are underserved and disenfranchised.
The Community Health Department serves as an advocate for those individuals who are uninsured and without medical care. We screen for early detection of disease and link participants to medical care and services at a medical home. These services are a valuable part of increasing health and wellness within the community and strengthen our healing ministry of Jesus.
Screening Services
The following screenings are available from the Community Health Department:
- Height
- Weight
- BMI
- Waist circumference
- Blood pressure
- Blood glucose
- Total cholesterol
- Hemoglobin
- Hemoglobin A1c
Testing Description:
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person's weight and height. BMI is a fairly reliable indicator of body fatness for most people. BMI does not measure body fat directly. BMI can be considered an alternative for direct measures of body fat. Additionally, BMI is an inexpensive and easy-to-perform method of screening for weight categories that may lead to health problems.
Waist circumference (distance around the waist) is a common measure used to check for fat held around the stomach. Having extra body fat around the stomach—more than 35 in. (88 cm) for women and more than 40 in. (102 cm) for men—increases your risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Blood pressure is one of the most important screenings because high blood pressure usually has no symptoms so it can’t be detected without being measured. High blood pressure greatly increases your risk of heart disease and stroke. High blood pressure can be controlled through lifestyle changes and/or medication.
Blood sugar testing, or self-monitoring blood glucose provides useful information for diabetes management. It can help you:
- Judge how well you're reaching overall treatment goals
- Understand how diet and exercise affect blood sugar levels
- Understand how other factors, such as illness or stress, affect blood sugar levels
- Monitor the effect of diabetes medications on blood sugar levels
- Identify blood sugar levels that are dangerously high or low
Total Cholesterol—Cholesterol builds up as plaque and can prevent enough blood from flowing to the heart muscle. It is the most common cause of coronary heart disease, and happens so slowly that you are not even aware of it. This plaque can rupture, forming a blood clot that leads to a heart attack or stroke.
Hemoglobin—Oxygen is the most essential element required to sustain human life. If an adequate supply of oxygen is not circulated throughout the body to vital organs and tissues, brain damage, organ failure and death can result. Hemoglobin (Hb), the iron-containing respiratory protein in red blood cells, is responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Hemoglobin levels indicate the blood’s ability to carry oxygen and iron. Too little iron interferes with vital functions and leads to morbidity and mortality.
The hemoglobin A1c test— also called HbA1c, glycated hemoglobin test, or glycohemoglobin, is an important blood test that shows whether or not you have prediabetes (HbA1c 5.7-6.4%) or diabetes ( HbA1c > 6.5%) and how well your diabetes is being controlled. Hemoglobin A1c provides an average of your blood sugar control over the past two to three months and is used along with home blood sugar monitoring to make adjustments in your diabetes medicines.
Contact Information
For more information about our screening services and to schedule a community event, please contact:
Tony Ornelas, RN
Parish Nurse
(213) 742-5762