The National Kidney Foundation of Illinois is teaming up with SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital to provide a free kidney and health screening on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, for all community members. St. Mary’s Hospital will also be hosting a wellness fair the same afternoon. Both events will be held at St. Mary’s Hospital Gymnasium located at 500 North Pleasant Avenue in Centralia.
Anyone interested in getting screened for kidney disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes is encouraged to attend from 12 noon to 4:00 pm. There is no cost to be screened; appointments are strongly recommended at https://mobilescreening.nkfi.org/preregistration but are not required. The SSM Health Wellness Fair will also start at noon but will extend until 6:00 pm.
The kidney and health screening will be offered by the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois’ KidneyMobile®, the nation’s only custom mobile unit that travels across the state screening individuals for kidney disease and its two main causes: diabetes and high blood pressure.
In addition to a free screening, attendees will also be able to talk privately with a physician regarding their results.
The SSM Health Wellness Fair will have informational tables for various service lines including primary care, behavioral health, nutrition, weight management, diabetes education, sleep, cancer care, surgical services, therapy, wound care, and many more. There will also be surprise visits by two pet therapy dogs throughout the event. Several community partners will be present, including the Marion County Health Department, which will offer flu vaccinations for persons aged 19 and older. A variety of attendance prizes will be raffled off during the event.
In bringing these two events to Centralia, SSM Health is grateful for its partnership with state and local organizations including the Illinois Public Health Association, Illinois Migrant Council, and the NAACP.
Each year, kidney disease kills more people than breast or prostate cancer, but while the majority of