Hospital hosts mall health fair

Carson-Tahoe Hospital's Cardiology Department hosted a health fair at Carson Mall Thursday, with different hospital departments on hand to describe their services.

"The hospital is here for the acute patient," said Diane Rush, hospital public relations director. "If there is anything we can do to teach them how to stay healthy, we'll do it."

Tables with TVs and brochures on topics ranging from spinal health to imaging filled the inner plaza of the mall.

"I had a discussion with a nutritionist that was very helpful," said Mary Huntt from Dayton. She said she also learned a lot from video on child-rescue techniques.

One company that was not part of hospital is Great Basin Imaging. The private facility is owned by six doctors -- five of whom are radiologists at Carson-Tahoe Hospital, according to osteoporosis-testing technician Lisa Harris.

Her company's display offered free osteoporosis scanning.

"I just wish there were more patients here," she said. "We want to keep everybody healthy -- that's what we're here for."

She said the free scanning -- which normally costs about $50 -- will give people a baseline reading to go from.

Judy Harrigal from the Carson Rehabilitation Center -- a service of the hospital -- described the benefits of the center's new LifeSpine program. It involves a variety of exercises and evaluations to manage lower-back problems.

"We're really excited about the program," she said. "Part of it is avoiding recurrence."

She said numbers compiled from LifeSpine programs nationwide are expected to cut recurrence to less than 20 percent.

Harrigan, program director of the inpatient rehabilitation unit at the center, was excited about a stroke-education program starting in March.

"The goal is to prevent future strokes," she said of the five-class course.

She said therapy services for stroke patients are limited in the region, especially in surrounding rural areas. The new rehabilitation center classes will cover everything from recognizing warning signs to dealing with rehabilitation of swallowing and speech.

"It's going to be a great program," she said. For information, call Harrigal at 881-7122.

INFORMATION

Carson-Tahoe Hospital wellness fairs 885-4121.