Free health screenings offered in Alexandria Friday

Healthcare is the focus of several events in Alexandria this week.

From 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. this Thursday, September 30, Alexandria native John Hammergren, chairman and CEO of McKesson Corporation – the largest healthcare services company in the nation – will speak at Woodland Elementary School.

Hammergren will talk about how his upbringing and education in Alexandria helped guide his path in life. He’ll discuss healthcare trends, future opportunities and the impact of healthcare reform legislation.

He’ll also speak about the critical role that independent pharmacies like Trumm Drug Health Mart play in the care-delivery process.

Trumm Drug Health Mart and the Alexandria Education Foundation are sponsoring Thursday’s presentation.

On Friday, Trumm Drug Health Mart in Alexandria will receive the Community Pharmacy Excellence Award at 11 a.m. Hammergren and Health Mart President Tim Canning will present the award to the Trumms.

Alexandria residents will also have a unique opportunity to receive free health screenings at Trumm Drug, 600 Fillmore Street in Alexandria, from 8 a.m. to noon as part of a nationwide diabetes screening event – the Health Mart Healthy Living Tour.

Free screenings for blood pressure, total cholesterol and blood glucose will be offered. There will also be door prizes and free food and beverages.

The tour aims to raise awareness of the growing diabetes epidemic, identify people at risk and encourage people with diabetes to manage their condition with the help of their pharmacist.

With diabetes posing as a serious epidemic in the U.S, this is a great value to Alexandria residents, according to Health Mart leaders.

Diabetes affects more than 23.6 million Americans and another 57 million are likely to get the disease if they don’t alter their living habits, according to the American Diabetes Association.

The nationwide tour features a mobile screening unit that’s traveling across the country to raise diabetes awareness by administering free health screenings and providing diabetes education.

Sponsored by Health Mart Pharmacy, Bayer Diabetes Care and Novo Nordisk, the tour encourages consumers to initiate conversations with their community pharmacists to learn whether they are at risk for diabetes complications and partner with them to optimize their diabetes care when required.

Ninety-five percent of all Americans live within five miles of a community pharmacy, including the more than 2,600 locally owned Health Mart pharmacies across the country.

Independent pharmacists provide personalized care, including diabetes care management and counseling and serve as health care advisors to their patients, according to Health Mart.

Community pharmacists are also helping to keep healthcare costs down while delivering quality patient care, Health Mart leaders added.

Last year, the campaign screened thousands of people, 25 percent of whom were identified as “at risk” for diabetes.

The Health Mart Healthy Living Tour will visit 16 states, stopping at community events and more than 60 Health Mart pharmacies across America. A full listing of tour stops can be found at www.HealthMart.com/tour.

“Health Mart is committed to raising diabetes awareness, and the Health Mart Healthy Living Tour helps amplify the importance of diabetes education,” said Tim Canning, president, Health Mart. “Since diabetes affects more than 24 million Americans, it’s critical that we connect community pharmacists, who are the most accessible healthcare professionals, to diabetes patients. Health Mart pharmacists work closely with their patients to overcome the financial burden and complications associated with treatment. Health Mart is increasing the visibility of community pharmacists’ role as an integral member of the patient care team.”

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