Dialysis Clinic, Inc., providing free blood pressure and kidney screenings at Minority Health Fair

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Aug. 14, 2015 - PRLog -- Dialysis Clinic, Inc., (DCI) is teaming up with the Kidney Foundation of the Greater Chattanooga Area, Inc., to host a kidney care booth at the Hamilton County Minority Health Fair on Aug. 22, from  9 a.m- 2 p.m. at the Eastgate Town Center Mall.

DCI and the Kidney Foundation of the Greater Chattanooga Area, Inc., will be providing free height, weight, blood pressure and kidney screenings. Nephrologists, Jackson Yium, MD, and Nathan E. Chamberlain, MD, will be at the booth for immediate kidney consultations. In addition, nurse practitioners and registered nurses will be present for immediate high blood pressure consultations. DCI staff will be available to answer any questions about dialysis.

Kidney Rock, the DCI kidney mascot, will also be present to promote kidney awareness. All month, he has been visiting patients at DCI Chattanooga clinics to encourage attendance to the health fair.

“By increasing our kidney care promotion, we hope to prevent or delay kidney failure in our community,” said Catherine Medley, DCI Chattanooga Education Coordinator.

Medley explained that the goal of DCI’s presence at health fairs and community events is to help people identify a potentially high-risk health situation early on. Ultimately, DCI aims to help others understand how to properly manage their health and kidney care.

“We had a seventeen-year-old girl come to one of our preliminary health fairs in Fort Oglethorpe and we identified her blood pressure to be over 200,” Medley said. “We immediately explained to her why she needed to see a doctor, and how the repercussions of high blood pressure related to her overall health and kidney disease.”

By partnering with the Kidney Foundation of the Greater Chattanooga Area, Inc., the two organizations were able to claim a much bigger booth area at the health fair this year. DCI staff hopes this upgraded presence will attract more people to get screened for kidney disease.

“Early education helps people to become aware of the health issues that they may be able to control, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. If we help them to identify ways to improve their health, then we can possibly delay or prevent kidney failure,” Medley said. “Most people don’t realize that kidney failure is irreversible. Once you’ve lost kidney function you must be on dialysis the rest of your life or be lucky enough to receive a transplant. We want to help people understand the truth about kidney disease so they can live the best life possible.”

The health fair, consisting of more than 140 vendors, will be a fun and educational event for all community members. Heart-healthy refreshments will be provided, and more than 125 additional health screenings and services will be available, free of charge. There will also be games, entertainment and gift giveaways.

“Act now,” said Medley. “Attendees will be able to get a full health screening for free. This is an opportunity that should not be missed.”

For more information, call DCI Lyerly at 423-698-6422 or visit the Minority Health Fair website at www.sethc.org/MHF.