Once again our Chamber of Commerce and their dedicated volunteers are gearing up for the 17th annual Blue Ridge Barbecue Festival set to be held June 11 and 12. Im sure this year will be no exception to the usual great weather, terrific food, outstanding music and unique handcrafts. Congratulations on organizing, publicizing and operating this great festival!

I am very glad that St. Lukes Hospital will again be a part of this years festival as one of several local sponsors. I appreciate the volunteer efforts of several employees who will represent the hospital during the two-day festival, handing out sunscreen, hand sanitizer and the very popular hand fans that prove to be a life-saver year after year for many people braving the heat. (Will you join the St. Lukes Fan Club?) Yes, they are free!

If you drop by for a band aid or a hand wipe, or just to sit and rest in the shade, you will have the opportunity to hear about the programs and services of our hospital, including the exciting approach to hip replacement surgery and the upcoming Ache Around the Lake (Oct. 2 – mark your calendar!) to raise funds for the St. Lukes Hospital Foundation. Well tell you about our 10-bed geriatric psychiatric unit, our 24-hour emergency department and the capabilities of our outpatient rehab services. We would love to tell you about our in-home care program through Community Health Connections, our Community Alternative Program for Disabled Adults and our two hyperbaric chambers for chronic wound care. Well also tell you about our great volunteers, and our need for a few more!

This year there will be another opportunity under the St. Lukes Hospital tent. This year you can participate in a free health screening!

We are all too familiar with the diseases that can kill heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes. We want to do whats necessary to reduce our chances of developing these diseases. But do you know the numbers that are key indicators? The truth is, we all want to be healthy, but knowing how has not always been so clear.

St. Lukes Hospital and the Medical Assistant/Patient Care Technician classes of Isothermal Community College Polk Campus want to make it easier to know your numbers by sponsoring a free screening at the Blue Ridge BBQ Festival on Friday, June 11, from 37 p.m.

Appointments are not necessary. Just stop by the St. Lukes Hospital tent for this valuable screening and useful information.

The numbers referred to are those numbers we cant seem to remember or understand: blood pressure, blood glucose, oxygen level and body mass index, or BMI. These numbers are the most basic indicators of health.

By knowing them, you can

measure your risk for serious health problems like

cardiovascular disease, stroke and diabetes.

St. Lukes and ICC have joined together to promote better personal health throughout our community. We hope that after the screening, youll better understand these key numbers that are indicators of good health. Unfortunately, too many of us dont know our key health care numbers or dont know whether they are within the healthy range. We want to help you, your family and your friends achieve better health by measuring your risk of serious health problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes and stroke.

Please take advantage of the Free Health Screening at the Blue Ridge BBQ Festival on Friday, June 11, from 3 7 p.m.

Supporting, educating and encouraging the community to become healthy and

active is just another way St. Lukes Hospital continues to provide excellent care, close to home.

For more information, please call 828-894-2408.

St. Lukes Hospital is a not for profit, acute care hospital affiliated with Carolinas Healthcare System of Charlotte, N.C., for specialized management expertise, experience with developing strong community-based clinical services, and participation in revenue and purchasing contracts. CHS is the largest healthcare system in the Carolinas and the third largest public system in the nation.