Health library

In February 2016, staff from the Grande Ronde Hospital (GRH) Laboratory and Community Relations departments organized, promoted and staffed free community blood draws on three Saturdays.

Testing was offered for those blood tests allowable by the state of Oregon without a physician’s order. No appointments were necessary, and final results were either mailed directly to patients or electronically submitted to their personal patient records in their GRH MyHealth portal accounts.

More than $200 worth of screenings was offered to the public for free. Tests performed were hemoglobin and hematocrit counts (a red blood cell screening for anemia/polycythemia); a cardiac lipid panel, including cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides; and glucose screening to evaluate blood sugar.

A record number of people served

Twenty-four people in Elgin took advantage of the free service when testing was offered at the Elgin Community Center on Feb. 6. On Feb. 20, staff set up a draw site at the S.E. Miller School, Union, where 36 people came to have their blood drawn. The final draw took place at the Union County Senior Center, La Grande, on Feb. 27. A total of 56 people came out that day. In all, 116 people took advantage of the free blood draws.

Being able to reach 116 people with potentially lifesaving diagnostics was a huge success. In years past, GRH offered these screenings at an annual health fair and charged a small fee to cover the cost of the testing kit—which, at $25, was still a great deal for $200 worth of lab testing. Historically, we averaged only 25 to 30 people each year. This time, the Community Benefit program offset the cost of the kits and staffing to make these tests free to participants.