Free Health Screenings With Health Care Provider Discussions Offered at State Fair on August 15

DES MOINES, Iowa, Aug. 6 /PRNewswire/ — Now in addition to checking out this year’s butter cow, watching the talent sprouts on the Riley Stage and seeing the biggest boar, fair-goers at this year’s Iowa State Fair can get free, extensive health screenings, thanks to the Partnership for Better Health (PBH) in coordination with GSK Healthy Communities. The screenings will be held Wednesday, August 15, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Farm Bureau Park, directly east of the Varied Industries Building on the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

The goal of these screenings is to help people become aware of any health risks or chronic health issues and review their results with an onsite health care provider.

Andrea McGuire, M.D., co-chair of the Partnership for Better Health, said, “Many people are unaware that they are at risk or already have a chronic disease. Screenings are an important step in preventive care and intervention that ultimately enable people to lead healthier lives.”

The screenings will include four tests conducted by US Wellness, an agency hired by GSK Healthy Communities, for lung function, blood pressure, body fat and blood sugar levels. A physician or nurse practitioner will follow up on site with one-on-one discussions with participants to review each individual’s screening results. When results warrant, participants will be encouraged to have discussions with their individual physicians.

The Partnership for Better Health is a network of 27 health and advocacy organizations representing more than 300,000 Iowans. The group’s grassroots efforts center on urging presidential candidates to make investing in health care through prevention, intervention and innovation an integral part of redefining national health policy.

“Our grassroots organization of health advocates and consumers from across Iowa is committed to raising awareness of the need to prevent chronic diseases and to intervene appropriately when they do strike,” McGuire added. ”Farm Bureau stands out as an organization that shares this focus and reaches out to its membership and communities with prevention and wellness programs aimed at helping Iowans live healthier lives. We’re proud to collaborate on this project at that classic Iowa event, the State Fair.”

In addition to the comprehensive screenings, free blood pressure screenings will be offered on Tuesday, August 14, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the same location.

More than 400 Iowans are expected to participate in the screenings Wednesday. The screening is open to all adults.

About the Partnership for Better Health

The Partnership for Better Health is a network of 27 Iowa-based health and advocacy organizations representing more than 300,000 Iowans. Its mission is to educate the public, inform policymakers, and engage political candidates about the need to invest in health in order to save on health care.

PBH is proposing a three-part solution to reduce chronic disease and lower health care costs:

   — Prevention — making healthy choices like exercise and eating right   — Intervention — better diagnoses, treatment and management of chronic      diseases   — Innovation — investing in medical research that will lead to new      treatments for chronic diseases.    COST OF CHRONIC DISEASE:    — Three out of four health care dollars are spent on treating often      preventable and manageable diseases including diabetes and asthma.   — Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, stroke and cancers, are the      leading causes of death for men and women in Iowa, claiming more than      18,000 Iowans a year.   — 45% of Americans have at least one chronic disease.   — Each year, chronic diseases cost Americans more than $1.4 trillion, or      about $4,700 per person.   — More than 60% of Iowans are overweight or obese and obesity related      problems cost Iowans $783 million annually.    

The Partnership for Better Health receives financial and administrative support from GlaxoSmithKline, working in conjunction with the 27 partner organizations in Iowa.

About GSK Healthy Communities

Launched by GlaxoSmithKline, GSK Healthy Communities is a collection of resources designed to help individuals take charge of their health and improve outcomes, and start more conversations with healthcare providers. The main areas of focus are patient empowerment, patient assistance and community partnerships.

Partnership for Better Health GSK

CONTACT: Jamie Buelt of en Q strategies, +1-515-249-1857, forPartnership for Better Health GSK