Richmond County has a diabetes rate that is more than twice that of the entire state of North Carolina.

Because of that, a focus of the 27th Annual Wellness Screening Day at FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital will involve encouraging people who have diabetes or who are at risk of developing the disease to pay more attention to their condition.

FirstHealth diabetes educators will join representatives from numerous Richmond County health care programs at Wellness Screening Day, which will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 10. They will be available to discuss blood glucose screening results with participants whose blood work indicates that they have or are at high risk for diabetes.

A blood test that shows what a person’s average blood glucose level was for the two to three months before the test, glycosylated hemoglobin/A1C testing for diabetes is one of several health screenings that are now under way for Wellness Screening Day diagnostic lab pre-draws. All are available at the hospital weekdays through Oct. 7 from 6 to 10 a.m. Anyone interested in any of the screenings can register at the front lobby.

The same screenings will also be offered on the actual day of the Wellness Screening event. They are as follows:

Wellness Profile: A comprehensive metabolic profile that includes cholesterol with HDL, LDL and triglycerides, glucose, complete blood count, thyroid profile and more. The cost is $25. On Wellness Screening day, interpretations of diagnostic results will be provided by RMH hospitalists Kelly King, M.D., and John Flannery, M.D.; Leslie Salloum, M.D., of Mid-Carolinas Surgical Associates; Zeidan F. Zeidan, M.D., of Richmond Surgical Clinic; Steven Collins, P.A.-C, Steven Millen, ANP, and Amanda Higby-Martin of FirstHealth Family Care-Richmond Family Medicine; Shoukath Ansari, M.D., of Marlboro Gastroenterology Associates; Shilpesh Patel, M.D., of Richmond Internal Medicine; Robert Parris, M.D., of Sandhills Cardiology; and Emily Phillips, P.A.-C, and Carole M. Venable, FNP, of Sandhills Internal Medicine Clinic.

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA): A test that is used for the detection of prostate infection, benign (non-cancerous) enlargement of the prostate and prostate cancer. Due to a donation from The V Foundation, there is no charge for this screening.

Glycosylated Hemoglobin/A1C: The blood test for long-term glucose control that helps doctors manage the treatment of patients with diabetes. The cost is $10.

EKGs (provided by RMH hospitalist physicians Kelly King, M.D., and John Flannery, M.D., along with Mark Aarons, M.D., of Richmond Internal Medicine), Peak Flow Test (PFTs, provided by the Cardiopulmonary Department at Richmond Memorial Hospital) and Osteoporosis Screenings (by the Imaging Department at Richmond Memorial Hospital). There is no charge for these screenings.

Carotid artery, peripheral vascular disease and abdominal aortic aneurysm (provided by Scott Hees, D.O., and Charlotte Radiology): Ultrasound screenings for the detection of vascular disease. Appointments are necessary, and can be made at the time of pre-draw registration. The cost is $30 for one screening, $60 for two or $85 for all three.

Services and screenings that will be offered only on Wellness Screening Day include:

Venous reflux disease screenings for varicose veins by Zeidan F. Zeidan, M.D., of Richmond Surgical Clinic

Wound care screenings and information, provided by Leslie Salloum, M.D., of Mid-Carolinas Surgical Associates, and the staff of the Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center at Richmond Memorial Hospital

Allergic rhinitis/allergy assessments, provided by Andrew Doolittle, M.D., of Mid-Carolinas Surgical Associates

Glaucoma/vision screenings, provided by Covington Optometric Clinic

Prostate exams, provided by Hazem El-Droubi, M.D., of the Richmond Urology Clinic. By appointment with completed PSA results. Please call (910) 997-5054 and indicate the connection with Wellness Screening Day.

Urinalysis, provided by Luiz Nascimento, M.D.; Diane Brown, ANP; Layla Mabe, AMP; Cindy White, FNP, of Sandhills Medical Group

Blood pressure checks, provided by Richmond County Hospice

Pulse oximetry tests, provided by the Cardiopulmonary Department at Richmond Memorial Hospital

Grip strength screenings, provided by the FirstHealth Center for Rehabilitation

Skin cancer screenings, provided by Carolina Skin Care and Jessica Edwards, P.A.-C

Foot evaluations, provided by Fattah Mirian, DPM

Colorectal cancer screenings, provided by Shoukath Ansari, M.D., of Marlboro Gastroenterology Associates, and the Richmond Memorial Hospital Lab

Mini-chiropractic consultations, by Larry Stogner, D.C., and Tommie Clewis, P.C.

Chair massages

Information on organ and tissue donation

Information on flu prevention and protection, by Richmond Memorial Hospital Infection Control

Flu ($42) and pneumonia ($71) vaccines, provided by the Richmond County Health Department.

Paraffin wax hand treatments, provided by the FirstHealth Center for Rehabilitation

“Ask a Pharmacist” information – Participants should all medications, including over the counter, for an evaluation by the Richmond Memorial Hospital Pharmacy

The Happy Kitchen cooking demonstrations

This year, Wellness Screening Day received financial support from the Rockingham Rotary Club. Screening participation is limited to those who are 18 years of age and older.

FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital is a division of FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital.