By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
New Year's resolutions or new beginnings, the lingo may change but the goals do not: more than one-third of Americans make a plan to change something beginning Jan. 1 each year. Exercising more, losing weight, and saving money are three of the more popular resolutions, but Barton County Health Department Director Karen Winkelman says do not forget about the things you cannot see.
"I think one of the things we forget sometimes is we need to know our numbers," she said. "When I say numbers, that means your cholesterol, your triglycerides, what your cardiac risk is, all of those kinds of things because of all that plays into a fresh start."
Through its Healthy Living Laboratory Services, the Barton County Health Department offers various affordable blood tests to help clients monitor their health. The services are offered on a self-pay basis only with no insurance billed, and results are typically available the next day. It's like a lab fair but available five days a week.
"We are not trying to step on toes or take business away from anyone," Winkelman said. "We just know people can't always wait for that once a quarter so we have it available on a daily basis; walk-in services, you do not have to have an appointment. Our staff is friendly and professional. They have a lot of experience."
No physician's order is required to order the tests and results are given directly to the client. It is the responsibility of clients to provide the results to their physician.
CLICK HERE for the full list of options provided by the Barton County Health Department's Healthy Living Laboratory.