WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., April 8, 2022 —West Liberty University’s Highlands Center will host a free health screening clinic from noon to 6 p.m., Wednesday, April 13, that is open to the public.
Offering walk-in services to the entire community, a variety of screenings will be available. Students enrolled in Health Science programs in WLU’s College of Sciences, under the supervision of professional instructors, will conduct the screenings.
“This is the first time that we’ve conducted a public health screening at our Highlands location. It will display the types of services available in our Health Science Clinics on our main campus. It also allows the community to see the types of academic degrees offered in our programs. It’s a great way to showcase our programs for students who want to become health care professionals,” said Dr. Karen Kettler, dean of the College of Sciences.
The Behavioral Health Clinic of WLU will provide screenings for anxiety and depression through the use of a questionnaire that can be filled out and scored by the individual answering the questions.
Behavioral Health Clinic staff will be available to explain your results and answer any questions. Behavioral Health faculty and graduate students will also have information available about the therapy and psychological assessment services that WLU’s clinic provides to the general public.
Both WLU’s Exercise Physiology and Athletic Training programs will be assessing resting blood pressure, resting heart rate, and body mass index (BMI). The students and faculty from these programs will also provide information related to the relationship between exercise and mental health.
Exercise increases feelings of relaxation and calmness which may contribute to a treatment plan for some mental health conditions. These similar behaviors that improve mental health also contribute to the lowering of blood pressure, heart rate, and weight management.
The Speech and Hearing Clinic will complete speech and hearing screenings for both children and adults. Children’s screenings will include a brief screen of speech sounds, and language development, as well as a sample of the child’s voice and fluency. Developmental guidelines for all areas of communication will be available for any interested participants.
The Speech Pathology and Audiology program will also be providing cognitive screenings using a self-assessment screening tool to allow participants a quick glance into their cognitive function.
Early detection of cognitive impairment can provide people with the resources they need to prolong their independence and lead the most productive lifestyle. Education in neuro-cognitive protection will also be provided. Hearing loss, loneliness, stress, decreased activity, and poor diet are all risk factors for brain atrophy, which can lead to cognitive decline.
Blood pressure screenings from WLU’s Nursing program will be conducted, in addition to educational sessions related to stroke and heart attack.
Information related to the Dental Hygiene program and its public clinic will be available to those interested.
For additional information, please visit westliberty.edu/health-sciences/clinics.
