Contributed by Betty Rieth, Alaska Health Fair, Inc.
Alaska Health Fair
8/27/2018 – 12PM
Alaska Health Fair
Alaska State Fairgrounds, Borealis Plaza Tent
2075 Glenn Hwy. Palmer
FREE Admission, $45 Blood Tests
Alaska Health Fair is a 37-year-old non-profit organization, providing affordable blood tests and free screenings throughout the state.
AHF was founded on the dream of a physician who believed that the road to longevity rests in healthy lifestyles, which develop, in part, through education and screenings. AHF Mission: Promote statewide health education and preventative screenings. Vision: Optimal health for all Alaskans. Core Purpose: Promote health and wellness and save lives.
AHF Health Fairs offer free health education, free screenings and the most affordable comprehensive blood tests in Alaska. AHF delivers around 100 events annually - in larger communities like Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks and Bethel, and also in around 30 smaller communities. They also deliver around 25 worksite health fairs for big and small employers from a variety of industries: oil and gas, financial services, transportation and non-profits. No other state has a dedicated non-profit like Alaska Health Fair to provide affordable blood tests, free health screenings and free health education on important topics on such a grand scale. And, it’s all possible because of support from Alaskans like you and many local organizations.
Around 15,000 people attend AHF events each year. The attendance numbers are growing, and in the last 12 months, AHF added around 1,000 new clients.
Who attends AHF Health Fairs?
Here are some interesting statistics about the attendees, taken form AHF surveys conducted after each event:
• 95% of health fair attendees plan to follow up with a doctor if they learn of a health condition through screenings and tests received at AHF events.
• 59% report they have health insurance. Additional 23% are covered through Medicaid/Medicare.
• 89% report that after attending the health fair, they gained a better understanding of some ways they can have healthier behaviors.
In terms of demographics, Alaska Health Fair events attract people of all backgrounds. Most of AHF clients are highly educated and interested in their health. Overall, AHF client profile closely represents the demographics of the state.
Working with the Medical Community:
AHF events are made possible by hundreds of medical professionals who volunteer thousands of hours and also participate as exhibitors. It’s a great way for many to earn volunteer hours needed to maintain a license, to connect with the community and learn about the community’s health concerns, educate fellow Alaskans on important health topics and even grow a medical practice. Exhibitor space is always free at AHF Health Fairs. Clinics and hospitals refer their patients for extremely affordable blood testing to AHF offices in Anchorage and Fairbanks.
Why do people come to AHF Health Fairs?
Health education and extremely affordable blood tests are the main reasons, according to client surveys. AHF works with PAML (now owned by LabCorp), one of the top-ranking laboratories in the nation, to offer the most affordable comprehensive blood tests in Alaska. AHF's most popular comprehensive blood chemistry test, consisting of 27 panels, is priced at just $45. AHF is a non-profit, and their pricing has barely changed since 2003.
Worksite Wellness for Alaska Employers:
Worksite wellness is very important to many Alaskan employers, which is understandable. Implementing wellness programs has many benefits for employers, big or small:
• Attracting talented workers
• Reducing absenteeism, improving productivity
• Improving employee morale
• Reducing turnover
• Reducing healthcare coverage premiums
AHF offers worksite health fairs, and tailors them to help meet the client organization’s goals. In partnership with other leading agencies and local experts, AHF is able to offer affordable in-depth training for staff and management on a variety of worksite wellness topics. Most employers AHF works with elect to sponsor the blood tests for their employees (especially the vitamin D test, which is usually not covered by health insurance). Employers can also send their staff to AHF offices in Anchorage and Fairbanks for affordable blood tests. AHF Health Fairs are turn-key solutions, and we encourage interested organizations to give AHF a call.
So, when is the next health fair?
The closest one will be a mini health fair at the annual Alaska State Fair. The event will take place on August 27th, from noon to 6pm, at the Borealis Plaza Tent. There, you will find AHF’s affordable blood tests (see pricing here: https://alaskahealthfair.org/screenings-and-tests/) and local health and wellness resources. AHF’s client satisfaction rate is over 99%. You are pretty much guaranteed to be happy with their services. Give them a try!
