Providing women an opportunity to increase awareness of their personal health needs is the goal of the National Women's Health Check-Up Day held Monday, May 12. Locally, Spencer Hospital and Avera Spencer Family Care are hosting a women's check-up event from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Spencer Hospital.

During the same time frame, the hospital is holding an open house for its new Women's Health Center and Diagnostic Services area.

"This is a great event and a very valuable one for women who need to be more in tune with their health," said Jeannette Hasley, Spencer Hospital Women's Health Director. "We are offering a variety of health screenings during the check-up event Monday afternoon and all of this is free of charge and pre-registration is not necessary. Screenings include body composition analysis, blood pressure checks, bone density, sun damage evaluations, stress and depression screening and much more."

Hasley continued: "In conjunction with the check-up event, we will be scheduling optional lab appointments at the hospital for women who would like to come in first thing Monday morning for an optional blood draw to have a lipid and cholesterol panel completed. There is a $10 pay-at-the-time-of-service fee for the lab work and appointments are required and can be made by calling the lab at 264-6173. Fasting is required to get accurate results so all appointments will be scheduled for first thing in the morning."

For those who opt to have the blood work done, each person's results will be available at the check-up event later that day or can be mailed to those who cannot make it back for the check-up event. At the check-up event, dietitians will be available to review lab results which will include total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides and blood sugar results.

The afternoon screening activities will take place in Spencer Hospital's conference center, located on the lower level of the hospital. Those who attend the screening events as well as the general public are invited to an open house for the Women's Health Center, located on first floor, during the same 4:30-6:30 p.m. time frame.

"Come. Bring your grandmother, bring your daughter, or bring a friend," said Mindy Sylvester, Women's Health Coordinator. "This health check-up event is for women of all ages. You may be the picture of health and discover that you have slight bone density loss, or that your blood pressure is elevated, or that you need to watch your cholesterol and you can learn many ways of how you can improve your health. Or, better yet, you may discover your health choices are right on track. It's your health. We encourage you to take time and join us on May 12 for our Women's Health Check-up."