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9HEALTH FAIR Frequently Asked Questions
So, you’ve decided you want to at least consider attending a 9Health Fair, but you have some questions. Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions from people just like you. If you have questions specific to volunteering, our In the Classroom Program or Hosting a 9Health Fair, those answers are below as well.
Q: How do I find a 9Health Fair near me?
A: Return to the 9Health Fair homepage and click on Find a Fair. You can search for a fair by city, county, zip code, date, or screening. You can also call our hotline at 303-698-3799 or 800-332-3078.
Q: Who can participate in a 9Health Fair?
A: The screenings at a 9Health Fair are designed for adults; therefore, participants must be at least 18 years of age. Blood cannot be drawn on anyone under 18, even with parental consent.
Q: What screenings are offered at 9Health Fairs?
A: Every 9Health Fair site offers the Basic Screenings, including the Blood Chemistry Screening ($30), PSA Screening for men ($25), the Blood Cell Count Screening ($15), Vitamin D Screening ($40), Hemoglobin A1C Screening ($25) and the take-home Colon Cancer Screening kit ($20). In addition, the following free screenings are available at every site: Blood Pressure/Pulse, Height/Weight/Body Mass Index and Vision. Each site also offers a medical professional with whom you can discuss health-related questions (Ask a Medical Question/Get a Referral). Besides these screenings sites may offer a variety of optional free screenings. Use the Find a Fair option on this web site to determine which screenings are offered at each individual 9Health Fair.
Q: What is included in the Blood Chemistry screening?
A: This screening provides baseline information on your cholesterol, blood glucose, liver, kidneys, thyroid, and more. These screenings can help you and your doctor monitor your health and prevent health issues from becoming emergencies. Information from this screening can also be used to complete your employers’ Health Risk Assessments (HRA). In order to receive the most accurate results for this screening, you should fast (do not eat) for 12 hours prior to attending a health fair. Drink plenty of water and continue to take your regular medications. If you are diabetic, do not fast.
Q: What is included in the Blood Cell Count screening?
A: This screening gives you a general picture of your overall health by checking your white blood cells, hematocrit, hemoglobin levels, and blood-clotting abilities. Your body’s ability to fight infection, anemia, liver disease and certain cancers can be discovered with this screening.
Q: What is the PSA screening and who should get it?
A: (Men Only Blood Draw)Recommended for males 40 and older with risk factors, or all males 50 and older. PSA is a blood screening that measures a protein that is only produced by the male prostate gland. Elevations of PSA may occur in men with non-cancerous prostate diseases or prostate cancer. A normal PSA level does not entirely exclude the possibility of prostate cancer. A digital rectal exam (DRE) is strongly encouraged in conjunction with PSA screening. All elevated values should be reported to your health care provider for further evaluation.
Q: Why should I get the Vitamin D screening?
A: Vitamin D deficiency is now recognized as a worldwide problem. Studies have found that many adults have low Vitamin D levels. Your body requires Vitamin D to absorb calcium and Vitamin D plays an important role in protecting your bone health. Many studies also suggest an association between low Vitamin D levels and an increased risk of certain types of cancers, nerve disease, immune disease and heart disease. This screening is used to provide you with a baseline level of Vitamin D. Some Vitamin D is produced in your skin when unprotected skin is exposed to sunlight. Otherwise, you can obtain Vitamin D in foods or take Vitamin D in supplement form.
Q: What is the Hemoglobin A1C screening and why should I get it?
A: The hemoglobin A1C (HgbA1C) test shows your average blood glucose over the last 60 to 90 days. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has issued revised guidelines for A1C screening. The ADA states that this screening could potentially reduce the number of patients with undiagnosed diabetes or prediabetes. In the past the A1C was used only to evaluate blood sugar control in people with diabetes. The ADA defines an A1C of 5.7% to less than 6.5% as “high risk” for the future development of diabetes. The ADA also states that the vast majority of individuals with A1C greater than 6.5% will subsequently be diagnosed with diabetes during follow-up, and they’re at very high risk of kidney disease and have almost 4 times the risk of developing end-stage renal disease compared to those people in the normal range, and a 2-fold increased risk of developing Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) or stroke or dying during follow-up.
Q: Do I really need the colon cancer screening kit?
A: As we age, our risk of colon cancer increases. At age 50, it is recommended that a screening for blood in your stool be obtained. This can indicate colon cancer. It may also indicate other things such as hemorrhoids, fissures or other inflammatory changes. A positive test should result in you following up with your healthcare provider. He or she can help you figure out the next steps and whether or not you are a candidate for a colonoscopy, the gold standard in identifying colon cancer. Caught early enough, colon cancer may be treated very effectively. If you have a family history of colon cancer it is recommended that you be screened starting at age 40.
Q: Do I need to fast for any of these screenings?
A:
- It is recommended that you fast (consume no calories) for 12 hours before the Blood Chemistry Screening. You may drink coffee or tea with no milk/cream or sugar and
- You are strongly encouraged to drink lots of water beginning the evening before the blood draw. Being well hydrated will make the blood draw easier for both you and the medical volunteer drawing your blood.
- Continue to take any prescription medications.
- Diabetics should never fast before the 9Health Fair because their blood sugar level may get dangerously low.
- If you are unable to fast for 12 hours, your glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides may be slightly elevated. None of the other results will be affected.
Q: Why do 9Health Fairs operate only in the morning?
A: Because most of our participants receive the Blood Chemistry screening, for which a 12-hour fast is recommended, it is believed that running fairs in the morning is more practical.
Q: Can I get a physical, eyeglass prescription or prescription for medication at a 9Health Fair?
A: No. 9Health Fair does not provide any diagnostic screenings that would allow a health professional to write prescriptions or provide a physical.
Q: Do I need to provide my social security number at the health fair?
A: No. Your social security number is not required. However, if you wish to receive a multiple-year report, showing your results for this year and the past two years, you must provide both your social security number and your date of birth each year. If you have not provided this information in the past, by providing it this year you will be starting the process for receipt of multiple-year reports in future years.
Q: What methods of payment are accepted?
A: Cash and personal checks are accepted at all 9Health Fair sites. Credit cards (MasterCard and Visa only) are accepted at all sites in the Denver Metro Area and limited Statewide Sites.
Q: Do I need an appointment?
A: No appointments are necessary; participants are served on a first come, first served basis.
Q: Can I fill out the paperwork ahead of time and save time at the fair?
A: Some of our 9Health Fair sites offer online preregistration. This allows you to complete the participant form and pay for screenings online. You print your participant form on your home printer and take it with you to the health fair. However, this does not necessarily save you time at the fair. The main advantage of preregistering is that your results will be available to you within 2 weeks of your participation at the fair at a secure medical repository online. Further, your results will be available for you to access them at any time. By using the Find a Fair option on our web site, you can determine if the site you wish to attend is offering the preregistration option. Once you preregister to attend a particular fair, your preregistration is only good for that site. Further, preregistration payments are non-refundable.
Q: When will I receive my blood screening results if I don’t preregister?
A: Two copies of your results will be mailed to you at the address you provided on your participant form. You will receive your results within 3 to 4 weeks.
Q: How much time should I allow to participate in a 9Health Fair?
A: Most participants spend about two hours learning about their health. Depending on your interests and the site you choose, the health fair can take anywhere from 30 minutes to four hours.
You’ve attended a 9Health Fair, but you have some questions. Here are the answers to frequently-asked questions from participants.
Q: It’s been more than 4 weeks since I attended the 9Health Fair and I still have not received my blood screening results. What should I do?
A: Call our office (303-698-4455 or 800-332-3078) and ask to speak to someone in the Client Services Department. They will be able to help you. If you have the yellow copy of your participant form from the fair, please have that available when you call.
Q: Can I get another copy of my report?
A: Yes. Call our office (303-698-4455 or 800-332-3078) and ask to speak to someone in the Client Services Department. They will be able to help you. If you have the yellow copy of your participant form from the fair, please have that available when you call.
Q: I lost my receipt. Can you mail me a copy?
A: Yes. Call our office (303-698-4455 or 800-332-3078) and ask to speak to someone in the Client Services Department. They will be able to help you. If you have your results, please have them available when you call.
Q: Does Medicare or my insurance cover the costs of screening?
A: Medicare does not cover the cost of screenings provided by a 9Health Fair. Since insurance companies have different requirements for coverage, you should consult your insurance provider regarding reimbursement of screening costs.
Q: Does 9Health Fair have procedure/diagnostic/CPT codes so I can get reimbursed by my insurance?
A: No. 9Health Fair does not perform any procedures or provide any diagnoses.
Q: I’m concerned about the security of my results. Do you provide my screening results to insurance providers or the medical information bureau?
A: No. 9Health Fair does not provide results to anyone other than the participant unless the participant signs an “Authorization to Release Confidential Information” authorizing us to do so.
VOLUNTEER Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How can I sign up to volunteer?
A: You can sign up to volunteer right here on this website by clicking here or you can contact our office and speak to our Director of Volunteer Engagement to learn more about our exciting volunteer opportunities.
Q: What kind of volunteer positions are available at 9Health Fair, and what does it take to be 9Health Fair volunteers?
A: There are a variety of volunteer positions requiring different skill levels available at 9Health Fair sites and in the 9Health Fair office. Following is a description of each position.
- Medical Site Volunteers: Medical professionals are needed to volunteer from 6:00 AM until 1:00 PM during a 9Health Fair (or multiple 9Health Fairs). Phlebotomists draw blood, medical professionals perform many screenings and staff the "Talk with a Health Professional" station. We need Registered Nurses, Nurses Aides, Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics, Licensed Practical Nurses, Physician's Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Physical Therapists, Medical Doctors, and many others.
- Logistcs (Non-Medical) Site Volunteers: We need volunteers who are willing to commit at least one morning from 6:00 AM until 1:00 PM during a 9Health Fair (or mutliple 9Health Fairs). Logistics volunteers carry out a variety of responsibilities including registration, performing various screenings (such as height/weight/BMI), directing participants through the fair, language interpretation, serving refreshments and much more.
- Medical Leadership Volunteers: 9Health Fair has divided the Metro area into eight health fair districts. Each district is overseen by three dedicated volunteer leaders. In addition, each individual fair site is overseen by several volunteer coordinators. These positions require excellent organizational and leadership skills, experience overseeing meetings, and experience training and supervising other volunteers. If you are interested in information about these positions please contact our Director of Volunteer Engagement directly. No online sign up available.
- Non-Medical Leadership Volunteers: Join our elite leadership team! We have divided the metro area into 8 health fair districts. Each district is overseen by 3 dedicated volunteers. In addition, each individual fair site is overseen by several volunteer coordinators. These positions require excellent organizational and leadership skills, experience overseeing meetings, and experience training and supervising other volunteers. If you are interested in information about these positions, please contact our Director of Volunteer Engagement directly. No online sign up available.
- Group Volunteers: We need groups of volunteers who are willing to commit at least one morning from 6:00 AM until 1:00 PM during the nine days of the health fair. Volunteers carry out a variety of responsibilities including registration, performing various screenings (such as height/weight/BMI), directing traffic flow, interpreting, serving refreshments and much more.
- Interpreters: In an effort to ensure that anyone can participate in our health fairs, we need interpreters in many languages to guide participants through the fair. We use interpreters who speak Spanish, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, American Sign Language, Mandarin and much more.
- Medical Office Volunteers - Critical and Alert Calls: During and after the fairs, medical volunteers help us to make critical and alert calls to participants whose test results are outside of normal ranges. Volunteers are needed anytime between 8:00 and 5:00, Monday through Friday, during the month of April. These shifts take place at the 9Health Fair office in Denver.
- Hotline Volunteers: Help us answer our busy hotline phones during the health fair! Participants call to inquire about where they can find a fair in their community, which screenings are available, etc. These shifts take place at the 9Health Fair office in Denver. Shift times are 6:00am-11:00am, 10:30am-4:00pm and 3:30pm-6:30pm. We provide breakfast and/or lunch; training takes place on site.
- Quality Control Volunteers: Are you community-minded and interested in local, grassroots community outreach and education? Join our Community Outreach Volunteers at events throughout the year such as the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Cinco de Mayo, Juneteenth and many more. Please contact our Director of Volunteer Engagement directly for more information. No online sign up available.
- Year-Round Volunteers: If you are interested in one of our year-round volunteer opportunities, please contact the Director of Volunteer Engagement for more information.
CLASSROOM VOLUNTEER Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I am an educator at heart. I want to be creative and take an idea from concept to finished product. Do you have a volunteer position for me?
A: Yes, our In the Classroom program is looking for creative, detail-oriented volunteers throughout the year to assist with numerous projects in the Denver office. The projects can range from inventory organization to health fair activity development and creation. If you have a passion for young people and would like to contribute to raising their awareness about health issues, please sign up to volunteer or contact our Director of Volunteer Engagement for more information.
Q: Are there any opportunities to volunteer with children or youth?
A: Yes, our In the Classroom program is also looking for adults volunteers (Shepherds) to help schools put on student fairs. At our student fairs, 20 to 25 students become peer educators for their classmates, teaching the different activities they have borrowed from us. We train the students on those activities and they prepare to run the fair. Our Shepherd Program matches volunteers with schools that need some extra help for student leader practice sessions and fair days. This helps to assure the program is of the highest quality. All Shepherds must pass a background check. Please sign up to volunteer or contact our Director of Volunteer Engagement for more information.
HOSTING A FAIR Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why should I coordinate a 9Health Fair in my community?
A: 9Health Fair is Colorado's largest and most trusted non-profit health fair program whose sole mission is to promote health awareness and encourage individuals to assume responsibility for their own health. Coordinating a 9Health Fair in your community not only allows you to be a part of this important Colorado tradition, but it also allows for everyone in your community to impact each other's health and wellness. For more information contact the 9Health Fair at 303-698-4455 and ask for the Manager of Business Development.
Q: What is the job of 9Health Fair Site Coordinator?
A: 9Health Fair Site Coordinators act as 9Health Fair ambassadors to their specific community. They are expected to uphold 9Health Fair's quality program while engaging with as many people as possible from their community to volunteer and participate in 9Health Fair. This also includes recruiting a 9Health Fair site leadership team. The Site Coordinator serves as the liaison between 9Health Fair and site volunteers.
Q: What kind of help do I need from the community to host a successful 9Health Fair?
A: To host a successful 9Health Fair, you need plenty of volunteer support from your entire community. This includes medical support, especially from volunteers who are able to draw blood (phlebotomists). Also, you will a need a facility that can host a large number of people and someone who can help publicize the fair throughout your entire community. Encouraging the leaders of your community (Mayor, Chamber of Commerce, City Council, Public Health representatives, etc.) to support and participate in your 9Health Fair will improve your volunteer and participant turnout for your fair.
Q: Where do I find volunteers in my community?
A: The best place to identify 9Health Fair volunteers is with your family and friends. Also, service club organizations like the Lions Club, Rotary Club, Optimist Club, and organizations like area schools, universities and churches are great resources for non-medical volunteers. Medical volunteers can be found at hospitals, doctors' offices, dentists' offices, nursing or dental schools, area ambulance companies, fire departments and more. 9Health Fair will help support your volunteer recruitment with the support of 9NEWS and the 9Health Fair website. Volunteers that sign up for your site through the website will be forwarded on to you on a weekly basis and 9Health Fair leadership will be in touch with you to help support your volunteer needs.
Q: Are there specific criteria I should keep in mind while identifying my 9Health Fair site?
A: Yes. When looking for your specific site, keep the following criteria in mind:
- Non-carpeted area for blood draw
- Safe/adequate lighting
- Adequate/appropriate space
- Safe physical floor plan
- Facility support/cooperation
- Adequate parking
- Sufficient number of tables/chairs
- Public Restrooms
- Handicapped accommodations
Q: Are there certain locations that make the best 9Health Fair sites?
A: No. We have found that a fair can be a success in everything from barns to schools to hospitals. Part of our application process involves a site visit by one of our staff or veteran volunteers to insure adequate space and safety. 9Health Fair will do everything we can to make sure that your fair is a success and a beneficial event in your community.
Q: Who can I contact if I need help recruiting volunteers in my community?
A: Visit the 9Health Fair website at www.9healthfair.org.
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