"You can't drink that!" my wife reminded me as I mixed the fruit juice concentrate.  “You have the health screening tomorrow morning and you must fast for 12 hours."

My wife shops for healthcare and she found a great deal offered by the Village of Mount Prospect’s Human Services department and Resurrection Medical Center.  For $30, I receive blood tests including: complete lipid panel, complete metabolic panel and complete blood count.  For $20 more, I can receive a prostate screening.  The village also offers a free blood pressure test.

So this morning, feeling a little hungry and caffeine-deprived I arrived at the Village Hall for my screening.  After I paid with a personal check, I quickly walked through the stations which included blood pressure, blood draw, and even filling out a self-addressed envelope for my results.  I asked the lab technician how the prices could be so low when the same tests would cost $200-300 at a physician’s office.

“The hospital considers it a community service and breaks even by using it as a tax deduction,” she said.  “We do these screenings a couple times a month at village halls, churches, and senior centers.”

The last station was a table of bagels, donut holes, juice and coffee.  Say, this is a good deal.  My doctor never fed me breakfast!

-- posted by Pat Frisbie