Residents of the Twin Lakes area will have access to free health screenings, lab test vouchers, and time with local health care providers on Saturday, Oct. 7, as the 45th annual Health Fair and Expo comes to Mountain Home. The event, presented by Baxter Health and KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot, will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the gymnasium of the Mountain Home Community Center, located at 1 Community Center Drive. Admission is free, and no registration is required.
On-site screenings will include checks of vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen levels, temperature, and breathing rate. Participants will also receive vouchers for four free lab tests — blood sugar, cholesterol, PSA, and HbA1c — to be redeemed at the Baxter Health Outpatient Lab at their convenience. A PSA test screens for prostate cancer, while an HbA1c test measures average blood sugar over approximately three months and is used to diagnose or monitor diabetes.
In addition to the screenings, attendees will have access to informational exhibits, health demonstrations, and local health care providers who will share resources and answer questions. The fair, described as one of the most comprehensive health events in north-central Arkansas, has been a community staple for 45 years, offering vital health services and education.
Tobias Pugsley, vice president of marketing and communications at Baxter Health, emphasized the fair’s significance, calling it “one of the biggest things we do for our area each year.” Last year, he highlighted its ability to provide thousands of people with access to key health screenings and resources in a single location. This year’s fair will take place in a facility built for wellness, with organizers noting that the spacious gymnasium will comfortably accommodate exhibits and screenings while showcasing a space that supports fitness and recreation year-round.
Heather Loftis of KTLO attributed the fair’s longevity to the shared mission of its organizers. “For 45 years, KTLO and Baxter Health have come together around one simple idea: that the health of this community matters,” said Loftis. “This partnership has always been about more than an event. It is about showing up for the people who live here, year after year.”
The fair’s October timing aligns with the start of Medicare open enrollment, which runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, giving attendees an opportunity to address their health care needs heading into the enrollment period.
For additional information about the event, visit baxterhealth.org/healthfair.