Looking for Fair Options : Health screenings can be a cost-effective way to keep tabs on physical condition, but can’t take the place of personalized care.

If you are curious about your cholesterol, worried about your blood pressure or bothered by bunions--but dread spending the better part of the morning (not to mention your paycheck) in a doctor’s office, there may be an easier--and cheaper--way.

You can get a variety of basic medical exams, advice and information for free or at low prices at health fairs, offered by hospitals and community organizations throughout the San Fernando Valley area.

Health fairs include head-to-toe basic screenings--from vision checks to foot exams. You can find out if you are at risk for prostate cancer, learn how to do a breast self-exam or discover if your cholesterol is under control. You can get weighed and measured, rate your lifestyle according to its health quotient or have your children immunized and fingerprinted. You can pick up information on whatever interests you, join a support group for whatever worries you or be referred to a physician who specializes in whatever ails you.

The mother of all health screenings is the annual Health Fair Expo, held today through April 24 at hospitals, shopping malls and community agencies throughout Southern California. Sponsored by the American Red Cross and various organizations and hospitals, Health Fair Expo has served more than a million people in its 17-year history.

Height, weight and vision exams, as well as health displays, AIDS education and an assortment of screenings and services, are provided at all Health Fair Expo locations. Everything is free, except for prostate, cholesterol and other tests requiring lab work, which are usually available for about $20 to $25 each. People who have abnormal test results will be asked to see their own doctor or referred to a physician.

“You can get a lot of things tested for very little cost--and it is more fun to be checked at a fair than a physician’s office,” said Dr. Martin Smietanka, a Burbank family practice physician who regularly volunteers for Health Fair Expo. “Health fairs are focused on promoting health and preventing or catching diseases in their early stages. People enjoy them, they have a good time, and they learn a lot.”

But in no way do health fair screenings substitute for personalized medical care, Smietanka said. “Health fairs are not the place to go if you have specific symptoms, such as chest or stomach pains or shortness of breath. You need to see a physician.”

Fair-goers should also be aware that the hospitals’ motives for throwing such events are not solely altruistic. The fairs are good advertising for the sponsoring facilities--and they bring in patients.

“Health fairs identify people who have a life-threatening diagnosis--and that, of course, leads to a hospital admission,” said David Langness, vice president of communications for the Hospital Council of Southern California. “But the fairs do not pay for themselves by any means. Out of 1,000 people, maybe one will need treatment.”

Hospitals typically spend thousands of dollars in labor, publicity, supplies and handouts for a single health fair, said Sue Wyninegar, director of marketing at St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank. “Some hospitals have dropped out of offering health fairs because they are not the most productive things in the world. You don’t get a lot of business from them.”

According to Wyninegar, nonprofit facilities sponsor the events as a community service--and also as a way to prove their “social accountability,” required to maintain tax-exempt status. “Part of our mission is to provide education and preventive care, and health fairs are a good way to do that,” she said. “Plus they create top-of-mind awareness of the hospital. They get a lot of people into the medical center, and if they have a good experience, they will want to come back.”

Health fair exams are certainly more pleasant and less of a hassle than a trip to the doctor’s office, but they may not save a lot of money for people with adequate health insurance. A doctor’s visit, including lab work, may cost just $5 or $10 through many HMOs. If your health plan pays 80% of health services, your out-of-pocket expenses at the doctor’s office may be no more than what you would fork over at a health fair for a cholesterol check.

“Health fairs are helpful in that they offer screenings and information in less intimidating circumstances than a doctor’s office,” said Dr. Adelaide Randak, a Woodland Hills family practice physician. “But the flip side is that the information people receive may be inadequate. Health fairs are not set up to really question or interview patients, and the personnel administering the tests may not be qualified to interpret the results.”

Randak believes that the best tests to seek at health fairs are those that yield uniformly accurate results, such as blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, anemia and blood panels. “Assuming a good lab is used, those are all well-established tests that reliably indicate whether the patient needs follow-up or not,” she said.

Randak added that blood tests must be performed on an empty stomach; otherwise, the results will be skewed. “If you just had a taco and snow cone, your cholesterol and blood sugar tests will be wildly inaccurate,” she said.

One also should not expect individualized, in-depth care at health fairs, according to Dr. Martin Gelbard, a Burbank urologist. “In health fair situations you really don’t have any time to discuss symptoms. You don’t have an opportunity for detailed questions and answers. You don’t get the patient’s history that gives information you need. And that doctor-patient interaction--not just a bunch of blood tests that you get from assembly-line screening programs--is one of the most important factors in identifying a problem.”

As a consequence, fair-goers may be unnecessarily alarmed when nothing is wrong--or even worse, incorrectly reassured when there really is a problem. “Someone may have a slightly abnormal test--but not cancer,” Gelbard said. “And a small percentage of men who have (prostate) cancer may have a normal blood test.”

Despite their limitations, health fairs can be lifesavers. Smietanka remembers a fit, healthy-looking, 65-year-old fellow with no symptoms of illness. The man attended last year’s Health Fair Expo on a whim, took part in a few screenings--and learned that he had colon and prostate cancer. “Both cancers were caught in time, and he is still doing well,” Smietanka said.

Mark Your Calendar

The annual Health Fair Expo isn’t your only chance to benefit from free and low-cost medical services. Many area hospitals offer screenings throughout the year. Here are a few ongoing and upcoming events:

Every day: Heart checks. Cholesterol screenings, heart disease risk factor questionnaires and blood-pressure checks. (Fast for eight hours.) $8. 6 to 10 a.m. Emergency department, Glendale Adventist Medical Center, 1509 Wilson Terrace. Call (818) 409-8202.

Every day: Heart risk assessment. Cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar screenings, weight check. $10. By appointment. Glendale Memorial Hospital, Central Avenue and Los Feliz Road. Call (818) 502-2348.

Every day: Blood pressure screenings. Free. 24 hours a day. Emergency department, Glendale Adventist Medical Center, 1509 Wilson Terrace. Call (818) 409-8202.

Tuesdays and Thursdays. Pregnancy tests. Free. 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Perinatal Clinic, Glendale Memorial Hospital, Central Avenue and Los Feliz Road. Call (818) 502-4567.

Every Wednesday: Health check for people 40 or more pounds overweight. Blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and weight checks. Free. 6 p.m., Glendale Memorial Hospital, Central Avenue and Los Feliz Road. Call (818) 502-2348.

Every Thursday: Blood sugar screenings for diabetes. Free. 10 a.m. to noon. Diabetes unit (fourth floor), Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center, 18321 Clark St., Tarzana. Call (818) 708-5455.

First Friday of every month: Blood pressure checks. Free. 3 to 4 p.m. Glendale Memorial Hospital, Central Avenue and Los Feliz Road. Call (818) 502-2396.

Every other Saturday: Prostate screenings. Prostate cancer blood test and digital exam. $30. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Valley Presbyterian Hospital, 15107 Vanowen St., Van Nuys. Call (818) 902-5772.

April 24: Fingerprinting and photo identification for children. Free. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Glendale Adventist Medical Center, 1509 Wilson Terrace. Call (818) 409-8100.

April 28: Depression screenings. Questionnaire and lecture on depression. Free. 4 p.m. Seventh-floor classroom, Valley Hospital Medical Center, 14500 Sherman Circle, Van Nuys. Call (818) 908-8680.

April 30: Stroke workshop. Blood pressure checks, health questionnaires, lectures, handouts, door prizes. Cholesterol tests for $30. 9 a.m.-1 p.m., West Valley Hospital, 22141 Roscoe Blvd., Canoga Park. Call (800) 554-2575

May 1-31: Appointments for low-cost mammograms. Appointments must be made in May, dates will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis and could require up to a 60-day wait. Northridge Hospital Medical Center, 18300 Roscoe Blvd. Call (818) 885-5382 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Mon. through Fri.

May 4: Diabetes screenings. Blood glucose tests and information on diabetes in English and Spanish. Free. 9:30 to 11 a.m. Seventh-floor classroom, Valley Hospital Medical Center, 14500 Sherman Circle, Van Nuys. Call (818) 908-8720.

May 4: Foot screenings. Free. 9 to 10 a.m. Media City Shopping Center, 201 E. Magnolia, Burbank. Call (818) 843-5111, Ext. 7438.

May 14: Foot clinic. Podiatry exams. Free. 9 to 11 a.m. Northridge Hospital Ambulatory Surgery Center, 18300 Roscoe Blvd. Call (818) 885-5482.

May 14: Heart fair. Blood pressure, cholesterol and body fat screenings, heart disease risk test, height and weight checks, aerobics demonstrations, healthy cooking demonstrations. Displays on heart health, stress management and healthy recipes. Free. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Holy Cross Medical Center, 15031 Rinaldi St., Mission Hills. Call (818) 898-4577.

May 18: Blood-pressure screenings. Also lecture on signs of heart attack. Free. 6:30 to 8 p.m. Glendale Adventist Medical Center, 1509 Wilson Terrace. Call (818) 409-8100.

May 18: Breast exams. Instruction on how to conduct breast self-checks. Free. 9 to 10 a.m. Northridge Hospital Medical Center, 18300 Roscoe Blvd., Northridge. Call (818) 885-5482.

May 21: Immunizations. “Shots for Tots” clinic includes immunizations for measles, polio, mumps, diphtheria, rubella and tetanus. Free. 10 a.m. to noon. Mingay Adult School, 3811 Allan Ave., Burbank. Call (818) 843-5111, ext. 7438.

May 21: Breast health seminar. Lectures, workshops, individualized self-exam instruction and performance of a play about one woman’s real-life experience with breast cancer. $10 includes all events and lunch. Certificates for low-cost ($75) base-line mammograms will be available. 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.. Women’s Pavilion, Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center, 18321 Clark St., Tarzana. Call (800) 77-WOMEN.

June 1: Women’s heart disease. Assessment for heart disease, blood pressure checks, blood glucose tests, lecture by cardiologist on women and heart disease. Free. 6 p.m. Women’s Pavilion, Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center, 18321 Clark St., Tarzana. Call (800) 77-WOMEN.

June 15: Breast exams. Instruction on how to conduct breast self-checks. Free. 7 to 8 p.m. Northridge Hospital Medical Center, 18300 Roscoe Blvd. Call (818) 885-5482.

June 26: Prostate screenings. Lecture and prostate cancer blood test. $10. 6 p.m. Sherman Oaks Hospital, 4929 Van Nuys Blvd. Call (800) 554-7877.

Health Fair Dates

Health Fair Expo offers height, weight and vision exams, as well as health displays in English and Spanish and AIDS education. Other screenings and services vary, depending on the site.

All exams and services are free, except for prostate cancer screenings and blood tests, which are available for a reduced fee (about $20 to $25 each). Call: The Health Fair Expo Hotline at (800) 894-4999.

Today

10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Valley Senior Service and Resource Center (O.N.E.), 18255 Victory Blvd., Reseda. Also offered: lung capacity screenings, heart tests, mammography discount coupons. Call (818) 705-2345.

Saturday

10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sherman Oaks Galleria. Also offered: immunizations, earthquake preparedness information, nutritional counseling, hearing tests, lung capacity tests, body fat analysis, cardiac fitness screenings and prenatal information. Call (818) 902-5772.

10 a.m. to 3 p.m., auditorium of St. Joseph Medical Center, 501 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank. Call (818) 843-5111, ext. 7438.

10 a.m. to 2 p.m., American Red Cross, 14717 Sherman Way, Van Nuys. Call (818) 908-8721.

Thursday

10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Glendale Galleria. Also offered: screenings and information on Alzheimer’s disease, skin cancer and glaucoma. Spinal, foot and prenatal checkups. Information on cancer, heart disease and nutrition. Call (818) 243-3121 or (818) 409-8100.

April 23

8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center, 22900 Market St., Santa Clarita. Call (805) 259-9444.

April 24

9 a.m. to 4 p.m., United Way, 6851 Lennox Ave., Van Nuys. Call (818) 908-5107..

7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Westlake Medical Center, 4415 S. Lakeview Canyon Road. Call (818) 706-6163.