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UNION — Several of the services provided by the Union Hospital District will be on display when Wallace Thomson Hospital hosts “Heart Day 2013” on Valentine’s Day.

Lou Ellen Spears, administrative assistant, said that Heart Day 2013, which will be held from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the hospital’s main lobby, will not only provide the public with the opportunity to sign-up for and receive the medical procedures and information offered through the event, but also to learn about some of the programs the district offers.

“This year we’re promoting internally because we’ve got so many services that people are not aware of,” Spears said. “The lobby will be filled with folks from the Advanced Pain Treatment Center. There will be clinic representatives from Carolinas Health Associates who will be there to answer questions about appointments and services. Staff from our Women’s Services will also be there. Our radiology services will be there, specifically DEXAscan and mammography. Our dietitian will be there and there will be diabetic education.”

DEXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) is the most commonly used test for measuring bone density and is considered one of the most accurate ways of diagnosing Osteopenia or Osteoporosis.

Spears said that people who attend Heart Day will have the option of signing up to undergo the DEXAscan process at a later date.

“They’ll be able to sign up for blood work, cholesterol test, and chemistry panel test,” Spears said. “When they sign up for blood work they can also decide if they want to sign up for the DEXAscan because it is free for folks who are participating in this year’s Heart Day. We’ll call them later to schedule their appointment.”

Like the DEXAscan, the blood pressure checks provided at Heart Day will be free of charge. Cholesterol tests are $10 and the chemistry panel tests $15. To help ensure test accuracy, participants are asked not to eat or drink anything after midnight prior to testing.

Heart health education and healthy recipes will also be offered during Heart Day and healthy snacks will be served.

Spears said the hospital’s golf cart will also be available to transport people to the door of the main lobby from the hospital’s parking lot.

“This year the golf cart is available to transport people to the front door,” Spears said.

For more information about Heart Day call 301-2000.

Editor Charles Warner can be reached at 864-427-1234, ext. 14, or by email at cwarner@heartlandpublications.com.