BVCHC to launch health app

PAWTUCKET – As a component of its mission to improve the health of local residents, Blackstone Valley Community Health Care will be holding a community health fair where it will be unveiling a free smart phone app available to anyone to assist in tracking and monitoring health and fitness results.

The BVCHC health fair will take place on Saturday, June 28, from 9 a.m. to noon at BVCHC’s Pawtucket location, 39 East Avenue. Partnering with Lifespan, the Hallett Center will screen for glucose and cholesterol at the event. Gateway Healthcare will also conduct mental health screenings and BVCHC will offer BMI (body mass index) screenings. After downloading the new BVCHC app, participants will be able to input their screening results to start tracking their health over time. The new app is compatible with wearable devices such as the Fitbit, an activity and sleep tracker. Ten Fitbits will be raffled off ($99.95 retail) and given away to people who download the app on their smartphone at the health fair. This event is free and open to the general public.

“Research from the Pew Institute shows that 56 percent of Americans use smartphones,” said Executive Director Ray Lavoie. “And that number is growing quickly, increasing 21 percent between 2011 and 2013. That research was also supported by anecdotal evidence in our reception area. Since we opened, most adults aren’t watching the TV, they’re looking down at their phone while they wait to be called,” he added. “We’re here to serve our clients and if they’re using smartphones, we need to have a smartphone app. We need to be relevant to the people we serve.”

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