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Cari Simon, phlebotomist with The Nebraska Medical Center, volunteers to administer PSA tests to health fair participants. |
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Teresa Dowling Roth, UNMC graduate student and member of the Mobile Nursing Center, explains the importance of healthy eating habits with a health care participant. |
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Health care participants wait patiently in line for test results and one-on-one consultations with health care providers. |
The Partnership for Community Wellness provided critical screenings including blood pressure, cholesterol, vision, prostate and oral care screenings. Hearing, lead and carbon monoxide screenings also were provided.
“These screenings are vital for the health of our community,” said David Grandison, M.D., Ph.D., director of UNMC’s Center for Reducing Health Disparities. “This could be the only time these families interact with health care providers all year.
“It is an opportunity for our center to partner with other community organizations to reduce health disparities. Preventative care is an important part of the solution.”
The health fair was the culmination of Bi-National Health Week, which is designed to focus on the unique health needs of the Hispanic community. However, the health fair was open to the general public.
Nearly 550 people came through the doors of Metropolitan Community College’s South Omaha campus to take advantage of the free screenings, health information and provider access.
“We worked extremely hard to improve the organization of this year’s event including improving the layout of screenings and streamlining the required paperwork,” said Athena Ramos, program coordinator for UNMC’s Center for Reducing Health Disparities. “Participants were able to obtain the results of their blood sugar and cholesterol tests within minutes.”
In addition, health professionals volunteered their time to have one-on-one conversations with individuals to discuss their results and recommend follow-up care and participants could schedule onsite follow-up appointments with UNMC clinics and other community clinics, Ramos said.
“Of course we could not have had a successful event without support from our partners at ConAgra Foods, Metropolitan Community College, UNMC’s College of Nursing and Mobile Nursing Center, Eppley Cancer Center, South Omaha Community Care Council, The Nebraska Medical Center and hundreds of health care volunteers and interpreters,” she said.