Westside Community Health Center Encourages the Community to Embrace Healthy Living
September 25, 2006
Contact: Todd Harper
Phone: 317-630-7808
Pager: 317-310-5972
Indianapolis, September 25, 2006 – Take part in free health screenings and receive medical advice from healthcare professionals in a fun family environment at this year’s Westside Family Health Fair.
On Saturday, October 14, WTHR Channel 13 and Wishard Health Services, along with the Indiana University School of Medicine Internal Medicine Student Interest Group, will present the ninth-annual Westside Family Health Fair, a Health Beat Health Fair, at Westside Community Health Center, 2732 W. Michigan Street in Indianapolis. The free health fair, which is organized and run by IU School of Medicine students, will be open to the entire community from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
In addition to the fair and the free health screenings, a town hall meeting will be held during the event with a panel of community leaders and local physicians discussing and answering healthcare related questions. The discussion will focus on healthcare access with a focus on Medicare, Medicaid and Wishard Advantage. The panel will include Dr. Judith Monroe, Indiana State Health Commissioner; Dr. Lisa Harris, CEO and medical director of Wishard Health Services; and Dr. Betty Routledge, medical director of Westside Community Health Center.
“This will be the ninth time the Internal Medicine Student Interest Group and Westside Community Health Center leaders have marshaled the talents and resources of Wishard, the local community and the many departments and students from the IU School of Medicine, to provide disease screenings and fun health education for the entire family,” said Dr. Palmer MacKie, a physician at Westside Community Health Center.
Health screenings provided during the fair will include blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, dental and vision, and there will also be fitness classes held throughout the event. Participants may visit a wide variety of information booths including weight loss/exercise, Hispanic resources, WIC, fire and seatbelt safety, mental health, smoking cessation and primary care services. Education also will be offered on paying for healthcare, women’s health, STDs, domestic violence, nutrition and much more. Spanish interpreters and bilingual pamphlets and health information will be available at the fair.
Door prizes will be given out during the event. Parents are encouraged to bring their children to learn about bicycle, helmet, seat belt and fire safety. If the weather is good, a fire truck will be available for touring. Refreshments will also be offered.
“We’re hoping the whole community comes out to join us, takes advantage of the healthy learning opportunities and becomes better educated on a variety of health-related issues,” Dr. MacKie said.
The Westside Community Health Center provides healthcare services for the community in the areas of family planning, social services, primary care, mental health and dental services. The center is one of eight Wishard Health Services community health centers located throughout Indianapolis.
This year’s fair sponsors include the Indiana University School of Medicine, Eli Lilly and Company, Westside Community Health Center Advisory Council, IU Medical Group, WTHR Channel 13 and Wishard Health Services.
For more information about the Westside Family Health Fair, please call (317) 554-4600.