Many people have it in their minds that the hospital or doctor’s office is the place to go when something is wrong. Either an emergency happens or a chronic condition becomes too much to live with on a daily basis. Insurance policies are another hurdle as people acclimate to the new laws in place or are unsure of what their insurance offers.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have all your options in one place with people to help you? Look no further. Summit Pacific Medical Center’s Peak Health Wellness Fair, set for October 17, 2015, is setting out to educate you on all of your preventative health care options and what your insurance can accomplish for you.
Summit Pacific Medical Center has a strong focus on preventative medicine and maintaining the health you have. While the Peak Health Wellness Fair has been around since the 1980s, it is right on trend with the hospital’s mission. Headed up by Joy Iversen, SPMC’s Diagnostic Imaging Manager, this fair has taken months of planning and enthusiasm.
The Wellness Fair, taking place in the Mike Murphy Pavilion Meeting room at the Grays Harbor Fairgrounds in Elma, will have nearly 40 vendors. This free event is centered on wellness and caters to men, women, and children of all ages.
The goal of this event is to educate the community on the services available to them, not just at the hospital, but also in the community as well as offer preventative testing and discuss the results of the testing. Many people and families in Grays Harbor forego preventative health care because they are unsure of their insurance or unaware of the services available to them. An insurance specialist will be present during the event to help the public get insured, find a primary care provider and discover ways to make their insurance work for them.
For kids, the best part about this event will be the bike rodeo and free bicycle helmets. After all, one of the best ways to prevent an injury is to wear a helmet. For all ages, there will be free hearing and eyesight testing, as well as diabetes testing. Vouchers will be distributed for free lab work. The vouchers will be for community members to receive lipid panel testing at the hospital.
According to Iversen, people are always shocked to discover how much their local healthcare services have to offer. “We really want people to become more aware of the services available to them,” Iversen explains. “People are still surprised that we offer mammograms, but we have been doing those since 1988!”
Often forgotten by the community, are the many holistic health care options that can help prevent disease and also promote wellness. Local chiropractors, massage therapists, acupuncturists, and dentists will be hosting booths at the event, as well as a yoga instructor. Things as simple as a weekly stretching routine can help promote overall wellness.
Wellness isn’t just physical. Mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness can impact physical well-being and so treating your health from a holistic approach helps maintain mind, body and spirit.
Summit Pacific Medical Center is also making an extra effort to make the event welcoming to families with limited access to healthcare due to a language barrier or lack of insurance coverage. Magdalena Cristo will be representing the Spanish-speaking community. For those struggling with English or who are unfamiliar with the area, the wellness fair will be hugely beneficial. “Magdalena will be interpreting for our Hispanic community at the fair and assists them in getting available services. So many don’t get services they need because they are unaware,” says Iversen.
To help promote the event, Iversen will be delivering coloring contests and awards to schools in McCleary, Montesano, and Elma schools in select grades.
Visit the fairgrounds on October 17 for a chance to win one of the door prizes, check out the interactive booths, and take your first step in taking charge of your health care.
Peak Health Wellness Fair
Mike Murphy Pavilion Meeting Room
Grays Harbor Fairgrounds in Elma
October 17, 2015
9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
FREE for everyone!
If you intend to have blood work done during the event, please attend while fasting.
