Why? ZERO FOLLOW UP!!! What is the point to finding someone's high blood pressure when that might be a one-time value, you have no course of treatment, you do not know if they will come back, I guess, you suck it up and move forward...
Now the doctor's that treat the uninsured on 60 minutes, that is NOT what I am talking about. That is full physical, with some type of old school "military-like" review and immediately treat as much as you possibly can. It makes clinicians feel decent about their care they give to the broader community. No, I am NOT talking about that kind of "health fair"...
I am talking about the little old lady at the haunted house who thinks one day to her group, that "HEY, let's test blood and pee and tell everyone that about their health!" But she has not seen day 1 of Cecil's or Harrison's, understands what H2O is, or 2nd Law of Thermodynamics. But somehow SHE knows that is would be nice to have a Health Fair for her "special" group...
What is so wonderful about most clinicians is if they have the time, they do love to educate their patients on what ails them. With the current health care situation, that is tough to do. So when you have clinicians and health educators for that matter, and they take their precious time to present topics of health interests, they deserve to be heard. Unfortunately, that is not what the patients or caregivers want to hear...
I attended an excellent presentation funded by NARSAD, and several clinicians at a major university presented their current understanding of neuropsychiatric research. While quite technical for the majority of the audience, I myself had a wonderful time! However, then the Q&A started, people asked questions about their loved one's failing to get care, rather than expounding or clarifying their research presentations. It was quite sad. Because anyone could see that at least the clinicians made the effort to speak to a layperson group with full powerpoint slide, but the group could care less about that and moreover questioned how come no herbal supplements were not used, rather than the underlying mechanisms leading to mental illness brain disorders...
The intent on having Health Fairs are generally well-meaning, most organizers truly want to improve their community's health. However, consideration must be given when having active laboratory type testing and the inability to provide follow up leading to improve outcomes and quality of care. Why do it when the patient more often than not does not understand why health changes must be enacted, or is not motivated to change to a healthier behavior? Another question is when the provider has not ordered these tests, what is the expected health outcome without furthering cost? Finally, more often than not community groups are not health organizations, they are stringing along several other forces to discuss the topic "du jour" without understand the whole body process toward disease.
It is our duty as health care workers to accurately inform our client based that aligns with the latest evidence-based peer-reviewed research and our prescribe methods of quality of care. Since I am not a physician, I would not tell anyone to go against their providers instructions. I certainly would not tell them online, beyond making an appointment to speak to their providers. However, I can equip them with some basic understanding about their health condition, compel them to seek their providers' assistance, and motivate them to reach their desired health. In essence, I can coach them, and in that way alone, IMHO, having a Health FORUM works just like all clinicians and providers desire.
After having 5 years worth of health forums in a major urban center I have learned the following:
- Talk about 3 varied easy topics where health societies can bring back up support
- Due to strong resistance and gross non-adherence have physicians speak to the groups for 30 minutes
- Health forum activities need to be done at a healthcare site or if a health fair, for liabilities, the activity must be done at a healthcare site, i.e. hospital meeting rooms, so that if a participant is injured, the is care provisions in place.
- Compelling reasons must be noted with health forum participants in urban settings, they can be arranged by coaching or patient navigators.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience.
Namesté,
Dr. Gina M.-S.
Ariafya LLC
http://www.ariafya.com
Founding Member and President
