Local nurses host health fair to celebrate 100 years of nursing in Johnson City
3/29/2011
03/29/2011
Teresa Hicks
MSHA Communications Manager, Communications and Marketing
(423) 431-1313
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Nurses from Mountain States Health Alliance (MSHA) and nursing students from the East Tennessee State University (ETSU) College of Nursing will host a community health fair on Saturday, April 2 at the ETSU/MSHA Athletic Center (formerly the mini-dome) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is part of MSHA’s celebration of 100 years of health care in Johnson City, dating back to the opening of the city’s first Memorial Hospital on May 10, 1911.
“The nursing profession is known for giving and caring, and in keeping with 100 years of caring for this community, the nurses decided that a health fair was an appropriate way to celebrate, so we can continue to help impact the health and wellness of people in our community,” said MSHA Corporate Vice President of Nursing Resources Kathryn Wilhoit, RN.
The event will offer interactive health learning and free screenings for people of all ages. Menopause and balance screenings will be offered. Children will enjoy a variety of games, relay races and inflatables, and kids and adults alike will have the chance to compete with ETSU athletes using one of three Nintendo Wii game systems. All three Wii systems will be given away in a drawing at the end of the event.
The Mountain States HeartCoach will be on site to provide comprehensive cardiovascular screenings, including blood pressure, cholesterol and ultrasound vascular studies. A complete screening costs $45 and takes about 45 minutes to complete. To schedule an appointment for screening on the HeartCoach, call 1-800-888-5551, option 4.
A wide variety of health information booths will be set up at the event, offering education on such topics as nutrition, smoking cessation, healthy pregnancy, depression, infection prevention, joint and spine health, sleep apnea and much more. An MSHA nurse recruitment booth will offer information to individuals considering a career in nursing, and the Johnson City Downtown Clinic will provide information on how to access the services they offer.