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News Article
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Health Fair Brings Resources Together
Charleen Earley, Brentwood Press
June 15, 2007
In the first of what organizers hope will become an annual event, purveyors of information and services for healthful living came together last weekend for the John Muir Family Health Fair.
Vendors such as Mutual of Omaha, Greetings on the Green, Longs Drugs, Juice Plus and Eldercare Services set up camp in the John Muir Medical Center's Brentwood Campus parking lot to support the new center. The two-year-old, three-story, 108,500-square-foot facility is located at 2400 Balfour Road.
"We want to get the word out that John Muir Health is a high quality community resource in East County," said Health Programs Coordinator Jamie Jenett. "For so long, people in the area have had to drive quite a distance to get quality care, and we want folks to know that it's now right in their back yard.
"We do such a good job at community education that many other health systems, including Sutter and Kaiser, refer their patients to us for classes," she added.
The fair had something for everyone, from free chair massages, DJ music and face painting to exciting exhibits, free gift samples from local businesses, tours of the facility's Outpatient Center and prize giveaways.
Rosinda Fernandez of Antioch won a $250 gift certificate for window coverings donated by Mimi's Home Solutions of Brentwood. "This health fair was nice," said Fernandez, whose health care services are currently with Sutter Delta in Antioch.
In addition to the cruise donated by Prudential and Bank of America in Brentwood, the Contra Costa Cardiology Medical Group donated an impressive stainless steel barbecue tool set.
James Mortimer of Brentwood said he has attended many health fairs in the past. "This is the best one so far, and it's about time for Brentwood," said Mortimer.
Children were awed by the CALSTAR (California Shock/Trauma and Rescue) helicopter, which touched down on the facility's landing pad. Pilot Michael Rugg of Oregon helped kids get into the cockpit.
"Sometimes we get five emergency calls a day, sometimes none," said Rugg. "It basically averages out to two calls a day."
In addition to state-of-the-art emergency aircraft, John Muir also offers cutting edge medical equipment. Barbara Hepner, senior public relations associate, said the center has advanced digital mammography imaging equipment.
"A computer-assisted program in medical imaging allows any doctor affiliated with John Muir Health to view an image within minutes of taking it, giving doctors access to any imaging records they need at their fingertips," said Hepner.
Health fair goers were given free screenings for blood pressure, body mass index, body fat composition, balance testing, grip tests, bone density, and cholesterol and glucose tests.
The fair was spearheaded by the John Muir Women's Health Center "because we know that women make decisions about health care for their families and are the ones with the cattle prod, so to speak," Jenett said.
"With this event, we are able to offer screenings and education to everyone in the family, from lectures about how to have a healthy pregnancy to screenings in the Prostate Center," she added. "It's our hope that this event serves all members in the families in East Contra Costa County."
For more information, call (925) 308-8100.
(Posted July 25, 2007)