CINCINNATI, October 23, 2017 - The Christ Hospital Health Network is partnering with the Freestore Foodbank, CincySmiles Foundation, Rothenberg Preparatory Academy and several other organizations to organize the first OTR Community Health Fair.
The OTR Community Health Fair will be held Saturday, Oct. 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rothenberg Preparatory Academy, 241 E. Clifton Ave. in Over the Rhine. A team of doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses and others from The Christ Hospital will provide medical services as well as classes on diabetes prevention, healthy eating, smoking cessation and much more. Employees from all of the participating organizations will be volunteering their time and services.
The Community Health Fair will be a dynamic event that aims to offer a variety of services to the OTR community. What makes this event unique is that it will be organized by people who live and work in the community, who will be offering medical screening and education on a variety of topics including high blood pressure, diabetes, etc., " said Santosh Menon, MD, a cardiologist specializing in heart failure who serves as the Medical Director of the Clinical Cardiology Service at The Christ Hospital.
Organizers hope as many as 500 families will attend the Heath Fair, where they will be able to take advantage of the Freestore Foodbank's annual winter Coat Drive as well as receive information on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program(SNAP), a federal government program that offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low-income families and individuals through food stamps.
"Hunger is a health care issue and lack of access to nutritious food can lead to serious health problems. We welcome the opportunity to work with The Christ Hospital, Rothenberg Preparatory Academy, Cincy Smiles, Walgreens and other community partners to provide complete care and assistance to our neighbors,” said Trish Rayner, Director of External Affair for the Freestore Foodbank. "By having all of it available in one spot, we will be able to serve more people over just a few hours."
Services offered at the Health Fair include:
• Flu shots from Walgreens
• Blood pressure, blood sugar, pulse, Body Mass Index (BMI), height and weight screenings
• Diabetes and cholesterol education, including prevention
• Healthy eating and nutrition classes
• Oral cancer screenings by UC Dentistry
• Smoking cessation classes
• Electrocardiogram (EKG) and Echocardiogram (ECHO) testing
• Freestore Foodbank Fresh Mobile Pantry
• Talbert House Fatherhood Program Information
• Snacks and water
About The Christ Hospital Health Network: The Christ Hospital Health Network is an acute care hospital located in Mt. Auburn with six ambulatory centers and dozens of offices conveniently located throughout the region. The Network is supported by more than 1200 talented physicians and 5800 dedicated employees. Its mission is to improve the health of the community and to create patient value by providing exceptional outcomes, the finest experiences all in an affordable way. They have been recognized by Forbes Magazine as the 24th best large employer in the nation in their America’s 500 Best Large Employers listing and by National Consumer Research as the region’s Most Preferred Hospital for 21 consecutive years. The Network is dedicated to transforming care by delivering integrated, personalized healthcare through its comprehensive, multi-specialty physician network. The Christ Hospital is among only 6% of hospitals in the nation to be awarded Magnet recognition for nursing excellence and among the top 5% of hospitals in the country for patient satisfaction. For more than 125 years, The Christ Hospital has provided compassionate care to those it serves.
About Freestore Foodbank: The Freestore Foodbank is the largest emergency food and services provider to children and families in Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana. The organization distributes 24 million meals annually to low-income individuals and families. The Freestore Foodbank supports 400 community partners in 20 counties throughout Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana, including food kitchens, homeless shelters, emergency food pantries, social service centers and program sites. By providing emergency food distribution, the Freestore Foodbank responds to the issue of poverty and food insecurity in our community and provides an array of services (emergency clothing, housing services, SNAP assistance, Medicaid outreach and others) aimed at creating self-reliance. The Freestore Foodbank is a member of Feeding America. Visit www.freestorefoodbank.org for more information