BAPS Charities ANNUAL HEALTH FAIR
CHICAGO, IL

05.22.2005 Chicago, IL, USA

BAPS Charities, Chicago IL, held its annual health fair on May 22, 2005 in association with Glen Oaks hospital. Various medical services were available for the patients including Dermatology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Gastroenterology, General Surgery, Cardiology, ENT, Audiology, Hematology-Oncology, Podiatry, Chiropractic, Occupational and Physical therapy, Gynecology, Ophthalmology, etc. A team of laboratory technicians, phlebotomist in association with Medstar laboratory and Glen Oak hospital led the diagnostic services. Lab services offered included complete blood count, metabolic profile, thyroid function test and electrocardiogram.

Beside direct care, special stations were set up for prevention and education. There was an exhibition setup displaying the impact of addiction on health. Also available were special booths for diabetes counseling, nutritional guidance, drug counseling and bone marrow donation. Special seminars were conducted for women explaining the need to do regular tests such as Pap smear, breast cancer screening, osteoporosis and menopause. The seminar also included physical demonstrations showing how to perform self-breast examinations and how to exercise to prevent osteoporosis.

The most exciting part of the health fair was the Teddy Bear clinic for children. Mr. Brinsle Lewis, CEO of Glen Oak hospital and Mr. Jonathan Leach, Director of Missions and Ministries of Adventist Midwest Health inaugurated the Teddy Bear Clinic. A mock emergency room was set up for the children. They were given education on safety and anti-addiction. They visited the mock emergency room where they acted as a parent and a teddy bear was given to them as their child. As they passed through various stations like fracture, suturing, injection, blood draw etc they were able to overcome their fear of hospital and emergency room. In the end they were also able to take a tour of an Ambulance. EMT officers from Bartlett answered questions asked by children and explained the various instruments and equipments available within the ambulance.