Health Fair Expos Can Spot Medical Problems Early

Sixty-five-year-old Elizabeth Thomas didn’t expect to discover anything serious about herself when she went to the Health Fair Expo in 1988, but that’s where she learned she had an irregular heart beat.

“The nurse didn’t want me to get up and move around. She was scared I was going to pass out,” Thomas said. The nurse contacted Thomas’ doctor, who put her in the hospital until they regulated her heart. “I didn’t feel that bad,” Thomas said. “I wouldn’t have even known about it because I didn’t think I had anything wrong, so I would have avoided going to the doctor.”

Thomas is a perfect example of what organizers of Health Fair Expo hope to accomplish.

“Health Fair Expo provides people with early detection and--hopefully--early treatment of any disorders or diseases they might have or any risk groups they might fall into,” said W. Grant Stevens MD, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Daniel Freeman Marina Hospital. “Hopefully, it provides them with information and education that then leads to preventive health maintenance.”

At 94 Locations

Now through April 30, at 94 locations throughout Southern California, thousands of volunteer health professionals like Stevens will offer an array of health screening--from height and weight to vision and blood pressure--for free.

Health Fair Expo, now in its 12th year, offers these services at sites in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties. Organizers say Health Fair Expo, which is sponsored by the Hospital Council of Southern California, the American Red Cross, Chevron U.S.A. Inc. and KNBC-TV, is one of the largest health fair events in the country. In 1988, 72,000 people were screened, and nearly 750,000 people have been screened since it began in 1978.

One of those was 24-year-old Cris Ford. “You get a lot of little things done at one time--your blood pressure, your lungs checked,” said Ford, who went because she had a small growth on her face. “You’re taking care of your health in a friendlier atmosphere than if you’re at the doctor’s office, where everyone is so serious. It’s kind of fun.”

Each health fair site has at least six basic screenings: personal health history, height and weight, blood pressure, vision, counseling and referral and a blood chemistry panel. Everything is free except for the $15 blood panel, which is optional. The blood screening checks more than 25 factors, including liver and kidney function, cholesterol, triglycerides and serum glucose.

Also Cardiac Tests

This year, the blood panel also includes a cardiac risk profile. Attendees go to different stations where volunteer health-care providers perform the exams. The results are noted on a health-screening form, which participants carry with them from station to station. (The blood screening report is mailed about 10 days after the fair.)

“Our focus is early detection of disease as well as finding community resources for people who don’t already have a primary health care provider,” project coordinator Joan McCandless said. “We also strive to educate people and make them aware of health issues so they can take responsibility for their health.

“After going through all of the screenings, the participant can see a health professional who reviews all the results and makes recommendations,” explained McCandless. “For instance, if the blood pressure is quite high, they’ll recommend the person have it re-checked within two weeks.”

Several weeks after the fair, the participants who have results that are potentially hazardous are sent letters telling them that their counselor recommended they see a health-care provider. The letters encourage them to see a doctor if they haven’t done so already.

Finally, a follow-up phone call is made to see if the person followed the recommendation.

Extra Tests at Some

Most Health Fair Expo sites have more than the basic six screenings and may include dermatology, pulmonary function, dental, glaucoma, Pap smears, podiatry, body-fat analysis and others. In addition, there are educational resources. The Heart Learning Center, for example, helps people identify their risk factors in heart disease. Once identified, it educates them about how to reduce these risks. There is information at every site about cancer and AIDS. At some locations, AIDS educators are available to speak with people and answer any questions that arise.

The fairs are held at local hospitals and medical clinics, community colleges, even recreation centers. Many of the individual organizations try to customize each fair to meet the needs of its particular community.

For example, five sites in South-Central Los Angeles are doing prenatal screening. According to McCandless, this is partly a response to the recent report by the National Center for Health Statistics on infant mortality rates in black communities. Part of the problem is due to poor prenatal care. The five locations will offer fetal monitoring, education, some blood analysis.

Other locations have services for children as young as age 3. Christopher Johnson, 6, benefited last year. He had a vision problem that no one had discovered. “One eye wasn’t seeing the same as the other,” said Linda Johnson, Christopher’s mother, who was the coordinator of a fair site at Victor Valley College and decided to have him screened. “We thought he was just clumsy. We had no idea that he had a problem, but we found out later that if it had continued, it was likely that the weaker eye would have gotten worse. He might have lost the vision in it entirely.”

The Johnsons took Christopher to a doctor, who prescribed glasses and corrected the problem. For others who do not have physicians, the experts at the fair will refer to specialists. McCandless is satisfied with much less spectacular results. “We’re not going to change people’s lives at Health Fair Expo,” she said, “but it’s important to get people started.”

For information about the dates, times and specific locations, call the Health Fair Expo hot line at (800) 223-6759.