It’s a common perception that caregivers often spend so much time caring for others that they forget to care for themselves. Recognizing that this might be the case within the healthcare arena, the Wellness Committee of North Fulton Regional Hospital decided to take action to put the hospital employees in the role of the patient.

“We have done employee health fairs before, and they have always been well received,” said Wellness Committee Chair and Director of Rehabilitation Services Pat Moorhead. “We thought it was time to do another to encourage our staff to participate in the Employee Wellness Program.” This program provides employees opportunities to participate in various activities geared toward improving overall health. Some of these include walking challenges, online health seminars, and various 6-week, comprehensive healthy living programs (with topics ranging from stress reduction to cancer fighting). “As providers of healthcare, we have the responsibility to take ownership of our own health. It’s the ‘practice what you preach’ concept.”

Last Thursday morning the lab bustled with activity as employees lined up to have blood drawn for their lipid panels. A cholesterol test not typically offered at health fairs, the full lipid panel gave employees a complete breakdown of their levels, including HDL, LDL and triglycerides, all at no charge to them.

Blood pressure, blood glucose, body mass index and bone density screenings were each offered at various stations during the health fair. A pulmonary function screening also told employees the age of their lungs, giving some reason to brag about being “25” again.

Before leaving, employees were shown how to register with the Online Wellness Program so they could be on there way to a healthier outlook on their health. Many signed up for the first time and others were re-introduced to the program after not utilizing it for several months. Employees also took time to register for the American cancer Society’s Roswell area Relay for Life, and event that North Fulton Regional Hospital is proud to sponsor. As the presenting sponsor, the hospital looks forward to having a large team that will not only walk to fight cancer but will also participate for their own aerobic fitness.

Diane Sanders, RN, is a seasoned organizer of health events. As Community Education Coordinator, she regularly visits various businesses and organizations throughout the community to host health fairs of this nature.

“We all knew this would be very successful,” she said. “The crowd was steady the entire time, and the feedback was all extremely positive.”

North Fulton Regional Hospital (NFRH), part of Tenet Georgia, is a 202-bed, acute-care hospital located on Highway 9, Alpharetta Highway, in Roswell. Opened in 1983, NFRH serves North Fulton and surrounding counties through its team of over 1000 employees, 400 staff physicians and 200 volunteers. NFRH is a state-designated Level II trauma center and provides a continuum of services through its centers and programs, including neurosciences, orthopedics, rehabilitation, surgical services, bariatric surgical weight loss, gastroenterology and oncology. The hospital is fully accredited and also is certified as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency.

For more information about community health events at North Fulton Regional Hospital, call 770-751-2660, or visit us on the web at www.northfultonregional.com/event, keyword search “community education.”