Mid Term Service Learning Blog

D - For my service-learning project this semester, I am fortunate to be able to participate in organizing the second Annual Gordon Memorial Health Services Community Health Fair which will take place on March 24th, 2012.  This year’s health fair will feature more than 35 vendors from different facets of health services available in the Panhandle region of Nebraska.  Examples of vendors include: Regional Life Flight, a hearing aid company that will offer hearing screenings, local oxygen and DME companies, Headstart, early childhood development resources, local chiropractors, local mental health providers, local optometrists, and various services from the Gordon Memorial Health Services facility including low-cost lab screening, respiratory therapy evaluations, well-child checks and more.   To date, the health fair planning team has confirmed all vendors and is in the process of solidifying the necessary resources at the high school gymnasium where the health fair will be held (ie. power cords, tables, room dividers). 

E- With regard to the course specific learning objectives, this project does much to meet the needs of the underserved in this particular rural community in the Panhandle of Nebraska.  Through the provision of low-cost lab screenings including PSA, lipid profile, blood counts and metabolic panels residents can receive screenings that would normally be cost prohibitive to those without insurance coverage.  Additionally, free well child checks will be offered.  Smoking cessation advice and free pulmonary function testing will be available.  Lastly, though representation of the various services that are available in the area such as early childhood development resources and mental health service, the awareness of available options for health care services is enhanced. 

AL - Based upon our experiences last year, several changes have been made to this year’s health fair.  Last year’s fair was held in conjunction with a local “home show.”  While this was useful in drawing a crowd, we were forced to have most of the vendors in the basement making it inaccessible to many attendees.  By removing our association with the home show this year, we are able to hold the health fair in the gymnasium and offer more space, more vendors and greater accessibility.  This is an example of changes that were made based upon observations from last year’s fair.  With regard to future action, I believe that because the health fair is still in its relative infancy, the planning committee will continue to make observations and changes that will assist us in meeting the needs of the underserved in the community.  We will be utilizing surveys this year to query health fair participants with regard to their experience and suggestions for improvement.  Like last year, a free pedometer will be given to those participants who complete the survey and return it. 

What are you currently doing with this organization and how do you see it evolving as you sustain your commitment to them?  As I mentioned above, I am working with the health fair planning committee for the second year in a row to plan and oversee the health fair.  Because I am employed by Gordon Memorial Health Services, I have a vested interest in participating and having a presence at the health fair for my patients to see my concern and involvement with the community.  Additionally, many patients will be following up with me based upon the results of the various screening tests offered at the health fair.  This health fair not only provides important services to the members of the community but is also a viable way for me to build and sustain my practice over time.

What do you envision being the shortcomings and strength of your service learning commitment?  I foresee the shortcomings of this service-learning project being only those problems that we did not plan for as we enter the second year of putting on this rather large undertaking for the community.  We have worked diligently to address potential issues, however, some questions remain such as who is responsible for reporting critical lab values to patients in attendance, particularly if these patients don't have a primary care provider. 

The strength of the project also lies in the improvements that were made based upon feedback from last year’s surveys and observations from the planning committee.  Additionally, my continued commitment to my organization and future health fairs is an additional strength of this project.