Wellness Fair Developing Guide.
Getting Started – Secure upper management support
o Justifications for having a wellness fair
o Health risk appraisals
o Be sure to help for high-risk population – smokers, obese employees
o Early detection of diabetes, heart disease risk factors (high cholesterol, high blood pressure)
Health Fair Participation – Identify your audience
o Employees only, whole family, retirees?
o Community involvement? Theme?
Health Fair Time Line
o Make certain to set a date and time Allow 4-6 months of planning time
Wellness Fair Developing
o Identify health-related screenings, tests, other activities you’ll offer Identify educational literature and other learning opportunities health fair will provide Include any “fun” activities, or food/beverage needs for the fair
Wellness Fair Location and Logistics
o Consider location large enough to accommodate the largest volume of individuals at “peak time” periods
o Determine how booths/stations are going to be set up
Wellness Fair Providers
o Target relevant health/safety-related community and corporate providers to provide services, educational materials, incentives and giveaways
Wellness Fair Marketing and Advertising
o Determine marketing and advertising tools to be used to inform employees/participants (posters, mailings, e-mail)
o Determine any incentives or giveaways that’ll be included in the fair or used to encourage participation in the fair
Wellness Fair Scheduling
o Coordinate timing and events with staff and/or volunteers
Health Fair Personnel
o Schedule appropriate professionals Physician or similar health care personnel to provide patient consultation for review of blood draw lab results
o Nurse(s) to administer immunizations
o Administrative/all-purpose individual to facilitate paper work, finger sticks and to provide general assistance
o Pharmacist or pharmacist assistant if appropriate Dietitian for nutritional counseling suggested personnel designated for health fairs
Footnotes
1 the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation via Reuters Health E-Line.
2 Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, (9/11/03)
3 www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/press/archive/lower_cost.htm
4 “Is Stress Nibbling Away at Your Bottom Line?” By Stephen Alper, Nov. 15, 2002.
5 Wellness in the Workplace, Michael P. O’Donnell, page 415.
6 http – //www.bmpcoe.org/bestpractices/internal/dayto/dayto_6.html