Jarrod Shapiro, DPM
Practice Perfect Editor
Mountain View
Medical &
Surgical Associates,
Madras, Oregon
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Health Fairs – A Sociological Experiment
This past weekend I spent most of my Saturday at a local health fair. Health fairs are an effective method to market a podiatric practice, while providing an important service to your local community. This is the doctor’s chance for direct face to face interaction with the community. Health fairs are also an interesting place to study the interaction of organized medicine and the community. Consider it a sort of sociological experiment.
A Lot to Learn
There’s so much to learn at a health fair. In the past two years I have been to perhaps 30 health care related events: from diabetic lectures; to senior center lectures; soroptomist club lectures; to the chamber of commerce; to various health fairs—all at two different rural towns. After all these events, I’ve been able to examine the relationship each hospital has with its community. Case in point—my health fair today. In attendance, was everyone you could think of, EXCEPT the hospital and the single large primary care practice in town. Actually, I was the ONLY physician to attend this health fair. This was in contrast to a prior health event at my second location that was dominated by the hospital, other specialties besides podiatry and multiple departments within the hospital. In the case of today’s health fair, this is in a town with a hospital that is on the verge of closing. I take from this comparison the importance of the medical community’s involvement with the general community as a whole. Does the health fair serve as a barometer of the medical community’s health?
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Oct. 21 - 24, 2010 |
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Las Vegas, NV |
Free tuition (a $545 value) and $100 room credit
for the first 75 Residents who register. |
Be a Fly on the Wall
Call me a voyeur, but I like to listen in on the conversations going on around me in other booths. My “booth” (actually a table and some chairs) was directly next to a group of three nurses who were doing nail trimmings. Now, I don’t mean to get into a debate over whether or not nurses should be doing nail care, but I will say that I had some misgivings when one of them asked me the best way to trim toenails. I know it’s not rocket science, but if the nurse isn’t trained to appropriately debride a nail, then should she be doing it at all? Enough said.
Back to my eavesdropping. The one thing about being at an event absent of any other physicians, is that I get to find out what people are doing when they’re away from the doctor’s office. I’ve always wanted to spy on my postop patients and see if they’re truly following my orders. Short of this though (no, I really haven’t followed anyone home!), I can listen in during the health fair. I get to hear the old wives’ tales, as well as the misinformation and counseling outside of scopes of practice that occur. Luckily, I universally hear the caveat at the end of each statement: “You should follow up with your doctor.”
A Lot of Mis-Information is Freely Dispensed
For example, here’s a list of antifungal onychomycosis home remedies that was dispensed to patrons (not from me!!!) at the health fair. I’m quoting below from a handout:
“These home remedies create an environment that is not healthy for fungus to live or grow further. The fungus is suffocated and then killed.” Is that how to cure onychomycosis — smother it? I’ll bring a pillow into my exam room the next time I have a patient with toenail fungus!
Ok. Here comes the list:
- Bleach (1 part to 10 parts water)
- Tea tree oil
- Listerine
- Natural apple cider vinegar
- Lavender oil and tea tree oil mixed
- Olive oil and oregano
- Water and vinegar
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- Rubbing alcohol
- 3% hydrogen peroxide
- Probiotics such as yogurt and kefir in the diet
- Turmeric and water
- Rub the toenail with onion slices for “sometime”
– my quotes – What’s “sometime?”
- Concentrated lime juice
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Let me say it again — I didn’t distribute this remedy list. If I did I’d be afraid to admit I had! Just to add another one: I’ve heard of people urinating on their toenails to treat onychomycosis. That’s just gross!
The reason I bring this up is to highlight the misinformation and apparent “scope-less” nature of advice that can be distributed at these events. This is why it’s so important to have experts: physicians; nutritionists; and practice-specific nurses — attend these health fairs. Someone has to monitor this stuff. Health fair – caveat emptor.
My Recommendations
As a final note — especially to those new docs who are planning to attend health fairs to build your practice (yes, new graduates, this is an integral part of practice building, so do it), here are a couple of recommendations for items to bring. I like a table set up with chairs on the side. This gives people a clear area to “browse” while you do your extremity screening. The table should be eye catching with lots of tactile and visual stimulation. Be creative in your design and make it look smooth and professional. Consider bringing the following:
- Bring yourself – You, the doctor, are the most important asset. Be friendly, kind, and conversational. This is not a time for shyness. Provide complete information but don’t lecture.
- A visual display (something like a three section presentation board with laminated pictures and strong colors – use extreme pathology pictures like clubfoot, severe HAV, ulcers, Charcot, etc) for a strong emotional reaction.
- Foot models – a foot/ankle with an external fixator might be good conversation piece. Choose durable models that people can pick up and handle
- Orthotic samples – show patrons the superiority of orthotics distributed from podiatrists.
- A few representative shoes – supportive shoes, poor shoes, maybe a lady’s high-heel shoe with a foot tracing showing the amount of squeeze involved.
- Literature on various subjects – bunions, hammertoes, shoegear, plantar fasciitis, diabetes education tips, etc.
- Business cards – hand out more than one to each person you speak to. Staple them to your handouts.
- Screening instruments – tuning fork, monofilaments, reflex hammer, gloves, etc. Hand held Doppler may be useful.
- Consider a 3-ring binder with laminated clinical pictures for patients to page through. Refer back to it when talking to people. It’s a conversation piece that adds variety and professionalism to the overall appearance.
Run a Jargon Free Zone
Don’t Bring – medical jargon. Just as in your office, don’t use a lot of medical terminology. Confused people will not become your patients.
This list is not all inclusive. What you bring is entirely up to you, including a positive attitude. Yes, they’re tiring. Yes, you have lots of other things to do. But go to the health fairs anyway and try to have fun. If nothing else you can be a voyeur like me! Best wishes.
What are your thoughts about this? After reading the eZine, we encourage you to follow up with any additional comments in the PRESENT Podiatry eTalk.
Keep writing in with your thoughts and comments. Better yet, post them in the eTalk forum, where you can get in on the discussion or start one of your own. Best wishes.
Jarrod Shapiro, DPM
PRESENT Practice Perfect Editor
[email protected]
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