9Health Fair at Colorado Springs Campus Helps the Public, Builds Students’ Skills

Promoting continued good health among local residents is a key goal at our Colorado Springs college campus, as is the chance to provide our students with hands-on learning experiences. On Monday, April 19, 2010, both of those goals came together, as Remington College – Colorado Springs Campus marked its third time as a host of the Southern Colorado 9Health Fair.

Sponsored by Channel 9, Channel 5 (KOAA), Walgreens, King Soopers Stores, and Quest Diagnostics, the fair gave Colorado Springs residents access to more than 20 free or low-cost critical healthcare screenings. During the half-day event, 154 local residents ages 18 and older took advantage of a variety of services and checks offered, including:

L to R back row: Brandy Daniels, Nicole Wells, Brooke Alstatt, Eric Yanes; Front row: Ana Vazquez

• “Ask a Pharmacist” Health Advisement
• Body Fat Skinfold Tests
• Eye Health Checks
• Finger Stick Blood Glucose Tests
• Podiatry Checks
• Hearing Checks
• Heart Health Checks

Several Campus volunteers participated, including Allied Health and Criminal Justice instructors, students, graduates, and staff members. Our Allied Health students helped to draw blood, provide blood glucose checks, and take blood pressure readings, building their clinical, customer service, and teamwork skills in the process.

Allied Health Student Amanda Timko

Medical assisting student Robert Armell commented, “The health fair was a tremendous learning experience and a great asset to the public and to the student volunteers.”

Diploma Program Chair Grace Trujillo, who has helped to organize these events for the past few years, said, “It’s very satisfying to participate in a project that provides health screenings and checks to so many, especially to those who otherwise might not be able to afford them. It’s gratifying to know that we’ve been a part of something that has helped people to identify their health issues and quite possibly save their lives.”

The 9Health Fair, in its 31^st year, is Colorado’s largest non-profit, volunteer-driven health fair and has earned endorsements from the Colorado Medical Society, Colorado Nurses Association, and Colorado Hospital Association.