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