On a Mission for Health

The mission of Washington Hospital Healthcare System (WHHS) is to improve and maintain the health care needs of Washington Township Health Care District residents through medical services, education and research. A big part of that mission is to identify and assess community health care needs.

Every three years, Washington Hospital conducts a community health needs assessment. In 2023, WHHS identified less favorable heart health outcomes in Union City compared to other parts of the district. To address these needs, the Hospital is partnering with Washington Township Medical Foundation (WTMF) to host a heart health fair in Union City to provide education, screenings, and resources to the community.

Empowering Heart Health

WHHS Community Outreach Manager Kayla Gupta, MPH, said while the health system is committed to improving heart health for the entire WHHS community, it was important to reach out to Union City residents in particular.

“When we finished the report last year, we saw Union City residents had more Emergency Department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths related to heart disease and stroke than residents of Fremont or Newark,” Gupta explained. “We knew focused community health education would help meet people where they live, so we planned this heart health fair to give them access to health screenings, specialized physicians and information on how to live a healthy lifestyle to promote heart health.”

According to their city website, more than half of the population of Union City is Asian. The American Heart Association notes that this ethnic group has a higher prevalence of heart disease and greater cardiovascular risk factors than other groups, and develops coronary artery disease up to 10 years earlier than the general population. They also have a 35% higher chance of dying from a heart attack than the average population. Because of these statistics, Gupta said the heart health fair is a great way to address the needs revealed in the report.

“Events like this are important to our community to provide access and to remove barriers so people can gain insight into their health in an environment that is more comfortable and welcoming,” she noted. “The more we can do to bring awareness of heart health and provide connections to resources our community members need, the better.”

Information is Power

The Heart Health Fair will kick off at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Nakamura Clinic, 33077 Alvarado-Niles Road in Union City. The four-hour fair will include on-site screenings for blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol, as well as opportunities to speak with cardiologists, endocrinologists and other health care providers. There will also be fitness classes, a cooking demonstration, and activities for families and children. Local community organizations will be present to connect attendees with additional resources.

In order to lead a healthy lifestyle, it’s important to take control of your health. Knowing specific risks for developing heart disease and diabetes can help people be proactive in making healthier life choices. Gupta emphasized the screenings are not intended to replace regular doctor visits. If any concerning results are found, attendees will be encouraged to follow up with their primary care provider. For those without a regular doctor, the event will provide referrals to help them establish care.

“If you already know you have a heart condition, the heart health fair is a good place to get more information or connect with the WTMF cardiology team,” she emphasized. “If you don’t know anything about your heart health, this is the place and time to find out.”

Gupta said the goal of the heart health fair is to create an informative and empowering event, as WHHS strives to create a healthier and more heart-conscious community. “This doesn’t replace going to your doctor,” she continued. “But people can take the health care information they receive at the health fair to their primary care provider as another important data point. Together, we can continue to make a significant impact on heart health and well-being for our community and beyond.”

Fun for All

The event will feature information and education on the importance of regular exercise and a heart-healthy diet for preventing and managing heart disease and diabetes. In addition to health care providers, representatives from the Union City Family Services team and Union City Recreation Services will be on hand to share resources available to families and individuals.

Beyond health screenings, the heart health fair will include fitness classes. These include Zumba with Lewis Fernandez at 10 a.m. and Fitness Boxing with Michael Quebec at noon. Rock the Bike will have a “pedal powered” smoothie booth, where kids can hop on a “blender bike” and make their own smoothies.

“We will also have local performances throughout the day, including a ukulele group,” Gupta shared. “There will be a lot of giveaways, a cooking demo and lots of booths to teach skills to help people live a healthy lifestyle. There’s something for everyone. The fair takes place in Union City, but it’s open to anyone who wants to learn more about their heart health.”

For more information or to learn more about this event, visit whhs.com/Events. To learn more about WHHS cardiac services, go to whhs.com/heart.