News

Beebe Medical Center to Host Popular Community Heart Fair

01/27/09

Beebe Medical Center will host the 5th Annual Community Heart Fair on Thursday, February 19, 2009, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. The event, which normally draws more than 1,000 people, promises to be even better, with more booths and more exhibitors, as well as the traditional offerings of free screenings, health education, food and entertainment.

Due to the high demand for the free cholesterol screenings, a system has been set in place in which each Heart Fair attendee wishing to have a screening will receive a designated screening appointment time so that he or she is free to enjoy the event without having to wait in line. Other free screenings to be offered will be blood pressure checks, glucose screenings, body mass index calculations, and stroke risk assessments.

We are anticipating that this is going to be the best Community Heart Fair ever, says Peggy Diehl, R.N., MSN, CEN, Beebe Medical Center Community Health Nurse Coordinator and event organizer. We have grown our offerings to better serve our community. And we are happy to say that we have been joined by representatives from other health organizations who wanted to take part.

Beebe Medical Center's cardiology services include a Cardiac Surgery Program, in affiliation with Christiana Care Health System, and an Interventional Cardiology Program, as well as non-invasive cardiac diagnostic procedures and cardiac rehabilitation services.

A representative from The Sussex Family YMCA will be on hand to share information on exercise and fitness programs offered through the Rehoboth Beach location. Linda Leonard, the Consumer Health Librarian based at Rehoboth Beach Public Library, will be available to talk about the educational programs that she offers.

Representatives also will be on hand from the American Heart Association and from First Town Mended Hearts, the nonprofit organization that offers support to those who have had heart surgery. A representative from the Delaware Pharmacy Association will be doing A1C tests, which measure what a person's average blood sugar level has been for the past few months. This test can help determine whether a person should be referred to a physician for further testing. Abnormal sugar levels can be a symptom of diabetes, which is a critical risk factor for heart disease.

Other Beebe Medical Center programs and services will be represented. Student nurses from the Beebe School of Nursing will be giving information about the school, as well as doing free blood pressure checks, body mass index calculations and stroke risk assessments. Beebe cardiovascular clinical specialists, Lynn Toth, R.N., MSN, NP-C, will be present to discuss stroke information.

Certified Diabetes Educators will be available to offer helpful information to those with diabetes. They also will have educational materials available for free. Beebe's diabetes self-management education program has been awarded continued recognition from the American Diabetes Association for offering high-quality education to the patients it serves. The classes are offered at Beebe Medical Center's Wound Care Services/ Diabetes Management outpatient location at the Longneck Health Campus on Longneck Road in the Millsboro area. Diabetes is another major risk factor for heart disease.

Rudy Daisey, RRT, RPSGT, a respiratory therapist and manager of the Beebe Medical Center Sleep Disorder Center, also will be on hand with information. Sleep disorders not only cause sleepiness during the day, but if left untreated can lead to cardiovascular disease. Physicians refer patients to the Sleep Disorder Center, located at the Beebe Health Campus on John J. Williams Highway in Rehoboth Beach, where they are tested for the presence of any one of a number of medical problems that can interfere with their ability to sleep.

Those attending the Heart Fair will be entertained by the popular local personality Mario Rocco. Light, healthy snacks will be available throughout the day and lunch will be served. For more information on the event, please call (302) 645-3468.

Beebe Medical Center is a not-for-profit community medical center with a charitable mission to encourage healthy living, prevent illness, and restore optimal health with the people residing, working, or visiting in the communities we serve. For more information, please visit us online at www.beebemed.org.